Harvesting Rue
Page 14
Rue had a truer understanding of how emotionally attached Ebby was to her position. “Then, you must consider my harvest a true success.”
“It does give me hopes for others,” Ebby smiled.
They looked up at the sounds of screaming and laughter as warriors climbed down from the rocks and returned from the river and forest with their new companions slung over shoulders. Strong hands swatted bottoms. “You are claimed,” chorused voices. Rue watched women scowling mock anger, and smiling while they were carried to claiming caverns.
Epilogue
Isari was sleeping while Imeria sucked her thumb, cuddling under her quilt. Tepilla, Rue’s week old son, slumbered quietly in his cradle.
Rue sat at the holograph panel at Isari’s desk and searched the star charts. She always figured machines quickly. After six months on the bridge, she understood most of the equipment panels.
“There it is.” She dragged and pulled the blue speck into view, larger and larger, until its sister planets and sun edged out of the screen and only the single moon interfered with her view. Rue hit the translucent button for “List”, and ran through the hieroglyphic writing. She had studied the language for months. Rue scanned quickly, rummaging through millions of names. She held her breath and touched the letters.
Betts lay sleeping with her head on Gary’s chest. Her hair was longer, but other than that she looked the same… and at peace. Rue scanned the room. Against the wall stood a small chest. Rue’s picture and her pool cue rested on top of it. She scanned back to the bed. “I’m okay, Betts. I’ll always love you.”
Tepilla gurgled, waking for his feeding. Rue backed out of the screens and rose to pick up her child. “I’ll always love you too,” she cooed. The baby’s liquid brown eyes looked up at her, his lips circled and searching. His face melted into its first smile, and Rue lay down on the pallet while he nursed. Isari’s arm wound over her waist, protecting her even while he slept.
THE END