Beauty and the Fleet (Intergalactic Fairy Tales Book 2) by Robert McKay Read Free Book Online Page B

ship had been coming from Colarian air space.
    Realization slowly crept up her spine and made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. She hadn't seen that book in years, not since her father died. Its loss had gone unmarked in her grief at the time. Later, she thought she'd lost it or left it behind when she'd taken her things to live at the orphanage. Now it was there on the floor and there was only one way it could have gotten there.
    The face of the monster that killed her father reared up in her mind's eye. She clutched at her chest, expecting to feel the point of a knife, her breathing coming out in ragged gasps. Beatrix closed her eyes and slumped down to the floor, wrapping her arms around her legs. The beast may be on the ship, but he wasn't in the room. If he were, he wouldn't have dropped the book from the ceiling. She forced herself to calm her breathing and think rationally. There was no reason for him to have dropped that book other than to mess with her head, and she wasn't about to let that happen.
    Beatrix glanced around her warily to make sure none of her friends were around and then walked over and scooped up the book and the box it had come in. She took them both and climbed into the cockpit of her Talon to hide them. While the Talons were completely useless, they each still spent a little time in them every couple of days, and nobody would ever climb into another's Talon. Nobody ever climbed into the ones abandoned by Red and Butch either, but they might some day. At least that's the excuse she gave herself for hiding it in her own. She never once questioned her decision to hide the book. It was a weakness. Being held prisoner was already more weakness than she could stand.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER TEN
     
     
    Several days passed with no further strange incidents. Just endless days of milling about the bay, wondering if they had made it to Colar, the Colarian home world. They both dreaded and hoped for it. When it happened, at least it would bring change.
    Only Pickle and Gadget seemed somewhat content to continue as they were. Beatrix watched their blossoming romance with curiosity, and if she was honest, a touch of jealousy. If they hadn't been thrust into this situation, they would have never gotten together. Whenever she saw them sneak off together, she would climb into her Talon and stare at the little grey box.
    "You know, if you want to pleasure yourself, you could do it in the shower like the rest of us. You don't have to hide up there," called Hands from down on the ground.
    "Don't be such a pervert," replied Beatrix, her cheeks burning just like she had been caught with her hand down her pants. "I just need some time to be alone. I'm an introvert. I love you guys, but being around you all the time is draining."
    "Wow, I was just messing around, but now I want to know what you're doing up there." His voice moved a little closer, as if he were getting on the ladder to climb up.
    "If your head pops up into view, expect it to be knocked the hell off," growled Beatrix, certain that she was only making him more curious. She also knew that he would never violate her space like that.
    "Oh, you know I have no desire to taste your sting," he called back. Beatrix could almost hear him wink at her.
    "Why don't you go take a shower, you pervert, and leave me alone with my thoughts."
    "I think I might do just that," said Hands, not a trace of shame in his voice as he walked toward the bathroom.
    Once she was certain he was gone, Beatrix reached down and picked up the box. If she was already being accused of hiding something, she might as well be guilty of it. Reading wasn't easy in the low light of the bay, but the words were familiar enough that she managed it. She only read the first few pages. All the while, her heart raced, and her face burned with shame. She was betraying her father's memory with each word; her promise not to read fiction until her revenge was complete echoed in her head. And she was lying