Blue Galaxy Read Free Page B

the final payment until you’ve been safely delivered.”
    She took a bigger gulp. “I’m going to get drunk. I hope you don’t mind.” She reached for the flask and emptied the contents into her mug.
    “You think that will help?”
    “Nothing will help, so why not?” Her words were slurred slightly, and he was grateful the flask was empty.
    “Why did you agree to the alliance?” He was getting too involved, disobeying the instructions to ask no questions, but he couldn’t help himself. “It’s against the law to force you. You could have refused and arranged an alliance of your choosing. Why didn’t you?”
    She jerked her head up and stared at him incredulously. “You believe that propaganda? That I have any say in this?”
    “It’s the law.”
    “Javan, you seem to be a man of the world—of many worlds. How can you be so naive as to believe that rubbish?” She stood, weaving.
    “The Laws of Human Rights—”
    “Are a farce! Women had more rights a thousand years ago. The Laws of Human Rights exist only on paper.”
    She walked away, leaving him to ponder unpleasant thoughts about her and their situation, but also about his marriage, in which he’d been led to believe his wife had been a willing participant. The knowledge that it might not have been so explained a lot—it explained everything.
    Javan went to his bunk, but sleep eluded him. The cold, beautiful face of Morna, his ex-wife, haunted him. If the Laws were indeed a farce, how had she managed to leave him, divorce him and take everything he owned?
     
    The next day Sola was tired and unhappy. Javan made her comfortable in the cockpit and taught her the basics of the ship. She grew progressively more animated, even tucking into a nutripack with gusto, the return of her appetite a welcome side effect of an in-space hangover. The need to put solid food in a roiling stomach could make even synthetic protein taste bearable. After that he packed her off to exercise under the vitalight. She was paler than even a hangover should have made her, and he missed her golden skin. He missed her smile also. If he could keep her mind off what awaited her at the end of their journey, she’d be so much happier. There was no point in her dwelling on it, and in the meantime the journey would be more pleasurable for both of them.
    Sola returned to the cockpit with color in her cheeks. “I’m getting used to showering without water. I had the air pressure set to its highest setting, and it was almost like water.”
    “You’re looking better. In fact, you look wonderful.” Having Sola wander the ship in her multicolored gossamer outfits was like having a bird of paradise flitting around. Flashes of color in unexpected places that brought with them the heady scent of musk and spring flowers. It was like the Kypris had been waiting for her; the ship’s sterility had vanished. Though her luggage had seemed rather sparse for someone starting a new life at the other end of the galaxy, Sola had sported a variety of these outfits. Javan inhaled deeply. She smelled so damn good.
    She smiled and twirled, the silk fluttering over her lithe body. “I’m feeling much better. I’m sorry I got drunk last night. It’s just… Well, you know. I’m not exactly thrilled with the reason for this journey, but I am excited to be in space and to be learning how to fly the ship and to be getting to know you. ” She colored with the last part of her statement and walked to the main puter. “So what are you going to teach me next?”
    Standing next to her, he fought the impulse to feel the soft fabric of her dress. “I’m going to run you through a few simulations to see if you’ve mastered everything you learned earlier. No point continuing until you’ve got the basics down. Sit here while I get it set up.”
    He bent, tapping one-handed on the puter while resting the other on her command chair’s armrest. She covered his hand with hers. He stopped tapping, his hand