Page 29 of Tail Me No Lies
Nox
Didnothing work on this planet?
Ruth and Nox stared at the vehicle’s malfunctioning engine. He didn’t know why they had to stare at it. When the vehicle shuddered and the engine made a grinding noise, Ruth pulled over to the side of the road. She climbed out and popped open the hood.
Now they stared at it.
Ruth had not spoken a word since they left the general store. Nox overheard part of the clerk’s warning to her. At the time, Ruth claimed to be unconcerned.
Her behavior said otherwise.
She was brooding. Nox recognized the heavy expression on her face.
And why shouldn’t she brood? He gave her plenty to brood over. He nearly lost control at the tavern. His claws were out, and he wanted blood. The kiss after. Then the store clerk whispered poison in Ruth’s ears.
A wind picked up, stirring the dust along the road.
“I don’t suppose you’re handy with something like this?” Ruth asked, finally breaking the silence.
“Now you speak to me,” he grumbled, unable to mask the irritation in his voice.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“That Tal female spoke to you in private and now you are distant. Wary.” And Nox did not like it. She acted afraid of him. Many people had good cause to be frightened of him, but it hurt when it washer.
For some reason.
“That female is my friend, and she has a name—Serene,” Ruth said.
“I did not know Serene’s name and you failed to introduce me, even though you felt comfortable enough to speak about me.” They had not been subtle.
“Oh my God, are you being pissy about etiquette?”
“Such a colorful turn of phrase. I am being pissy because you ceased speaking to me.Serene,” he stressed the female’s name, “said something to turn you against me.”
“Wow. Okay, I have no idea what’s going on, but this isn’t the time. Let’s save the temper tantrum for later,” she said. Nox immediately opened his mouth to protest but she held up a hand to stop him. He clamped his mouth shut.
Fine. They could continue the argument later.
She pointed to the engine. “Can you fix this or not?”
“No. I cannot,” he said. It was an engine. Nothing was on fire, so he really couldn’t say why it ceased working.
“Well, fuck.” Ruth slammed down the hood. The metal groaned, as if the entire vehicle threatened to fall apart.
Nox wouldn’t put it past the old vehicle. The thing had enjoyed a long life and deserved retirement. Or a fiery end. Either way was fine by him, although fire suited his mood.
“Should we be concerned about that?” Nox pointed to the wall of dark clouds on the horizon. Dark was a generous way to describe a wall of black clouds that swallowed the sky. A cold wind blew, driving away the summer heat. “I am not familiar with weather patterns, but that seems alarming.”
“Yeah, that’s the storm the forecast promised.” Ruth tapped on her comm unit. “Sending a request. I bet the mechanic and service vehicle won’t be here until after the storm passes.”
“It is only wind and rain. Nothing to be concerned about. We will wait.” He didn’t have much experience with weather, but he knew that much.
“Tomorrow morning at the earliest,” she said, looking up from the comm screen.
“Tomorrow is unacceptable. They will come now.” It was only rain. No one would melt.
Ruth laughed. When he frowned in response, her mirth vanished. “Oh, you’re serious,” she said.
