Too Close to the Sun (The Sun 1) by Robin T. Popp Read Free Book Online Page B

delivered a third blow.
    He lost his grip and was sucked out of the ship.
    Then Angel felt herself slip. Looking back, she saw one of the bolts anchoring the harness to the wall was loose and wobbling precariously. In the next instant, it popped free and shot past her into space.
    “Shut the door!” She screamed as the remaining bolt slipped further out of the wall. She twisted her body, desperately clawing behind her to find something to grab.
    Her mind screamed in frustration as the door failed to move. Then the last bolt burst from the wall and Angel was airborne.

Chapter 4
     
    Angel sailed toward the black void of deep space, body-slamming into the outer door as it slid into place just in time. She slumped to the floor and lay there, trembling, disgusted with her reaction. The sudden roar of the ship’s engines sounded faint and distant. Somewhere in the corner of her mind, she realized Romanof had the ship moving. She doubted the rebels would follow. She didn’t think there were any left alive.
    “Michels, report in.” Romanof’s voice boomed over the intercom. She ignored it as she took a few more steadying breaths.
    “Michels, damn it, report in! Are you all right?”
    She peeled off the oxygen mask and harness, letting them slip to the floor.
    “Michels, answer me!” It was interesting, she mused, how his voice sounded so human-like – concern mixed with irritation.
    “I’m okay.” It took effort to sound calmer than she felt.
    “Good. Get back here. Yanur needs your help.”
    She let her head drop forward in resigned disbelief. It wasn’t as if she was lounging in a thermal pool. But Yanur was hurt and she wasn’t - at least, not badly - so she pulled herself together, gathered the mask and what was left of the harness and tether and left the airlock.
    If she wanted to maintain her disguise, she’d have to do something about her clothes. So before heading to the bridge, she stopped by her room. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she absently smoothed down hair that had been whipped to a frenzy about her head. Then she found her boots and put them on.
    Her jacket lay on the end of the bed, where she’d discarded it earlier. She put it on and zipped it closed to hide her torn shirt. Then she studied her reflection in the mirror and hoped that the old man wouldn’t look at her too closely.
    When she reached the bridge, a quick glance out the viewports confirmed that Romanof had everything under control.
    "Let's take a look," she said moving to Yanur’s side, wondering where to start. Gingerly, she felt his leg, trying to assess the extent of the damage.
    “How bad is he?” Romanof asked.
    “I don’t know.”
    “I’m fine, Alex. I keep telling you.” Yanur smiled, reaching out to pat her hand. “If you’ll secure a brace to my leg and help me to my room, I’ll be fine.”
    She pulled her hand back, frowning at the gesture and went to the first aid cabinet where she removed one of the larger braces. She stretched his leg out straight, placed the brace behind it and secured it in place with the self-adhering tabs. Next she cleaned the cuts on his head and shoulder again and this time closed them with butterfly bandages.
    "You think you can make it back to your room?" she asked when she was done.
    "With your help," he assured her.
    Helping him to his feet, she let him lean on her as they walked to his room.
    “You are very brave young woman,” he said once they'd reached his room.
    Angel turned startled eyes on him. “How did you know?” She whispered, not wanting Romanof to overhear.
    “My dear, I may be old, but I’m not blind.” He waved his hand, silencing her when she would have spoken. “No, I know what I thought and said following the terrorist attack, but I was confused and you were a mess. Since then, I’ve had time to study you.”
    She shrugged. So her disguise hadn’t been as good as she’d hoped. “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Of course.”
    “Is he for