Page 24 of Salvation
Chapter Eight
It was well after midnight when Sakura pressed her palm to the ID reader of the healers’ cube. They had visited the inflicted Anferthians in all five of the villages, walking the entire way. Before today, she had believed she was physically fit, but now she was not so confident. The door opened and warm light streamed through the entry as she stepped inside. A nice hot bath, just what she needed. Then she would crawl between the fresh sheets on her bed and sleep like the dead.
The wall door whooshed shut behind Nick as she sank to the floor and pulled off her shoes, a groan escaping her. Two and half miles from Center Village to East Village. After visiting the patient there, K’rona had led them on the narrow roadway that circled around Center, connecting all the Directional villages without having to return to Center. The layout was logical. It kept the dissenters close in proximity without creating a densely populated community. Hopefully she would never have to walk it alone, though. If she did, she would be the first and only person in the history of the universe to get lost traversing a circle.
“Well, they just let anyone in here, don’t they?” Nick grumbled.
She glanced up at him, then followed his gaze to the Anferthian man sitting cross-legged on the floor of their living room.
Storo grinned. “Come now, little man. I’m only here to make sure you do not need anything before you retire.”
“Are we going to have any privacy here at all?” Nick looked as irritated as he sounded.
“Of course,” Storo replied. “During the daylight times this is our medical facility, and the citizens of our villages will have access to you. Once dark falls, the ID reader is programed to allow only you and Disipula Yamata to enter unimpeded. The rest of us will have to knock. Now, is there anything more you require this night?”
Sakura gathered her legs under her and stood. “We should be fine. We were fed at peoples’ homes today, but, is there any food here for breakfast tomorrow?”
“There is, but it will be my honor to bring you breakfast in the morning,” Storo said. “It would be an inconvenience and a struggle to cook in a kitchen you have yet to explore.”
“That is very nice of you, Storo-san.” She bent in a respectful bow.
The Anferthian man tilted his head to one side. “What is this ‘san’ you say after my name?”
“It is a title of honor where I come from. Almost likeMr. orMrs. is in Healer Bock’s culture. We do not use it all the time, but right now it allows me to express my gratitude to you.”
Something that looked like relief flashed in his eyes. “It is well.” Then he rose, towering over them. “I will go now. Sleep well, healers. Until tomorrow.”
“Until tomorrow.” She stepped back to allow him to pass.
Once the door closed behind him, Sakura glanced at Nick. “What was that all about?”
“Anferthians add ‘iad’ to the names of their lovers.” He shrugged his shoulders. “He may have been checking to be sure you didn’t have designs on him.”
Sakura gave him a wide-eyed stare as heat surged up her neck. “Me?”
“Well, if you have a track record….”
“A track record?” What did he mean by that?
“Your relationship with Jasan,” Nick said, his tone one a parent would use with a child.
Her mouth opened and closed several times before one word surfaced. “What?”
“Just sayin’.”
“You can go to hell, Nicholaus Bock, because it is none of your damn business!” How dare he? If she did not get out of here now, she would throw something at his head. Clenching her hands into fists, she spun around and marched through the living areas and kitchen. If only this place was not so huge. It was like trying to make a dramatic exit while crossing a baseball field.
~*~
Nick winced when Sakura slammed her bedroom door. Too bad there were none of those handy invisible wall doors inside the cube. This probably wouldn’t be the last time he’d piss her off enough to slam a door.
The faint whir of the lock engaging reached his ears. Jesus, why hadn’t he kept his big mouth shut? Yes, he was as curious as hell what her relationship with High Linguist Dryas Jasan had been, but she was one-hundred percent right. It was none of his damn business.
Or maybe he was just jealous. He gave himself a mental shake. That was ridiculous. He’d never been the jealous type before. Then again, he’d never had such a Jekyll and Hyde relationship with a woman either. One moment they were fine, or at least civil, the next they were at each other’s throats. Granted, it was usually after he’d said something snide, like he had a few minutes ago. Not that he had the corner on the rudeness market. She was the one who’d challenged him when they first met. It almost seemed like she was determined to keep him at arm’s length.
He glanced at the Hello Kitty bag left next to his shoes. Looked like he would be putting away the samples alone tonight. He picked up the bag and headed toward the lab.
~*~
