Talbot was drying dishes when the knock came at the door. Drying dishes? Could you believe? That was the contradiction of Port Authority. Some of the most complicated technology in the universe working side-by-side with what was essentially a Neolithic culture. And everything in between thrown in for good measure.
“I got it,” Talbot called, seeing as how Su was in the middle of a reading lesson with Tuska and Taung. She had the kids spread out in a ring on the floor in the front room. Hard as this new life was, they’d agreed to keep the schedules as close as they could to the old days at Mundo.
Talbot crossed the room, opening the door to Dina Michegan. The marine was dressed in fatigues, her short black hair slicked back. She gave Talbot a quick smile, saying, “Hi. Just got off duty. Figured I’d drop by, see how you were doing. Some of us have been wondering.”
“It’s home. Or so they tell me. Tough time for us. Come on in.”
“No. I . . . Could we talk?”
Talbot cocked an eyebrow, knowing his old friend too well. “Want a beer? Got a couple of bottles. Something called a housewarming gift. Never heard of the like, but some of the local women put together a case of food and stuff. Anyway, the wives don’t drink beer, so I’ve been saving them.”
“Sure. Maybe I’ll just sit here on the step ’til you get back.”
Talbot nodded, left the door open as he retreated to the kitchen and grabbed the bottles out of refrigeration. He gave Su’s questioning glance a shrug, stepped outside, and closed the door before he settled on the step beside Michegan and popped the tops.
“Wives,” she said. More of a statement than a question.
“That notion causes a bit of hesitation here. Not that it’s unknown back in Solar System. Especially in some of the stations.” He shrugged, took a swig of the pale ale. “Just sort of the way it happened.”
Michegan sipped her beer. “What did happen? We’re all wanting to know. I sort of volunteered to hear your side of the story.”
So he told it, leaving nothing out.
“You didn’t desert?”
“Not in the beginning. As to where I am now? I don’t know, Dina. Somewhere in the meantime I’ve found myself. For a time down at Mundo, I was happy like I’ve never been in my life. Dya, Su, they’re pregnant. And I lost another child when the quetzals killed Rebecca. That’s a sobering realization for a man to make.”
“Don’t know if we should be jealous or pity the shit out of you.”
“Dina, what’s wrong with just wishing me the best? People used to do that, you know. Hell, took me until I was lost in the forest to realize what a waste my life had been. And now, here, I’ve seen how close to the edge we all are. The only thing we have on Donovan is each other. And, like Mundo, we could lose it so easily.”
She sniffed, nodded, took another swig of beer. “Yeah. Listen, were you really going to hose the shuttle engines with AP that day down at Mundo?”
“Naw. Like I told you. I’ve only got one round for the rifle. It was all just a bluff to get Aguila to leave us alone. Would have worked if Kylee hadn’t sent Rocket down to see what was happening. When Spiro shot him, that pretty much screwed the whole deal.”
He blinked back tears. Hoped Michegan didn’t see how close he came.
“I’ve been standing duty at The Jewel. The Supervisor’s serious about the place being off limits. That doesn’t mean we don’t hear things through the door when the place gets loud.”
“Anything interesting?”
“Yeah. Listen. Mark, I think you’re all right. You didn’t let us down like some believed. Thought I’d come see for sure. So here’s what you should know: It’s Spiro. She’s been shooting her mouth off. She and Chavez. Says she’s going after Talina Perez this afternoon. Says she’s going to shoot her down. Then she says she’s coming after you. That you betrayed us all. That it was your fault she’s in the fix she is. That you’re a traitor and a coward for running out on us.”
Talbot took a deep breath. “It never stops, does it?”
“I thought you should know. Have a little warning. She’s been drinking. Chavez, too. He says he’ll kill you if the lieutenant doesn’t. And he’s a back-shooter, if you get my meaning.”
Talbot felt a chill run down his spine. “Yeah, I think I do.” He swallowed. “Shit.”
“Hey, lay low. Maybe keep out of sight for a couple of days. Let her cool off.”
“Dina, what if she comes here? Drunk? She might just bull her way into the dome. Start shooting. Just like that day at Mundo when she shot Rocket. I’ve already lost a woman and two daughters I loved.”
“Mark? Don’t try and stand up against her. This is Deb Spiro we’re talking about. You’ve seen her in action. Maybe you haven’t heard, but she’s killed two men already. Men who were shooting at her first. You’re not in her league when it comes to killing.”
“It’s my family,” he said simply.
And he had only had one round left for his rifle.