Acceptable Losses (Black Flag Book 5) by Rachel Ford

Author:Rachel Ford [Ford, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

He extended a metal arm my way and pulled me to my feet. Then, he explained how he’d found me. “Quite easily, actually. I observed you slip chocolate bars into the pocket of your trousers. And it being out of character for you to rob your crew, I predicted that you were making clandestine plans – plans that required you to secure a source of sustenance.”

Here, he paused to observe in superior tones, “Although your choice of provender leaves much to be desired.”

“I didn’t have a lot of options. It wasn’t like I could stuff a smoked deer leg in my shirt.”

“Fortunately for you, I can.”

I frowned at him. The light was so dim by now that all I could really see was the dim silver outline of his frame. “Are you saying you brought food?”

“Of course.”

“So that’s how you knew I was going? Because I stole chocolate bars?”

“That’s how I first suspected, yes. But you were lying when you told Magdalene that you were checking on the fire. I measured a faint but observable widening of your pupils and noted an avoidance of eye contact. An unusual move between spouses – particularly, between you two.”

“So why didn’t you stop me right away?” I demanded. “If you were going to follow me like this, why not just stop me before I got all this way?”

“I am not trying to stop you. On the contrary, I waited until Magdalene’s agitation seemed ready to spur her to action. I told her I would check on you. I waited in the rain for a moment, and then poked my head inside the shuttle.

“I’m afraid I lied again, Katherine.”

“What did you say?”

“I told her part of the hull plating had slipped, and we were working to secure it. She asked if we needed help, and I assured her we did not.

“I estimated that this would yield an additional five minutes, approximately, before she came outside to assist. So I took off after you.”

I wasn’t sure if I was mad or relieved. “But how did you find me?”

“I followed your tracks.”

I blinked. “Tracks? I thought the rain would have washed them away.”

“To the human eye, I’m certain they would have been imperceptible. As I know my own will be. But there were still minor impressions visible to my optical sensors.”

“So why are you here, if not to bring me back?”

“I believe you know the answer, Katherine, as I know why you are gone. You are looking for your family. You will not be satisfied until we discover them – or what happened to them.

“I will assist you and ensure that you survive the venture.”

“What about Mags? Shouldn’t you stay with her, and the crew?”

“I have full faith in the captain to keep her crew safe.”

“What if she follows me?”

“I don’t believe she will. Not until first light. Not now that she knows I’m with you. Not to put too fine a point on it, but it is quite insensible to run off into a thunderstorm in the dark.

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