Page 50 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space
We all nodded, then the team started to break into small groups to discuss. I turned, wanting Eashai’s opinion, only to see him headed toward the door.
“Eashai?” I asked.
He turned and gave me a forced smile. “Excuse me, Gene. I must confer with my colleagues on Lyll as to what additional samples they will require.”
“Oh…” I nodded, slumping slightly.
“I will return shortly.”
“Ok…”
I watched as he walked out the door.
“Hey,” Major Klein said softly beside me. “You two ok?”
“Huh?” I asked, still staring at the door.
“You’ve both been off the past few days. At first, I wondered if it was a fight, but neither of you are acting like you’re fighting. Just sad.”
I sighed, then turned to face him. “Fall semester starts soon.”
He studied me for a couple of seconds, then let out a sigh of his own. “So that’s your decision?”
I nodded. “I haven’t told Floy—uh, Colonel Smith—yet. But no matter how many ways I look at it, the same problem keeps coming up: is this position permanent enough to burn the academic bridges? And… I don’t think the Army can guarantee that.”
He sighed. “I get it. It’ll suck losing both of you, though.”
“What do you mean, both of us?”
One of his eyebrows went up. “I thought you’d have been the first to know, as tight as you are. He told me yesterday that he’s considering returning to Lyll to be close to the new grandbaby.”
I shook my head. “He didn’t say anything.”
He hummed. “Well… it’s none of my business. But I liked working with both of you. It’ll be different around here without you.”
“Yeah…”
He strode off to talk to one of the small groups.
A knot formed in my stomach. No matter what he said, I knew in my gut that Eashai was thinking of leaving because of me.
Chapter 10
“Eashai?” I asked as the end credits for the show rolled and I turned off the TV.
“Yes?”
“May I ask you a question?”
He shifted in his chair to face me. “Of course.”
I took a deep breath. “Ben—Major Klein—he said that you’re thinking of returning to Lyll?”
His face dropped, and he nodded. “I… I have not decided yet. But I am considering it.”
I swallowed. I knew the answer, and his face told me he knew I knew the answer. But I had to know what the official excuse was. “Why?”
He studied me for several seconds, and the look in his eyes was enough to confirm my suspicions—no matter what words he used.
