Page 27 of Tempting Cargo
You’re allowed to want things for yourself, Captain, Muzati had said. I supposed she had a point—not that I knew how to live like that. But she’d made me think, just for a few beautiful moments, things might not always be as hopeless. That some day, things might be mine in a way they’d never been before.
The freshly vaccinated humans trailed in at the time I’d told them, Garrison at their head. As soon as his gaze landed on me, he threw me that easygoing smile. “Hey, Captain. Something smells good.”
For a moment, I imagined some of my gloom dissipated.
I jerked my head over at the other two in the galley proper.
“Giompa and ruli soup.” Muzati bounded over to the group of humans clustered around the table. “Some of you will have to stand at the counter and eat ’cause, you know, not a passenger ship. And we might not have enough spoons. No, wait. Cap, didn’t we have that box of random galley items that came with the bulk crate from the outlet station two years ago? The one that shouldn’t have been in there and we couldn’t sell, so we just stashed it in one of the lockers? I bet there are spare bowls and spoons in there. Which locker did we put it in?”
My headspines twitched as Muzati sprawled her long limbs on the floor, opening locker doors and pulling everything out into a haphazard pile, which she spread out until she found the small crate in question, holding it up triumphantly.
“I knew it! Let’s see.” Before anyone could say anything, she’d upended it on the only table in a clatter of metalware andthe melodic crack of something breaking. “Ah, skyk. Who uses kirinian pottery these days anyway? There’s four bowls in here that didn’t break, at least. I’ll get ours from the washer.” She opened the cover, and her headspines stood on alert. “They’re all dirty. Whose turn was it to turn the washer on?”
Paiata stared her down, mild amusement in his tone. “You. Before we got to Draim.”
“Ah, skyk.” Her spines flattened like a wet doorith’s fur.
I found I didn’t mind Muzati’s antics tonight. When most of the humans started tidying up the mess, it was no surprise the first one to move was Garrison.
I was content to watch from the sidelines. From feeling alone with my problems, the extra people filling the small galley were a welcome warmth. Temporarily.
Gods, I couldn’t do this every day. But today, it was acceptable.
The bowls were mismatched, but they found enough, and, eventually, we ate.
After, as everyone bustled around and moved to leave, I remembered.
“There’s one spare berth,” I said. “If two or three of you wish to bunk in there, you may.”
Of course, one of them approached to speak with me, and, of course, it was Garrison. “Thanks, Captain. We appreciate that. If you can show me where it is, I can get people settled.”
And so it was that I was alone with him in the ship corridors, yet again dealing in bedding and comfort and easy silences until it was done.
“I’d better go,” he said. “Thank you for this, Captain, it’s very kind of you.”
“Not a problem.” I wasn’t ready for the closeness this kind of conversation with him seemed to bring, so I closed off my body language, ready to head back to the bridge.
“I’d be happy to make you a cup of chrya tomorrow if that will help.”
I turned.
He made it sound so simple, I almost believed it. Could change start with just a mug of chrya?
“Thank you.” I felt awkward, stilted. “I’m sorry. I—” I pushed myself away from the door. “It’s been a long day and I have things to review before tomorrow.”
He gazed at me, measured and knowing, nothing but compassion in his dark eyes. “As you wish, Captain. See you tomorrow. I’ll put the kettle on.”
I didn’t know what his strange human phrase meant, but I found myself looking forward to tomorrow so I could find out.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lietan Shipyard
Garrison
NONE OF usslept well in the cargo bay, but it could have been worse.
I checked the time on my comm for the fourth time since going to sleep, and it was finally somewhere approaching morning. Hopefully Imani had had a comfier night in the spare berth.
