She began to lean heavily on him.
“Hey,” he whispered softly. “Ithink it’s time to take you home.”
“Hmmm,” she sleepily agreed, buthad no intention of moving.
He hailed a waiter and inclinedhis head towards the table. The waiter nodded, and led him to the payregister.
Somehow, he managed to pay thebill and walk McReidy out of there without disturbing her. The air outside hada chill and she shivered slightly against him, his arm still around her. Itwoke her a bit. Enough to pull away from him and walk under her own steam.
He escorted her back to the ship,back to her quarters. He didn’t ask to come in; she didn’t offer. That wasdefinitely going too far.
As a finishing touch, he kissedher hand. His eyes looked up into hers. “Good night,” he winked.
Her eyes were warm with wine andmusic, and her touch lingering. But he deliberately held back. The end to aperfect evening, with no promises and no regrets.
* * *
Giacomo and Humphries were goingto sort out their problems one way or another. Humphries had pushed to thepoint where Giacomo could take no more. His Latin heritage demandedsatisfaction. And when two male egos clashed there was only one method.
As gentlemen, they agreed on atime and place – right now and out in the woods where no one would find them. They didn’t speak as they made their way down to the planet. Ignoring eachother, apart from the not so subtle sideways glances as they tried to size eachother up. They told no one. This was personal and an audience was the lastthing either of them wanted.
They found a clearing a mile orso into the woods. The ground was reasonably flat and free of rocks, a lightcovering of moss on the shaded side. The light was good. The sun filteredthrough the trees that towered above.
Giacomo looked aroundapprovingly; Humphries leant against a tree, his arms folded across his chest. “Any time you’re ready,” he called.
“Then get over here… unless you’veturned chicken.”
Humphries pushed off the tree andstepped forward. Giacomo moved in to meet him. They stopped about a metreapart. Humphries was taller, but was very definitely outweighed. Hisintention was to stay on his feet. His longer reach was to his advantage.
They shaped up, dancing aroundeach other for a few minutes before Giacomo walked into a right cross. Heanswered it with a combination that had Humphries down. He was on himimmediately.
Humphries tried desperately toget him off. A thump in the solar plexus winded Giacomo for a second, allowinghim to be rolled off. Humphries was back on his feet. He waited for Giacomoto get up before advancing on him again. It was unfair to hit him while he wasdown.
This time, Giacomo was morecareful and it became more of a sparring match as they blocked and defendedmost blows. With a speed that shocked Humphries, Giacomo got under his guard,grabbed him and threw him to the ground. From there, they wrestled each other,fists flying everywhere as they rolled around the clearing.
Giacomo heard something. He wasastride Humphries, sitting on the man’s chest when he stopped. “Wait aminute.”
“What for?”
Humphries threw a fist, whichGiacomo ducked and grabbed. “I heard something.”
Humphries stopped and listened. A low growling was coming from the woods. It started from one direction, butseemed to move as though it was circling the clearing.
Giacomo sat back on his heels,taking his weight off Humphries’ chest. His head turned, following the sound. “Where are we?” he asked apprehensively.
“I don’t know. A few kays fromtown, I suppose.”
“Uh-oh. I think we’ve crossedthe line.”
All visitors were free to roamthe city limits and to a marked border around it in complete safety. Once pastthat line, they were at the mercy of the planet’s other inhabitants. Thecrittens disliked strangers, and killing anyone who crossed into theirterritory made perfect sense.
The border was not marked clearlythrough the woods. Or if it was, Giacomo and Humphries had had other things ontheir minds and not noticed. Giacomo was on his feet. He grabbed Humphries’hand and pulled him to his. Their own disagreement could wait.
“Which way’s out?” Giacomo asked,cautiously looking around.
“You’re the pilot,” Humphriesconceded in an unconvincing tone.
There was no time to argue as thecrittens charged at them from behind the trees. Small dark shapes that seemedall arms, legs and teeth moved quickly and blended with the shadows. Shrillhisses filled their ears and claws flashed. Dribbles of thick saliva, sprayedthrough the air as teeth snapped or heads were blocked away from their fleshytargets.
Only the practiced teamwork thatcame to them automatically was going to help. The crittens were smaller and notvery brave, relying on their numbers as their greatest strength.
Tired as they were, Giacomo andHumphries fought desperately. They both knew the alternative. At the firstchance, they bolted for the city. Teeth snapped at their heels and clawsscraped the backs of their jackets. Occasionally, a shape lunged from a treecausing them to duck or roll, scrambling to their feet and taking off againbefore a hand could take hold.
The crittens would not cross theborder but the two men weren’t willing to take that chance. Even after thechase broke off, they didn’t stop until they could see the city through thethinly scattering trees.
Humphries dropped to his knees,his head slumped forward. He couldn’t breathe as his heart pounded in hischest. Giacomo was on his back, staring up at the sky. Neither of them couldspeak, both gasping for air.
“That was close,” Humphriesfinally managed, checking himself for damage. Plenty of bumps and bruises, butno broken skin or blood. “They get you anywhere?”
Giacomo didn’t answer. He wasstudying the swelling rapidly coming up below Humphries’ left eye. Hisknuckles hurt and he remembered making the connection. He slowly sat up. Hisheart had stopped racing, his breathing was almost normal.
“Giacomo?” Humphries stoppedinspecting himself and looked at Giacomo.
“No, I’m good,” Giacomo quicklydiverted his attention to his own injuries.
“How about a drink?” Humphriesasked, standing up.
“I thought you’d never ask.” Giacomo was on his feet quickly. “But, look at you, boy, you’re a disgrace. Can’t take you anywhere.”
