Page 21 of The Lone Cyborg
His eyes met hers, as dark and intent as ever, but there was a shadow in them—a shadow that hadn’t been there the night before.
Her smile faltered, as she realized that not only was he dressed, but Trojan was no longer in the shelter. He’d been out already—but why? Her throat tightened as she took in the subtle shift in his demeanor. Was he regretting what had happened the night before?
“What is it, Jeb?” she asked, sitting up in bed and searching his face.
He took a deep breath, his cybernetic fingers clenching rhythmically as he looked back down at the RTG.
“I didn’t want to wake you with bad news,” he said and her heart sank. He was using that artificially composed tone she hated. “But there’s something you need to know.”
A pang of anxiety clenched at her chest, pushing away the last of her contentment.
“Tell me,” she demanded.
“Tracks,” he said, finally looking back at her. “I thought I found some the morning after the storm but it was difficult to be sure. I went out again this morning to check and found new tracks, as well as the remains of a campsite not far from here.”
Someone was out there, watching them, waiting. The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine.
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet,” he admitted, clearly frustrated. “I found a pair of damaged binoculars the first morning. They wereGenCon issue, but so is most of the equipment on Mars. And they were too damaged for me to be able to tell if they were old or new. Whoever it is, they’ve been careful. Too careful for comfort.”
The information settled heavily in her stomach, the weight of it threatening to crush the happiness she’d allowed herself to feel. Too frustrated to sit still, she climbed out of bed and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders as she began to pace.
Jeb had kept secrets from her and while her stomach churned anxiously, it was the sting of betrayal that sharpened her voice.
“Why didn’t you didn’t tell me before?” she demanded.
“I really wasn’t sure about what I found yesterday. I needed to be sure before I said anything.”
“I think you were sure,” she said sharply. “I knew something was bothering you. And even if you weren’t, you should have told me!”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but please listen to me.” He reached for her but she stepped back, unwilling to be soothed by his touch. “I think we should go to New Arcadia. You’ll be safer there.”
“Safer?” she scoffed, turning away to hide the quiver in her voice. “Give up everything I’ve worked for and let them win?”
She looked around at the small space she’d claimed as her own, as her home, her shelter from the world.No.She refused to be chased away.
“I just want to protect you,” he said earnestly, and her stomach twisted with a complicated mixture of affection and frustration.
“By taking me away from my claim?” She turned and glared at him. “No. I’m staying, Jeb. With or without you.”
His eyes met hers, dark and solemn.
“Then I’m staying too. If you’re determined to hold your ground, then I’ll stand with you. Always.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the resolution on his face, but exploring his implied promise would have to wait.
“Let’s just get through this first. What do you think they’re planning to do?”
He scrubbed a frustrated hand across his face.
“I wish I knew. If they’re acting on behalf of GenCon, it may be no more than keeping us under surveillance, especially if they’re searching for evidence of this new mineral. If they’re simply outlaws, they’re looking for anything valuable.”
“Then they’re going to be very disappointed,” she snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “I took my last load of ore into town less than a month ago. Barely made enough to purchase supplies for the next six months. That’s why I started drilling in the lava tube, searching for something more profitable.”
“You certainly found it.”
“I suppose so, although I’d have been happier if all I found was the lithium.” Her heart skipped a beat. “What if they know about that? I could see why that would make me a target.”
