Page 31 of Commander’s Mate

Fair.

I added FOOD.

Then MEDICAL.

Then SLEEP.

Then PRIVACY.

Then—

A woman in the far corner made a sharp sound.

Everyone froze.

She had six ration bars tucked beneath her blanket.

One in each hand.

Four stacked beside her hip.

A Farseek crewman stood several feet away with an empty supply tray.

“I only asked whether she needed more,” he said.

His voice was careful.

Too careful.

The woman pressed the bars against her chest.

“No take.”

“No one is taking them,” I said.

Her eyes jumped to me.

“No take?”

“No.”

She looked at the crewman.

He backed up another step.

Scarlet came closer to me.

“Food hoarding.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“My grandmother lived through hurricanes.”

That was not the same.

It was all I had.