Page 44 of Master
“Mei Jun?” Buck asked with waggling eyebrows.
Bartholomeus' eyebrows lowered in Buck's direction. "Yeah.” When the Romvesians' attention returned to me, he was smiling. “I can take you over to meet her if you like.”
“Of course. Let me get my mate.” The word slipped from my lips effortlessly, like it belonged there. I rubbed over the spot on my chest, noticing an odd, warm fullness. It was only my imagination borne from lust. Nothing more.
I took my leave of the peacekeeper and Buck with a promise to help the latter load his truck once market day concluded.
After a few minutes, in which Clara nearly had to arm-wrestle Lula to keep from having to take a portion of the profits she'd generated, the three of us walked toward the east side of town.
We followed Bartholomeus down a side street, heading toward where the clapboard buildings morphed from businesses into dwellings. Another turn brought us face to face with a small one-story cottage. I questioned the feasibility of the building housing two more people, especially one my size, when I spotted the roof of another small building peeking through the lush garden surrounding the house.
"Mei Lin?" Bartholomeus called, squinting through the greenery.
“I’m here!” A headful of sleek black hair appeared amidst orange blooms. It bobbed up and down as she moved closer, stepping through the vines and blossoms to greet us.
She won the distinction of being the smallest adult human I’d ever seen. Her dark hair stopped at chin level, waving around her pale face. As she drew closer, I noticed steaks of gray among the black strands. While the woman was still attractive, she was definitely older than Clara. Perhaps not technically, but physically. Dark eyes regarded us momentarily before an enormous smile split her face.
"Hey there, Bartholomeus. How are you?"
Her voice held an accent as she spoke, making the words sound clipped and proper. British, I think it might be called.
"Hey, Mei. I brought you a couple interested in your cottage,” Bartholomeus answered, gesturing first to Clara, then me.
“We won't be here long. We just need somewhere to stay till the Bardaga arrives." Clara stepped forward to clasp the woman's outstretched hand.
“We’re all excited for the Bardaga to arrive with the children,” Mei answered, her pale cheeks flushing with color.
“How long have you lived on Tau Ceti?” Clara asked her, the bright violet eyes sweeping over the lush garden.
“Nearly twenty years,” Mei said and laughed at Clara’s shocked expression. “I was one of the few that didn’t get run through the machine that makes you young again.”
“Why didn’t you go back to earth?” Clara asked, practically trembling with curiosity.
The question felt like a rock in the pit of my stomach. Clara seemed to adjust to the notion of never returning to Earth well—at least, so I thought. She left a child behind, a grandchild.No matter how complicated the relationship, she had to miss them.
“After finding out about all this?" Clara answered, gesturing about. "It’s a botanist dream.”
“You’re a botanist!” Clara looked as though she’d won a prize.
"Nearly," Mei laughed. "I was working on my Ph.D. at Oxford researching night-blooming jasmine in Cutteslowe Park when they grabbed me.” Her eyes settled on Clara curiously. “Are you a botanist, too?”
"Not really," Clara's cheeks colored. "I taught high school science.”
"Are you serious?" Mei gushed. "Another scientist. I'm so glad to meet you."
“Botany was always my favorite rotation,” Clara admitted.
“I have an airtight lab in the basement. I’m working on how to make Earth plants heartier for alien habitats. Would you like to see it?”
"I'd love to!” Clara exclaimed, linking her arm with Mei’s. The two of them disappeared into the foliage, laughing and chatting. I pushed away the desire to follow and flipped my gaze to Bartholomeus.
“Looks like you and your gal just found a place to stay,” the Romvesian laughed.
"Yes, thank you," I told him and chuckled, nursing a stab of jealousy. Clara made such fast friends with Mei—she seemed to fit here on Tau Ceti. That was a good thing… wasn't it? My head said yes, but my heart… and cock vehemently disagreed.The idea of leaving her on this planet with that lecherous mayor nearby made me nauseous with dread.
Perhaps I should just snap the mayor's spine and be done with it. I'd rather face the consequences of pummeling the Atkins Parlow than let him get anywhere near Clara.
What was wrong with me?
