Page 20 of Seven Oars
Phex said something sharp to Aris and ended the argument.
“Pigheaded dumb males,” Fawn fussed.“They think they’re so smart, teaching us a lesson.”
“That’s okay,” Mara said, placing a comforting hand on Fawn’s shoulder.“We’ll manage. Not long now.”
“Not long? Three more weeks like this! I’ll die.” Fawn threw her head back dramatically.
Rosamma looked out of the porthole.
The Universe beyond the thick glass was dark and silent. They seemed to be standing still, but their cruiser was hurtling toward new beginnings.
Three more weeks till they reached Priss.
Three more weeks to a new life.
Chapter 4
The next morning began much as all the previous ones, with orderly use of the lavatory followed by canned breakfast.
After breakfast, Anske discovered her Holy Guide was missing.
“Have you seen it?” she asked everyone in turn.“It’s like a notepad with different-colored squares on the cover: orange, purple, blue… One for each commandment.”
No one knew what happened to the Holy Guide. No one truly cared.
“I’m sure it’ll turn up soon,” Rosamma tried to reassure her.
But Anske couldn’t be talked out of her search. She looked for her Guide all morning, rooting around and upturning their carefully stowed-away things. Alyesha got snappish, and they quarreled.
In the heavy silence that had descended, Fawn produced a small, innocuous device.
“Yo, bitches! How about some music?”
The women clustered around Fawn.
“Where did you get it?”
“Does it work?”
Fawn grinned cheekily.“Yes, it works. It’s mine, actually.”
Gro gave her a questioning look.“I thought the aliens took away all the gadgets.”
“They did.”
“How did you get it back?”
“I asked nicely,” Fawn demurred, then chortled at Alyesha’s expression.“No backstairs deals with the aliens, I swear.”
“You didn’t steal the player, did you?” Anske asked, frowning.
Fawn threw her hands up in the air.“For someone so pious, you sure have a suspicious mind. Riel gave it to me.”
“How kind of him,” Alyesha murmured.
Fawn powered the player on.“I have an entire catalogue from this one record label. Ten years’worth of music. All the original, first edition recordings.”
Gro whistled.“Collector’s music. Must’ve cost a fortune.”
