Page 27 of Salvation
“Neither do I, but there has to be a way.” She pursed her lips. “We need to strip away whatever is camouflaging the disease.”
Nick sat silent, his gaze never wavering from hers. His eyes were so beautiful, so unique. It would be easy to get lost in them.
He blinked and seemed to shake himself. “Yeah, that’s a good place to start.” He stood up and extended his free hand. “Why don’t we get the lab set up in the way that best suits us, then go from there?”
Mixed emotions tumbled around inside her. She did not want to take his hand, but something inside yearned for his acceptance. This was so confusing. His expression turned perplexed and he lowered his hand to his side as he took a step back.
“Are you ready?” He asked as if nothing had happened.
“I am ready.” She pushed herself up and followed him to the lab. If she could kick herself, she would. He had promised to try harder, and he was doing so. She, on the other hand, had just been nothing short of rude toward him.
~*~
Nick stood in the front doorway of the cube. A long, low howl echoed in the forest around him. How odd. No one had ever told him there were wolves on Matir. Another voice joined the ghostly chorus, and another. A shadow slunk just beyond the edge of the light filtering through the doorway around him. It turned its head, eerie yellow eyes looked directly into his….
“No!” His body jerked and he sat bolt upright in his bed. The howling didn’t stop. It wasn’t wolves…it was the Anferthian death keen.
“Shit!” He threw back the covers and scrambled, nearly falling over the edge of his bed. “Lights, goddammit.”
The soft glow filled the room. Where did he leave his jeans? He spied them tossed over the back of one of the chairs. He thrust one foot through a leg opening, then hopped toward where his t-shirt lay on the floor as he shoved his other foot though the second leg opening. He fumbled with the button then grabbed his shirt and bolted out his bedroom door.
“Sakura!”
“Coming.” Her wide-eyed gaze met his as she hurried across the semi-dark living area toward him, tying the belt of her robe.
He grasped the door handle and yanked the door open. K’rona strode toward them in the darkness, her expression one of devastated grief. Numbness washed through him.
“Oh, no,” Sakura whispered.
K’rona nodded. “A’paz has succumbed. His wishes are that none be allowed to see him until after the healers.”
Samples. He would have wanted them to take a final set to compare to his healthy samples, and for that they need…
“I have the bag, Nick,” Sakura said, holding it up.
Once again, she came through one step ahead. Reliable. He gave her a nod. “Let’s go, then.”
Ten minutes later, they had their samples. Nick cleared his throat. “K’rona, open the door and allow the others in.”
The room filled with mournful Anferthians, and beyond in the rest of the cube. For a moment there was silence, then the Anferthians tipped back their heads and howled their grief to the ceiling. Nick exchanged a glance with Sakura. Tears streaked down her cheeks, and he fought the urge to draw her into his arms to offer comfort. Instead, he threw his head back and howled. A heartbeat later, Sakura’s lilting voice joined the sorrowful lament.
It was loud and heart crushing, but there was comfort too. A community, a family, drawn together to grieve for one of their own.
