Read Online Defying Mars (Saving Mars Series-2) by Cidney Swanson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cidney Swanson
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meantime, I crave your forgiveness.”
Kazuko sat still for several minutes, digesting the news. Then she looked at Harpreet’s soft eyes and murmured, “You’ve been the truest friend I’ve known. There’s nothing to forgive.”
Not everyone shared Kazuko’s qualms about manners, but few ever thought to ask why Harpreet had been imprisoned. Harpreet was not surprised. She knew from long observation that most people were more interested in talking about themselves than listening to others.
So she gathered and listened, sorted and waited.
9
LOOKS LIKE DIRT
The weeks following Pavel’s new alliance with Ethan and Brian Wallace were challenging ones. Pavel had never faced considerations as basic as “Where will we sleep?” or “Where does food come from?” It had come as a shock to Pavel to learn that he was financially destitute. He had credits aplenty, but he had no safe means by which to access them if he wanted to remain hidden.
Ethan, of course, had no credits in his acquired body. Brian Wallace, however, was a very wealthy man, who had laid careful plans to be certain he was never cut off from his credits.
Unfortunately, Brian’s wealth could not buy the three shelter from among his former acquaintances. After a few hours, or a night at most, former friends confessed their reluctance to act in a way that would set them at odds with Brian’s cousin, the head of Clan Wallace.
“I’m sorry, truly, but I can’t risk her disfavor,” ran the responses time after time.
“I’m fine living on the ship,” Pavel declared, stoic.
“Aye, lad, but he’s not,” replied Brian, indicating Ethan.
“I will adapt,” said Ethan in a flat voice that little suggested how difficult it might be.
And so the three lived on their stolen ship, using Brian Wallace’s credits and planning for Ethan’s attempt to complete his mission.
Something of a breakthrough for Ethan’s mental health came one morning when Pavel woke to the sound of a monotone humming.
“Eth?” murmured Pavel.
No response.
“Ethan?”
Ethan broke off humming and, after a long minute’s struggle, spoke. “I am finding confinement difficult,” he confessed.
From the rear of the ship, Elsa whined above Brian’s snores.
“You and the dog, both,” said Pavel. “Listen man, I’m sorry.” He reached back to release the lock upon Elsa’s crate. “This is no life for either of you.” Pavel ruffled Elsa’s fur, but the dog darted to Ethan, licking his hands, his chin.
“Elsa,” murmured Ethan. Pavel had successfully reattached muscle, ligament, tendon, and bone in Ethan’s injured limb such that he now had the use of both arms. Ethan dug his two hands deep into Elsa’s coat. Her tail thumped noisily upon the ground.
“The dog relaxes you,” Pavel said to Ethan. His years at the hospital had made him a keen observer of physiology.
Ethan’s brows drew close. “Yes,” he replied. “I believe you are correct.”
From that day, Pavel began monitoring Ethan’s wellbeing, offering frequent prescriptions of “Elsa-time” to his Marsian friend.
Brian noted the improvement in Ethan’s mental health with a woeful pronouncement. “Me credits come in handy,” Brian said, “But it’s clear enough the real reason ye tolerate me is because of me dog. Ah, well. That’s good enough for me, I suppose.”
“We’re both exiles, man,” said Pavel, smiling sympathetically. It was a turning point in their relationship.
Pavel’s friendship with Wallace was cemented a few days later, following a disagreement over what sort of escape vehicle they ought to use for their upcoming mission to the satellite facility.
“My aunt’s ship is a worthless piece of junk,” declared Pavel. “It’s time we buy something with some real muscle.”
“‘We,’ indeed,” muttered Wallace.
“Muscle?” asked Ethan.
“Figure of speech,” replied Pavel and Brian in unison. They’d grown accustomed to Ethan’s confusion over
Kazuko sat still for several minutes, digesting the news. Then she looked at Harpreet’s soft eyes and murmured, “You’ve been the truest friend I’ve known. There’s nothing to forgive.”
Not everyone shared Kazuko’s qualms about manners, but few ever thought to ask why Harpreet had been imprisoned. Harpreet was not surprised. She knew from long observation that most people were more interested in talking about themselves than listening to others.
So she gathered and listened, sorted and waited.
9
LOOKS LIKE DIRT
The weeks following Pavel’s new alliance with Ethan and Brian Wallace were challenging ones. Pavel had never faced considerations as basic as “Where will we sleep?” or “Where does food come from?” It had come as a shock to Pavel to learn that he was financially destitute. He had credits aplenty, but he had no safe means by which to access them if he wanted to remain hidden.
Ethan, of course, had no credits in his acquired body. Brian Wallace, however, was a very wealthy man, who had laid careful plans to be certain he was never cut off from his credits.
Unfortunately, Brian’s wealth could not buy the three shelter from among his former acquaintances. After a few hours, or a night at most, former friends confessed their reluctance to act in a way that would set them at odds with Brian’s cousin, the head of Clan Wallace.
“I’m sorry, truly, but I can’t risk her disfavor,” ran the responses time after time.
“I’m fine living on the ship,” Pavel declared, stoic.
“Aye, lad, but he’s not,” replied Brian, indicating Ethan.
“I will adapt,” said Ethan in a flat voice that little suggested how difficult it might be.
And so the three lived on their stolen ship, using Brian Wallace’s credits and planning for Ethan’s attempt to complete his mission.
Something of a breakthrough for Ethan’s mental health came one morning when Pavel woke to the sound of a monotone humming.
“Eth?” murmured Pavel.
No response.
“Ethan?”
Ethan broke off humming and, after a long minute’s struggle, spoke. “I am finding confinement difficult,” he confessed.
From the rear of the ship, Elsa whined above Brian’s snores.
“You and the dog, both,” said Pavel. “Listen man, I’m sorry.” He reached back to release the lock upon Elsa’s crate. “This is no life for either of you.” Pavel ruffled Elsa’s fur, but the dog darted to Ethan, licking his hands, his chin.
“Elsa,” murmured Ethan. Pavel had successfully reattached muscle, ligament, tendon, and bone in Ethan’s injured limb such that he now had the use of both arms. Ethan dug his two hands deep into Elsa’s coat. Her tail thumped noisily upon the ground.
“The dog relaxes you,” Pavel said to Ethan. His years at the hospital had made him a keen observer of physiology.
Ethan’s brows drew close. “Yes,” he replied. “I believe you are correct.”
From that day, Pavel began monitoring Ethan’s wellbeing, offering frequent prescriptions of “Elsa-time” to his Marsian friend.
Brian noted the improvement in Ethan’s mental health with a woeful pronouncement. “Me credits come in handy,” Brian said, “But it’s clear enough the real reason ye tolerate me is because of me dog. Ah, well. That’s good enough for me, I suppose.”
“We’re both exiles, man,” said Pavel, smiling sympathetically. It was a turning point in their relationship.
Pavel’s friendship with Wallace was cemented a few days later, following a disagreement over what sort of escape vehicle they ought to use for their upcoming mission to the satellite facility.
“My aunt’s ship is a worthless piece of junk,” declared Pavel. “It’s time we buy something with some real muscle.”
“‘We,’ indeed,” muttered Wallace.
“Muscle?” asked Ethan.
“Figure of speech,” replied Pavel and Brian in unison. They’d grown accustomed to Ethan’s confusion over
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