Crash Land on Kurai (The Hikoboshi Series Book 1) by S. J. Pajonas

Author:S. J. Pajonas [Pajonas, S. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Onigiri Press
Published: 2017-07-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

I wait in my room for the signal.

Kazuo has been gone for an hour, and I’m dressed and ready to go. I memorized the route to the kitchen and the tunnel beyond. I packed extra painkillers into the pockets of my suit, my knife on my belt. I have no idea why they didn’t take it, but I remember how I told Rin no one was to touch my knife but me. Did he let me keep it? I leave the native tablet on the bed, but I carry my own tablet in the pouch on my back.

While I wait, I think about the conversation I had with Rin at dinner yesterday. He seemed normal, almost friendly. His questions were to the point and gracious, not condescending or threatening in any way. When he wasn’t holding a knife to my throat, I felt like we were allies, two people with questions and no answers. We could have been friends, not strangers, but now I’m sure that’s over. Once we leave, I doubt I’ll ever see him again.

I close my eyes and picture him how he was the other day, watching me speak to Tamura for the first time, before the test. He seemed interested in us, ready to make a move on our behalf. Even when Tamura was yelling at me after the test, I felt Rin’s need to protect us. Does that come from his corporation? Yellow mountain. Kiiroi Yama. Will they pursue us, ally with us, or destroy us?

I groan and hold my head in my hands. Kazuo wants us to move on, to find more from Orihime. He wants autonomy, always has. And now I’m questioning what to do. Both courses of action, staying or leaving, are equal parts right and wrong. Both could get me killed. Both could start a war. Both could be dangerous for everyone involved.

So much for making Rin my obsession. But if I have to choose, I choose to go on my own.

A soft double knock at the door followed by one knock brings me to my feet. I count slowly to five and open the door. The corridor is empty. No one around.

I’m set to go.

Following the path Kazuo laid out for me, I circle around to the front of the temple and step into the ladies’ restroom. I use the bathroom, count to ten, and exit in the opposite direction, walking and looking out the windows like I’m biding my time. The whole point of this is to make it seem as though I’m doing normal, everyday activities. I’m not with Kazuo. I’m just using the bathroom and going for a stroll.

But I’m not.

I follow a parallel corridor and stop at an empty prayer room. Here, I pray and wait until footsteps pass by and fade into the temple’s other hallways. Exiting the prayer room, I’m careful to look left and right before continuing to the kitchen. My heart is so loud, I can hear the swift beat in my ears, and my feet sweat, soaking my socks.

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