In her fatigue-induced daydream, Adena hadn't realized Greg had woken up, and he watched her now with a small smile hovering about his lips. "Are we safe?"
"Yeah. We passed the outskirts of the city not long ago. The murriks left us alone this time. Have you been out long?"
"Long enough." He wiped a hand over his eyes and sat up. "That last escapade exhausted me."
"I don't wonder at it. You took a beating back there."
"Yep." He shook his head and looked rueful. "I really could do without anyone else whaling on my hide for a while."
"I don't blame you." Adena listened to the airship's engines rumbling at full power. "We should reach one of our way stations in ten hours. We'll moor and rest up there, make some repairs."
He stood up and swayed. Adena hurried to hold him steady until he regained his balance. He accepted her help, and she couldn't suppress the frisson of excitement his close proximity gave her. For a long moment he stared into her eyes.
"I...should go check on Cathy."
She stepped back. "Of course."
He brushed past her and headed for the accommodation area. Adena took a deep breath and followed.
Conner had settled the human Greg called Cathy Kozinski in one of the bunks and drawn the curtain. Greg pulled it back, and they stared down at her.
The earth woman slept peacefully from all appearances. Her complexion looked pale and drawn, and two bite marks marred the left side of her throat.
"Some Pure Blood fed off her," Adena murmured. "I guess she owes her escape to that silver being's attack."
Greg stroked a strand of hair back from Cathy's forehead, and Adena felt a stab of jealousy. Cathy's eyeballs moved beneath the lids, but she didn't open her eyes.
"I don't want to think about what she must've gone through while we were separated," he admitted.
"Then don't. Put it behind you, both of you."
He looked up at her, pain evident in his green eyes. "Do you really think there's no chance of us returning to Earth?"
"I've not heard of anyone, other than a Pure Blood, getting through the Portal. It's too well guarded. That's not to say it's not possible, just very unlikely."
"Yeah?" He sagged a little. "I guess you're right, but I'm not giving up on the idea.” He clenched his fists.
She nodded. "Whatever helps. C'mon, we'll leave her for now. Conner's keeping an eye on her. He'll tell us when she wakes."
He didn't move. Adena touched his arm.
Greg smiled. "You're right. We should let her rest."
They made their way back to the lounge. Adena poured a glass of wine for them both, and they sat and drank in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Adena's ran along practical lines. After turning over a few options she looked at Greg.
"The way I see it is like this – you should return with us to Penumbra City. We could sure use someone like you, a trained engineer, a guy not afraid to take risks when the chips are down."
"How would I get us back to Earth?" His voice sounded tired.
"I've no idea, but at least you'll be somewhere safe until we can figure something out."
Greg appeared to mull it over then nodded. "Okay, I'll buy that." He rubbed his eyes. "I'm sure tired of people whaling on me – have I already said that?"
She grinned. "You said something along those lines. Greg, go to bed. You've had enough for today."
He went to his bunk, leaving Adena alone in the lounge. She looked at the bloody red hue of the endless frosted plains below, the faint shadows cast by the gas giant Gore, picking out hillocks and ripples of wind-blown sand and gravel. After a few moments, Adena became aware she was no longer alone. She turned her head to see Mr. Phibuli perched on a chair back, his gemstone eyes reflecting the external light like rubies as he watched her in turn.
"I didn't see you there."
"No."
"What's wrong, old bird? And I want an answer this time."
Mr. Phibuli's chest rose and fell as if he emitted a deep sigh, although unlike a real bird he didn't breathe. "That being — the silver woman. I recognized it."
"You know it?"
"It's a weapon the like of which this world hasn't seen for a millennium. I thought them all destroyed."
Adena narrowed her eyes and stared at the bird. "How do you come to know of it?"
Mr. Phibuli blinked. "Because I am — or was — one, too."
Adena's skin crawled with shock and a frisson of fear. After a few seconds, she found her voice again. "I do hope you're not going to be a threat to my crew or my ship?"
"Of course not!" The brass parrot's scoffing reassured her. He sounded like her old companion, although she couldn't fathom the change in him. "You're my friend. I will never cause harm to come to you and yours."
"That's good to know, but I need to know more about this. If you're a weapon, then who made you? And to what purpose?"
Mr. Phibuli's claws scratched the chair back, adding to dozens of minute scratches he'd made over the years. "You've heard of the Kloog. They made me with the express intention of destroying Pure Bloods."
Adena stared at him. "The Kloog? They were the ones who drove the Pure Bloods to this world over a thousand years ago. You're that old?"
"I'm that old."
Adena's mind reeled with the idea of her old friend being so ancient. "I'm guessing they didn't fashion you in the form of a brass parrot."
His beak opened and shut with a series of rapid clacks, Mr. Phibuli's analog to laughter. "You're right. My original outward form could take the shape of anything I needed to be at the time in order to complete my missions. I was badly damaged in the battles that
