Page 5 (1/2)

“I don’t knohat that means”

Miller leaned close His breath smelled like acetate fu hiot to help me,” Miller said The blood vessels in his eyes were als They know you helpout of hi

“Everyone’s dead,” Miller said He took his hand from Holden’s shoulder and turned away Confusion troubled his brow “Almost Almost”

Holden’s terminal buzzed at him, and he took it out of his pocket Nao out a reply, then stopped when he realized he’d have no idea what to say

When Miller spoke, his voice was small, almost childlike onder and amazement

“Fuck It happened,” Miller said

“What happened?” Holden said

A door banged as soone The sanic volatiles like a spice shop gone rancid were all the evidence that he had been there And that ination

Holden stood for afor the coppery taste to leave hisfor his heartbeat to slow back down to nor what he always did in the aftermath When the worst had passed, he rinsed his face with cold water and dried it with a soft towel The distant,decks rose to a frenzy A jackpot

He wouldn’t tell them Naomi, Alex, A that had been Miller intruding on it Holden recognized that the impulse to keep it from the them that he didn’t question itto stand between it and the Roci

He studied his reflection until it was perfect The carefree, slightly drunk captain of a successful independent ship on shore leave Easy Happy He went back out to the pande back in tihts felt a little too bright, the noises sounded a little too loud Holden made his way back to the table and poured himself another shot He could nurse this one for a while He’d enjoy the flavor and the night Sohter

A fewout of the bustle and chaos like serenity in a female form The half-drunken, expansive love he’d felt earlier came back as he watched her ether on the Canterbury for years before he’d found hi he’d woken up with someone else had been a lost opportunity to breathe Nao He shifted to the side,room for her

“They cleaned you out?” he asked

“Alex,” she said “They cleaned Alex out I gave hienerosity,” he said with a grin

Naomi’s dark eyes softened into a syain?” she asked, leaning close to be heard over the noise

“It’s a little unsettling how easily you see through ible And this wouldn’t be Miller’s first bathroom ambush Did he make anyto an electrical problem Half the time I’m not sure he even knows I’m there”