Page 124 of Seven Oars
A trickle of her energy slipped from her hands into him. Too little, too late?
His eyes were closed.
Then his faint breath touched her face.
The floodgates opened, and her energy poured out, unchecked.There was nothing she could do to stop it.
She floundered in the current, swept by the tide, tumbling as if caught in a flash flood. Her will was not her own, and removing her hands from his throat became as impossible as escaping this space station.
She had pitiful little to give, but she gave and gave from depths she hadn’t known she possessed.She was gasping, drowning, and weakening with each passing second.
How long it lasted, she didn’t know.
Only when it became impossible to hold herself upright did Rosamma’s hands slide off his skin, and she slumped against the wall.
Her mind went blank as numbness crept up her limbs.
Fincros turned his head, and his enormous, coal-black eyes sucked her in. She saw, as if from afar, her limp hair and waxy face reflected back.
“Please, Finn…” she began, but had nothing else to add.
Without a word, he struggled to his feet and lifted the part, sliding it into the opening. Then he slipped a switch.
Immediately, the groaning and straining sounds quieted, replaced by the familiar mechanical din.The gravity began to return to normal.
It would take longer for the temperature to drop.
Sticky sleep crept up on Rosamma, making her yawn.
Fincros stood over her, legs spread. His wound had stopped bleeding.
She craned her neck and said inanely,“Let’s leave.”
He stared at her.
“There are pods,” she whispered.“Enough to take everybody. Let’s go away from here.”
“Where would I go?” he asked.
“Home.”
“I have no home.”
Rosamma pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them.“You can come with us.”
He smiled.
Despite the rugged, dark teeth, he had an open, boyish smile. It lit up his face, softening his scars and smoothing out his scowl.
He looked almost carefree.
But it lasted only a moment.
“I’m wanted across the Universe,” he said.“Where I go, bounty hunters follow.”
He bent to pick up the tools.
“Keerym left,” he added, without turning.
