Captive - Cheryl Brooks Page 0,16

I can trust you—a little. Dunno how I’ll feel about the rest of your gang.”

“They’re a decent bunch,” she insisted. “You won’t have any trouble with them.”

Moe couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, right. They’re gonna have to prove it.”

With a roll of her eyes and a sharp exhale, she strode to the door. “Shouldn’t be too hard. Temfilk already seems to like you.”

“That’s because I’m a likable guy. As long as I’m not being shot at, lied to, tied up, or jerked around.” He left out the part about being hissed at. She’d already done it twice. Whether she knew what that meant remained to be seen.

Asking—or telling—her about it now seemed like a really bad idea.

Chapter 5

Klara fully expected Moe to gather up his belongings and walk out. No one had ever been straight with her before. Anyone she’d ever dealt with had always had a self-serving and often hidden agenda. However, when all he did after she introduced him as a new member of the gang was wave at the guys and take a seat, she began to wonder if she hadn’t been wrong about him. Then again, he had chosen the chair closest to the exit.

Quite honestly, his offer was such a godsend, she had a hard time believing any of it could possibly be real.

I’m so damn tired…of everything.

Strength came naturally to her, but she had nearly reached the limits of her tolerance and endurance. Having a pack of Nedwuts venture into the Barrens to find her was the last straw. Temfilk would undoubtedly tell her she’d be bored to tears on a farm, but boredom was actually starting to sound good. Too bad she didn’t know the first thing about raising crops or livestock. She could learn, though. There were bound to be plenty of frustrations associated with being a farmer—if she’d had to guess, there were more than most people might imagine—but at least nobody would come gunning for her.

The lack of sleep had finally begun to wear her down. She awoke at the slightest sound and anxious hours would pass before she slept again, if indeed she ever did.

What would it be like to sleep through the night? To close her eyes at bedtime and keep them shut until dawn?

Perhaps when constant alertness wasn’t required to keep her and her cohorts safe, she might actually find out.

If Moe’s pilot hadn’t absconded with his ship, they could have been on their way to Terra Minor right now, sound asleep while flying endlessly through space. The journey might take weeks or even months. No doubt she would grow restless, but at some point, she would adjust. She could almost see the stars whipping past the viewscreen as they flew through space at unimaginable speeds.

But Moe didn’t have a ship anymore. At least, he didn’t think he did. Their first move should be to check out the spaceport to be sure. He hadn’t been out of touch with his ship for all that long. Certainly not to the point that anyone waiting for him would assume he was never coming back.

She remained lost in thought until a loud, rumbling noise made her sit up and listen.

“Only the wind,” Temfilk said as he peered through a slit in the shuttered window. “Looks like the Timavals are coming early this year.”

Klara groaned. “Even more good news.” The windy season was her least favorite of all that Haedus Nine had to offer. In the wake of the dry season, strong winds howled through the Barrens, stirring up toxic dust until even the Rackenspries had to wear rags tied over their pointed noses. Then the rains came, turning everything to mud that dragged at the feet as well as the spirit.

“What? You think teaming up with Moe is bad news?” Temfilk slapped the floor with a flippered foot. “If you ask me, which you didn’t, he’s the best thing to happen to this team since you and I first met.” The broad stretch of his fishlike lips heralded his next statement. “Told you we should recruit him instead of trying to sell him. But no-o-o, you wouldn’t listen to me.”

“I heard you,” Klara said wearily. “I just didn’t agree with you.”

“Changed your mind, though. Didn’t you?” he prodded.

“You might say I had it changed for me.” She let her gaze linger on Moe for a long moment. “He’s got some amazing moves.”

“I know. I saw.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You haven’t seen everything he’s capable of.” She doubted