Corsairs: Kaspar (Corsair Brothers 2) - Page 121

When we finally took off, I breathed a sigh of relief and set the welder down. A quick trip to the bridge showed Kas utterly intent on his controls, typing frantically and shifting a long stick-like thing as he swooped us back and forth in the skies.

"Can't talk now, Sunshine," he'd told me, not looking away from the screens in front of him. "Two on our tail."

I got the hint and left the bridge. Much as I want him to hold me and reassure me (and blow gently on my booboos), I know we're relying completely on him to get us out of here. It means doing some fancy flying and a lot of work. and so the best thing I can do is stay out of his way. Time to be the sidekick and help keep shit together instead of being part of the problem.

So I'd left and checked the spot I welded, just in case something looked, I don't know, fragile or less welded than the rest of the door. It's holding together, though, and once I'm confident in it, I head deeper into the ship, looking for Sterre and Salvotor, both of whom have been absent while all the shit is going down. The interior hallway of the ship is laid out in a square, I realize, with the bridge and controls in the center of the square, and the outlying rooms placed strategically along the outside of said square. I find Salvotor down the hall after I turn a corner, his back to a door as something big and heavy pounds against the other side.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"You guys seemed busy," he pants. "So I tried to help out with Sterre, but then she tried to eat me again. So I had her chase me in here and then I tricked her and locked the door." He winces as something heavy slams against the other side of the door again. "I'm pretty sure she's mad."

"She's probably just scared," I say, and I can relate. After all, I'm freaking terrified. "Do me a favor and let me have some time alone with her." I wave a hand, indicating he should move away from the door.

Salvotor practically leaps down the hall. "Sounds good! I'll just see if Killer needs help—"

"No," I call back. "Find another room—not the bridge—and wait there until myself or Kas comes to get you."

"Kas?"

"Killer, Kas, whatever." Right now I'm so tired I don't even want to deal with Salvotor's innocent questions. I'm a strange mix of adrenaline, frustration, and exhaustion. It has been the longest day and it's not over yet. "Just go hide, okay? Stay out of trouble. Touch nothing."

"Touch nothing," he echoes, agreeing. "I can do that. Touch nothing. Touch nothing." He turns and heads down the hall, pauses in front of one of the doors, and then looks at me with a question in his eyes. When I nod, he goes inside. "Touch nothing."

Once he shuts the door, I tap the control panel on this one to open it. Sterre immediately pours out, all eight legs and angry lizard-cat. She huffs, as if disgusted, and paces down the hall, no doubt determined to find Salvotor and eat him.

"No no," I say softly, giving her flank a touch. "Come sit with me." I go inside the room she just left, which looks like someone's private quarters or a guest bedroom, and move to sit on the floor. There's a beautiful rug tossed over the sterile gray flooring, and Sterre's already chewed up one corner of it in rage. Can't say I blame her. I want to chew a few things up in frustration, myself. I sit, snapping my fingers, and she makes another one of those disgruntled huffing sounds, but comes to my side and throws herself down against me, putting a paw in my lap and resting her chin on my knee. "I know. Boy, do I know."

I want to tell her that it's all going to be okay. That this only seems scary right now because it's all new. That eventually it'll feel like home, and she'll be happy out here in space, just like she was back on the planet. Thing is, I don't know if I'm lying to her or not, and that makes me feel guilty. Should we have left her behind? I scratch and caress her small ears, but she still seems agitated. In the distance, Kaspar curses again, and the ship sways, nearly knocking me onto my back.

"It'll all be okay," I end up telling her. "Because it has to be."

We sit on the floor together, her and I, and I pet her for what feels like hours. The ship bounces us all over the place as Kas tries fancy maneuvering, and every so often, I hear something distant crashing in the ship, like plates that weren't secured or a picture falling off a wall. I stay in place, try not to think about all the blisters I'm sporting, and hope that Kaspar is done soon.

Tags: Ruby Dixon Corsair Brothers Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net
readsnovelonline.net Copyright 2016 - 2024