my room, I spotted a dusting of dirt and some tiny twigs stuck in the cracks between the floor tiles. Passing by, I took a closer look at the wall in that area, noting a gap where a loose panel covered another entrance into the tunnel.
That must be the kink that Malahki had talked about. From here on, the tunnel went to the waste sorting room by the farm, to the airlock near it, and to the storage room with my spacesuit.
I now had the way to freedom figured out.
What I still needed was a chance to get out of my room.
Alone.
Chapter 13
AS SOON AS VRATEUS left after breakfast the next morning, I spent the entire time until lunch studying the door panel.
Using the breakfast utensil, I pried the top cover open but couldn’t figure out how to change the program to add my palm print. The technology differed from what I was used to. It was much older too.
At lunchtime, I quickly put the cover back on, then dashed to the bed that Vrateus had found somewhere to replace my sleeping pallet. It was large and comfortable, and aside from the clothing rack and a small table, it was the only furniture I had in this room. I sat on the bed, while Vrateus carried my lunch in and exchanged a few sentences with me.
The moment he left, I continued to work on the panel.
By dinnertime, I’d only figured out the way to disable it, unlocking the door. Before Vrateus returned, I quickly re-attached the cover.
The confirmation light went on and the signal sounded when Vrateus touched the panel outside. However, the lock was no longer functioning. Thankfully, Vrateus didn’t notice that as the doors slid open the way they always did. As he entered my room, his focus was on the two plates of food in his hands.
“This was cooked this afternoon.” He handed me a plate. “Can you smell any trace of fuhnid mushrooms here?”
I took the plate from him, bringing it to my nose and inhaling deeply. It smelled of wet earth and grease. Not appetizing, at all.
For a moment, I wondered if I should volunteer to make a decent meal for them. Although I wasn’t the greatest cook, I was sure I could still whip up something more appealing than this. I would use some plants from Malahki’s garden as herbs. Maybe experiment with different grains—try to soak them and the meat in water for a while, to get rid of that musty earthy smell.
The thought of having to cook in that kitchen, though, immediately turned me off the idea. Even if I stayed on the Dark Anomaly for the rest of my life, I’d rather eat the gray, dirt-smelling stew than spend any time in the company of Krakhil and whatever helpers he had there.
“No smell of mushrooms here.” I gave Vrateus the plate back then sniffed the second plate. “Or here. Just the usual, meat and grains.”
The pleasant aroma of the deadly mushrooms would have actually improved that smell.
“Thank you.” Vrateus left one plate on the table, taking the second one back to the door. “Enjoy your dinner.”
I stared at his wide back as he departed, noting his posture relax a little after my confirmation. The weight this man had to carry on his shoulders to keep this place from falling apart was enormous.
Having gotten to know the Dark Anomaly and its inhabitants by now, I understood much better the gargantuan task Vrateus had undertaken. I marvelled at his resolve and his ability to keep order here. I even felt sympathy for him, too. He was doing it all alone, saving the people who didn’t even realize they were being saved. None of them appreciated his efforts. No one cared or truly helped, either.
Taking a seat on the floor by the door, I propped the big round clock in front of me, watching the time. Guessing that the dinner should be done soon, I calculated the approximate time when life on the Anomaly would finally quiet down. The crew and their captain should settle down for the night at some point.
Then, I would sneak out, down the waste disposal tunnel, and to the spacesuit storage room.
After I had finished the thick stew on my plate, I waited until a significant amount of time had passed.
When I could reasonably assume that most of the crew had gone to bed, I stole to the door and placed my ear to it, listening carefully for any