Farthest Space: The Wrath of Jan by Ellen Fisher Read Free Book Online Page B

me?”
    “I don’t see any good reason to restrain myself.   I’ve been restraining myself for five years.   It feels good to let it all out.”
    “If we ever get back to civilization, I’m going to court-martial you.”
    “I’m willing to take that chance.”
    Steven chuckled, not at all annoyed by her mouthiness.   He was glad she felt up to being mouthy.   “It’s not broken,” he said, “but it looks like a sprain.”
    “Fred already said that,” Vaish pointed out.
    “Yes, well.   Technology is all very well and good, but it’s best to verify.”
    “Who are you calling technology?” Fred’s voice said.
    Vaish snorted.   “Ignore him, Fred.   He just wanted an opportunity to put his hands all over my leg.”
    Steven grinned wryly as he began bandaging her swollen ankle.   “Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but right now this isn’t the most gorgeous leg I’ve ever seen.   It looks a bit like a watermelon.”
    “A what?”
    “A large ovoid fruit.”
    Vaish almost growled with indignation, then glanced down at her ankle and decided to keep her growl to herself.   She had to admit her leg did look pretty bad.
    “What are we going to do now?”
    Steven lifted an eyebrow.   “I’m going to bandage your ankle.”
    “I don’t mean right now.   I mean, how are we going to explore the planet?”
    “Obviously you’re going to stay right here, and I’m going to do the exploring.”
    “You can’t do that.   You don’t have a prayer of fighting off one of those felines by yourself.”   She still remembered the awful panic she’d felt when Steven had dumped her on the ground and raced away to fight the huge creature, armed only with a metal pipe.   The man might be as dumb as a rock, but she couldn’t fault his courage.
    She was surprised to realize how terrified she’d been.   Obviously Steven meant more to her than she had previously let herself admit.  
    Steven nodded, looking grim.   “I think I would have been kitty chow today if you hadn’t done… whatever it was you did.   Come on, Vaish, level with me.   Do you have psychic powers?”
    Vaish shrugged.   “The truth is, my people have very limited psi powers.   We can control simple minds.   At least we can control the native fauna on our own planet.   I wasn’t at all certain it would work on an alien species.”
    “Good thing for us it did.”   Steven narrowed his eyes at her.   “You can’t influence humans, can you?”
    Vaish smiled serenely.   “That depends on how simple the mind is.   In your case, I should think you are quite simple enough.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “I was joking, Captain.   We cannot influence a sentient mind.”
    “You know, your jokes aren’t very funny.”
    “I’m an exobiologist, not a standup comedian.”   Vaish frowned.   “The point is, Captain—“
    “Call me Steven.   You pointed out I’m not really a captain any more.   We’re both retired from the Patrol until further notice.”
    “Very well… Steven.   The point is, we can’t risk you.   It isn’t safe to try to find those caves.”
    “Probably safer than staying here long-term.”
    “There is no definitive proof that anyone else actually resides on this planet.   To risk your life in such a gamble seems reckless.”
    “Reckless is what I do.”   Steven got to his feet and looked down at her, his jaw set like granite.   “Risk is my business, Vaish.   I’m not dooming us both to a lifetime of being stranded on this planet if I can possibly help it.”   He looked out the pod door, which showed the sun high in the greenish sky.   “But it’s too late in the day for me to make it to those caves and back.   I’ll take off first thing tomorrow.”
    *****
    The rest of the afternoon was quiet.   A pleasantly warm breeze blew through the open door of the lifepod, and the eerie cries of alien birds filled the air.   Steven amused himself by playing solitaire on the lifepod’s