Page 49 of Lorran
“Close your eyes,” Saavi said, her voice tired like she had explained this a dozen times. “The light destroys any fungal spores on your person.”
“Fungus?” Wyn asked, alarmed, because fungal spores. Gross.
“Yes. It is quite invasive and thrives in the warmer regions of the planet. That is why the planet was never fully colonized. The winters are too cold here for the fungus to thrive, but I anticipate it will be a problem now that the weather is warmer. We are in the vernal season.”
Wyn tossed a look to Lorran. “We’re not staying long enough to worry about the weather warming up?”
“Ideally, no.”
Wow, vague.
The decontamination chamber finished its cycle and the far door unlocked. They stood in a wide corridor of poured concrete and harsh overhead lighting.
Saavi pointed them toward a quiet corridor and opened a door at the far end. A box with cleaning supplies and clean linens waited at the door. “Accommodations are primitive,” she warned.
Wyn glanced over the room. Dusty, but otherwise clean. No signs of rodents or other critters nesting. She dragged a finger over the dusty surfaces, unconsciously doodling a swirling pattern.
Finally. Privacy.
“This will do,” she said, and gave the bed a test bounce. It creaked alarmingly, like it was on the verge of collapsing, and a huge plume of dust escaped. She coughed until the dust settled.
“Sorry. I rendered some cleaning bots operational. I’ll send them your way,” Saavi said.
Wyn nodded. The cleaning supplies tucked into the box with the clean linens now made sense. “I’ll take dusty over a sleeping bag on the ground any day,” she said.
Narrow and designed for one person, the room went straight back with minimal furniture. A small counter, sink, and countertop heating element to one side served as a kitchenette. Slender vertical windows formed the back wall, allowing in the afternoon light. Saavi demonstrated how the windows folded open and the concrete slab patio attached.
Overgrown and lush, foliage swallowed up the slab, creating an isolated pocket.
Perfect.
Wyn stripped out of the armor and changed back into Lorran’s oversized shirt and her own leggings. He did the same, and they set about cleaning out the room.
Lorran took the mattress outside to beat the worst of the dust out. That done, she made the bed while the cleaning bot tackled the floor. Considering how many years the place sat empty, the bots did a decent job keeping the worst of the dust and grime under control.
They worked together well, taking cues from each other like they had tackled housework in tandem for years. In short order, because the room was not in shambles, the air felt clean.
“How long are we staying?” Wyn washed up at the cleansing room sink.
The water ran a rusty red for a solid minute before clearing. Lorran took a sample and declared it fit for hygiene but should be boiled before consuming. Still, water. She had never missed washing her hands and face so much.
“A few days, perhaps longer.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“There are Suhlik patrols in this sector. It is wise to wait them out before leaving the planet.”
“Indefinitely. We’re here indefinitely, and you’re not even concerned,” she said.
A soft expression settled over his face. “I would be more concerned if I were alone with Mylomon. He is not one for conversation. However, I find myself unexpectedly grateful to have time with you.”
Speaking of the devil, he arrived soon thereafter and took Lorran with him to retrieve Ulrik’s body. While she waited for his return, Wyn found a battered tea kettle in a cabinet and scrubbed it clean with the cake of soap that had apparently been fossilized. She beat the bar against the countertop to break it into usable pieces.
A knock at the door brought a delivery of more foil packet meals as well as a selection of glossy berries still dripping with dew. Or freshly rinsed. Probably that.
The man with salt and pepper hair held a bowl but did not release his grip when she reached for it.
“I am called Caldar. Why are you all alone, female? Can your male not provide for you?” His lips pulled back in what was probably an attempt at a smile, but was in actuality all fang and menace.
