Annie looked briefly deflated, but swiftly rallied, raising her chin defiantly. “I can handle it. I’ve got the energy. Just gotta manage my time.”
“If you’re drawing up a personal schedule, don’t forget to include some leisure activities. Back when my business was taking off, I used to kid myself that I could sleep six hours a day and work the other eighteen, but we’re not robots. Quality of work has to be balanced with quantity. I came up with some interesting compromises, I remember…” She paused. “But you probably want to do things your own way, without me sticking my oar in.”
Annie threw her hands up. “No master plan here, Skipper. You can talk about whatever you like. I’ll listen.”
Looking into the technician’s open, freckled face, Hunter was struck by a sudden realisation – that this journey was just as much about beginnings as endings. Through tragedy, Annie Grace had found strength and maturity, and against all odds, the two of them had begun to forge the sort of connection Hunter had always wanted with her crew. The wound her daughter had given her fourteen years earlier might finally begin to heal.
Life from death. Hope from fear. Love from despair. That’s the natural way of things on Earth. Why should it be any different out here?
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s talk.”
Author’s Note
Hi there! I’m grateful to you for reading my book. Please keep an eye out for the next instalment, Omphalos, which I’m aiming to complete in 2019.
If you’ve enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Ratings are the lifeblood of indie authors! The review page can be found by following this link, while you can track my new releases here by clicking the “+ follow” button on the left of the screen.
You can also find me on Twitter: @HarperJCole
HJC
Index
PART THREE – RAMIRA
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
Interlude
PART FOUR – GATARI
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
Author’s Note
Amygdala Page 32
