Page 148 (1/2)

“Nate?” Naomi said “You’re on a first-name basis now?”

“Don’t be jealous,” Alex said and pulled up a panel Against the sun, the ship was nothing A tiny darkness spinning below theone

I’ht

She turned her head toward the approaching Rocinante It was closer

/>

Chapter Forty-eight: Holden

If the mental little tsk-tsk sounds, it would have Instead, the readout threw a list of a that the first few scrolled off the screen before Holden could read therunted when the needle poked into her vein and theinto her Holden sat beside her, holding her other hand

The transfer froh Once they’d ainst the airlock, and all four of the on the other side of the lock, not quite willing to believe that they were really back Fred Johnson was there too in his greeting-a-political-grandee outfit It was strange to see Fred visibly change roles, holding his body differently, his expression changing so subtly and profoundly it seemed like the shape of his skull had shifted It left Holden a little curious about how much the old man presented to him was also tailored to the situation Chances were, he’d never know

When the inner door cycled open, he’d forgotten about Fred and the prime minister of Mars and the destruction of Earth and prettythat wasn’t Naomi Her skin was ashen where it didn’t look slick and swollen from radiation burns Her eyes were bloodshot and bleary with a profound exhaustion Moving into the room, she was careful, like any unexpected bu he’d seen in years He felt like he was the one returning home now that she was here When she saw hirinned back Somewhere a few feet away or a fewso It didn’t matter at all

“Hey,” he’d said

“Hey You take care of the place while I was out?”

“Had sohtened out,” Holden said Then Bobbie had put a wide, strong hand on his shoulder, shaken hihtly, and said, “Med bay” And then Naoainst Alex for support She looked wounded, exhausted, halfway to dead But she’d seen him, and she’d smiled, and it had dropped the bottom out of his heart

The alert sounded, counted down, and gravity cahed It was a wet, painful sound, but the medical bay didn’t seem concerned The machine had a shitty bedside manner

“Do you think we should get a et a medic”

“Right now?” Naomi asked