>>6012038You quickly press your thumb against the tablet for biometric verification of the order. Silas better knows what he's doing, leaving behind a paper trail like this. Meanwhile, Pahan's question tugs at the corner of your mind. Where would he best fit in? Maybe Dornholm, though you doubt she has fully earned her men's respect. Introducing another destabilising factor into the unstable equilibrium would be too much for the girl. Maybe you...
No use trying to think while Pahan is still staring at you like this. “Come with me. I have someth-ing to show you.” You make sure to check every lock on your door twice before leading the way. “Wheir are we go-ing?” You wave down a saluting deckhand, “You will see. Youu'll see.”
Pahan briefly shelters his sensitive eyes with his massive claws. Once they have become accustomed to the brilliant light of the sunlamps, he gawked at the sprawling greenery for a long time, “Is this true? You have space for treez?” With a beaming smile, you nod, “Of course. Very important to have fu-resh food everey now and then. Good for morale.”
The warrior lowers his torso to run his fingers against a trailing pumpkin vine. Gently, he cups the wrinkly yellow flower at the stem and holds it aloft like a crown. You lean down over his head to let your nose sip the heady wine. “But why? Man cannot eat food-cakez alone?” A giggle escapes your cheek, “Can life on nutrimoss even be called life?”
He lets the blossom falls back to the black earth, “Yes, we live on food cake, exile bread, when floating. Feast is rare.” You crouch down beside the sulking young, “Sorry, I didn't know that. I thought I saw beautiful shrine-in-garden once on the station...” His antennas droop down like a steel wire, “No, green there is for the Heart only.”
You slowly back away to leave Pahan alone with his thoughts. In the meantime, the tomato vine should be in full bloom as well. Wandering in that section's direction, a familiar face almost bumps into your chest. “S-so-rry Ma'am. I ddidn't expect to see you here.” Faced with an impenetrable gate of pursed lips, he finally remembered to salute. “So-sorry again, I-i-i...” At this rate you would have freshly pound ketchup out of season.
“Calm down Sal-zar, I'm not going to eat you.” Your deliberately slow and clear tone seems to have spooked him even further. “Uh-uhm, forrreal?” Just then, a dashing cavalryman comes to the rescue, peering out from the grape vines behind you. “Can I have a word with you, capt'? And you, Salzar, just go.” Before you can turn back round, he has already disappeared behind leafy cassava stems.
