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“Of course,” Prax said

“Because you know, sos happen, you didn’t even mean theet drunk Sos I’ve done when I really tied one on? I don’t even know about until later” Arain of truth, soerated, it’d be better if we knew it now, right?”

“I never did anything that she said”

“It’s okay to tell uys do stuff Doesn’t ht hi His knee felt much better

“Actually,” he said, “it does That ed in a way Prax couldn’t quite understand

“All right, Doc Like I said, I’m sorry as hell But I did have to ask”

“It’s okay,” Prax said, standing up For a ive, but it didn’t Prax took a tentative step, then another It would work He turned toward the galley, but the conversation wasn’t finished “If I had If I had done those things, that would have been okay with you?”

“Oh, fk no I’d have broken your neck and thrown you out the airlock,” Aentle relief loosening in his chest “Thank you”

“Anytiot there, but it still felt half full Less Nao across the table from each other Neither of them looked as ruined as Prax felt Holden turned from the ith a formed-foam bowl in either hand The brown slurry in them sht his nose, Prax was ravenous

“Lentil soup?” Holden asked as Prax and Amos sat on either side of Alex

“That would be wonderful,” Prax said

“I’ll just take a tube of goo,” A an intestine next ti fun for anyone”

Holden put a fresh bowl in front of Prax and handed a white tube with a black plastic nipple to Amos, then sat beside Naomi They didn’t touch, but the connection between them was unmistakable He wondered whether Mei had ever wanted him to reconcile with Nicola Iot?”

“Sa like hell toward us Apinnace heading away from us on the other side”

“Wait,” Prax said “Away fro our course Already did the turnaround, and they’re getting up to speed to join us”

Prax closed his eyes, picturing the vectors

“We’re alhteen, twenty hours”

“How’s it going to play out? Are the Earth ships going to catch us?”

“They’re gonna catch the hell out of us,” Alex said, “but not before we get that pinnace Call it four days after, maybe”