Heretic: A Military Archaeological Space Adventure (The Zenophobia Saga Book 1) by Craig Martelle & Brad R. Torgersen

Author:Craig Martelle & Brad R. Torgersen [Martelle, Craig & Torgersen, Brad R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Craig Martelle, Inc
Published: 2021-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“I’ll help Bayane.” Junak excused himself but stopped when he made it to the corridor. Akoni bobbed to a rhythm that played within his mind as he happily carved, throwing slice after slice into the cart. “Did you ever work as a butcher?”

Akoni swallowed before he replied, “No, but we Ursoids know how to prepare meat. Bovines are a staple on Medvegrad. Also, lowland porcines. So good!”

“What were you eating?”

Akoni ducked his head and went back to work.

Most Tigroids weren’t opposed to raw meat, but Junak had never had a taste for it. He preferred his meat cooked like most of the newer generation. He headed upstairs to check on Bayane and found the Wolfoid dancing in front of the stove, where steaks sizzled in myriad pans. Bayane guided the meat around, sliding the pieces in their own fat. He tossed a series of small pieces into a rounded pan and snapped his fingers at Junak.

“Want a taste?”

“You are a master!” Junak took one of the plates and held it out. The chef dropped in a great spoonful of the bite-sized pieces, which were seared to a light brown.

Junak bit the first one gently, testing how hot it was before inhaling the rest. Bayane ate with one hand while tending the steaks with the other.

“More?” Junak asked.

“What about the others?” Bayane continued to eat the small strips he had cooked separately.

“I’ll let them know. Is it ready?”

“We haven’t eaten in three days. How ready do you think it needs to be?”

“Fair point.” Junak held his plate out for more. Bayane obliged him by cutting a steak in half. Rare to medium-rare, almost perfect. “I’ll eat in the cockpit to give Sankar a break. We’ll need him soon to get to and through the black hole.”

“Roger,” the engineer-turned-chef replied.

Junak stabbed the steak with a fork and bit off a chunk instead of bothering to cut it. He hurried down the stairs and into the cockpit.

“Is that mine?”

“If you don’t mind bite marks and a little drool on it.” Junak held out the plate. “I’m spotting you so you can get something hot before you transition the ship from this well to the next.”

Sankar jumped up, clapped Junak on the shoulder hard enough that he almost lost his plate, and rushed to the stairs.

“Soup’s on!” he yelled at Akoni as he passed and took the stairs three steps at a time. “I can feel my ribs!”

“Good. You’re supposed to feel a few ribs; otherwise, you’re overweight.” Bayane took the other half of the cut piece and held it out for Sankar.

Sankar almost dropped to his knees in relief and joy. He started eating it like Bayane, spearing the steak with a fork and biting off chunks while he was still standing.

Bayane turned down the heat and helped himself to the second biggest steak. He left the biggest for Akoni. He took a huge bite and strolled to the door, choking the meat down after not chewing enough. He cupped his hand and yelled toward the steps, “Akoni! Your steak is ready.

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