Page 30 of Master
“On Earth, cancer is a horrible disease that causes abnormal cells to form tumors," I explained. "The worst thing about pancreatic cancer is by the time you show symptoms, it's already too late." I never forgot the face of Curtis' oncologist as he gave us the news, trying to appear hopeful, when there was no nope. "He was sick for years. In the end, the pain and nausea…” I blinked away the hot wash of tears. "He suffered.”
“He sounds like a brave warrior.”
“He was,” I agreed, comforted by Tarook’s comment.
“I am sorry you had to lose someone you cared for to something so abominable." Tarook's gaze met mine, and twothings struck me with equal force. First was his sincerity, and the second was the hint of confusion in his expression, as though death from sickness was abnormal to him.
“Don’t you have disease on your planet?” I wondered aloud.
“Very little that is not curable," Tarook said, holding a low-hanging pine bough out of my way. I stepped ahead, noticing the path widening and clearing. "Our medical science is eons ahead of Earth.”
“I gathered," I snorted, gesturing at my regenerated body.
Tarook's deep laughter danced over my skin, leaving little prickles in its wake.
“Did you and your mate have younglings?
"One. A daughter." An uncomfortable tightness settled between my shoulder blades. "I have a granddaughter too. Her name is Mavis."
“You must miss them.”
Tarook's comment wasn't a question, just a comment. I didn't have to go further, but the words wouldn't stop despite the regret that came with them.
“I don't see them much. My daughter and granddaughter live in France. When Curtis got sick, I devoted all my time to him. Victoria—my daughter—felt neglected and never forgave me for it. Sometimes mothers and daughters can have complicated relationships.”
“You did what needed to be done to care for your mate—there is no shame in that,” Tarook said.
I glanced at him, expecting to see recrimination, but found nothing but admiration. What was it about this man thathe had such an uncanny way of making me feel not so shitty? He walked close, just a step ahead, so close the warmth of his body seeped into mine. He glanced back, catching the smile of gratitude playing on my lips. Our eyes met, and, at that moment, just like Curtis all those years ago, I knew Tarook saw my soul.
I also knew I was innately clumsy. Profoundly exhibited when my foot caught on a root, and I pitched forward with a surprised yelp. Tarook was quicker than gravity, snaking an arm around my waist to keep me from face-planting in the vines roping across the path.
We'd come out of the woodlands onto a massive field with row after row of thin vines with heart-shaped lobed leaves. A faint fruity, violet scent tickled my nostrils, triggering my olfactory memory. I grabbed Tarook’s arm to keep him from treading on the delicate green creeper holding purple trumpet-shaped blossoms.
"Holy shit! I think this is a sweet potato field.”
Chapter 8
Tarook
"It's a farm! A real farm!"
Clara bounced on the balls of her feet, excitement pinking her cheeks and making her violet eyes sparkle like gems. A faint breeze caught strands of her hair, causing the spicy, floral scent that was hers alone to float around me like a mist.
The green vines before us lay cultivated in neat rows. We skirted the edge of the field, walking east, a two-story gabled house and barn coming into focus on the horizon.
"There are many farms on the planet. The Alliance engineered Tau Ceti to be agricultural, so those living here can be self-sufficient." I told her, not bothering to wipe away the grin I got from her antics. She was just so damn cute!
Still, this farm sat farther from the major settlement than most. We hadn't walked more than a dozen miles, which meant the settlement lay at least twenty miles away.
"Do you think the people living here are friendly?" Clara teetered on tiptoes and craned her neck to get a better look.
"They're humans," I shrugged. There'd been a few unfriendly humans in my experience, mostly males of the species. However, those individuals didn't settle on Tau Ceti.
Clara flickered her gaze at me and chuckled. “You don’t know a lot about humans, do you?”
"Are you telling me your species are unfriendly?" I prompted, the uneven lay of the land making my steps stilted, and my shoulder brushed against hers—quite by accident, or at least that’s what I'd claim.
"Some are." Clara nudged my arm with her elbow playfully. "We've got some nice... some turds, just like any species I'd imagine."
