Page 98 of Seven Oars
Under Anske’s uneven singing of holy hymns, Gro worked to reinstate the shelving, while Rosamma and Sassa restored the provisions to their proper place.
Eze took Daphne to the shower.
Phex still hadn’t returned to the Cargo Hold.
By now, Rosamma had imagined the worst. Was that why the Striker had come last night? Was his vile game of pretend to forewarn her that if she wanted Phex, she had topretendhe existed?
Even now, Rosamma broke out in cold sweat just thinking about those soulless eyes. He could’ve killed them and gone back to sit in his sinister chair in the same breath. Nothing fazed him, certainly not dead bodies.
But he hadn’t.
I don’t kill my captives.
It was almost like he meant to reassure her…
Games. All games.
What have you done to Phex?she almost asked out loud.
Great, she was now having internal dialogues with Striker Fincros.Madness must’ve snuck up on her without warning. That’s how they were all going to end up if they survived Seven Oars: crazy.
Theoarground and chuffed, breathing life into this metal box that drifted across the dark nothingness of space with no purpose and no destination.In many ways, it was a prison for the pirates as much as it was for the women. They must realize that.
She’d sensed the Striker did, and resented it.
Rosamma debated the pros and cons of venturing out to find out Phex’s fate. Not to save him—she knew she couldn’t. Still, she felt oddly responsible.
When the“music” started up in the Habitat, accompanied as always by the fresh fumes of the pipe, she gave in.
“I’ll check the Habitat. Anske said they chained him. Where else would he be?”
Fawn sat up, alert.
“You know what, Rosamma? I’ll go with you. Just to the Habitat and back.”
Feeling a lot more confident with Fawn at her side, Rosamma approached the Habitat.
To her surprise, only Thilza was inside, reclined by his favorite wall.
“Go on, enter.”His eyes glittered with light that was hard to define.
After a moment’s hesitation, Fawn stepped in, and Rosamma had no choice but to follow.
There was no trace of Phex, and her concern mounted.
“Join me.”The massive pirate waved his pipe at them, inviting them to sit.
It wasn’t an invitation they dared refuse.
“I’m Thilza,” he said.
“Hi, Thilza. I’m Fawn.”She gave him her bright, ready smile, dimples and all.
“Hello,” Rosamma said politely, unsure how to react.
Thilza had a bland, round face with the typical Rix eyes and somewhat animal features. His facial structure looked like it had been smashed to smithereens and put back together a few times.
Even reclined, his size dwarfed them.
