Page 123 (1/2)

“Inner circle,” Naomi said “Claire and I can meet with him”

“Good,” Saba said as he trundled to the freezer door and pounded on it with a blanket-wrapped fist Then he pointed to Bobbie and Amos “You come with me We’ll see Katria Talk about how to hunt Marines”

So flickered over Bobbie’s face Hardly even an expression, but Naomi saw it

“You lea

d, we’ll follow,” A his empty smile

“Any thoughts on how to get me onto my ship?” Alex asked as the door opened

“Several,” Saba said “You should coh time”

They stepped out into the suddenly burning air Nao cold until suddenly she wasn’t anymore Saba led theh the steam and into the civilian world two by two until she and Clarissa were all that remained

They sat at the counter and watched people go by The fish was unreood Across the corridor, a monitor spooled out the newsfeed until it repeated Clarissa ate, drank tea, talked about everything and nothing Naomi almost didn’t notice the tremble in the other woman’s hand or the way her eyes jittered sometimes If she thinks she can do it, she can do it, Naomi told herself

Theinto the chair beside theht, excited smile with a crooked nose between them “Namnae na Jordao,” he said “Seen you both back at home, yeah?”

“I remember,” Clarissa said

“Katria, she sentto do?”

Chapter Forty-One: Singh

He had trained on ships back ho in a tight cabin and eating elbow to elboith his fellow officers, but at the end of training, he went home, back to Laconia and Natalia and therun had been so up late with Natalia beside him Before the monster came, they’d had quarters with a bedroo wall that they could pull back to get fresh air and the view He re out over the city as twilight fell Vast clouds turning gold and violet on the horizon, and the alien construction platfor the stars

He’d laid his head against Natalia’s as-yet-unoccupied belly and thought about the ships being ht colorious at the time