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“We don’t know what’s further inland,” I say. “Did you forget I got washed away by a mudslide? This whole ship could get swept out into the ocean.”
“No,” Ryle says, “I bind it down.”
I sigh. “And we can’t forget about the tornado.”
“You can’t predict tornados!” She tugs again.
Wroz finally strides through the bay and claps one huge hand over both of hers. “Stop.”
“Macie, tell them!”
I turn to Ryle. His shoulders are slumped. He’s torn. I know it. He’ll do what I say, but he won’t necessarily agree with it. And Wroz? He looms, like he’s ready to tie me up right next to Tess on the cart. I suspect he would do it if Ryle weren’t right behind me. And twice his size.
“Tess, you can’t stay here,” I finally say.
“What the fuck?!” She tugs on her bindings so hard that she bounces the cart. “Let me loose, you assholes! I can’t believe you’re doing this!” Her fiery hair flies wildly in every direction as she keeps trying to pull herself loose. She is going to hurt herself if she doesn’t stop.
“You’ll see, Tess,” I say quietly, taking a step back. “This sucks and I’m sorry. But I’d rather send you and be wrong than let you stay and be right.”
“It’s my decision!”
“I’ll ride with you, Tess.” Stella must have slipped in silently behind us. I’d forgotten she was there at all. “You won’t have to be alone with him.” She grimaces toward Wroz.
“So you too,” Tess says, “You’ll let them do this to me.”
“Better angry than dead,” Stella says. “It’s gonna be real awkward if you’re wrong though,” she says to me.
“I hope I’m wrong,” I mumble. “But you saw the animals. You see the storm rolling in.”
“I did.” Stella settles into the seat next to Tess. Her presence calms her - at least she stops trying to wrench herself loose.
“You?” Wroz asks Ryle and me. He says something else in Rurimish, but I’m already shaking my head.
“No,” I say, “I need to keep working on Faith.”
“Take care of them,” Ryle says to his friend. They exchange words in their language. They bump foreheads, their horns making a loud clack when they make contact. Then Ryle hits a button near the door, and the bay opens wide, like a mouth.
Ryle and I watch Wroz drive away. Stella slings an arm over Tess’s slumped shoulders. I know she’s mad. I’d be mad, too. But I’d rather risk a permanent grudge than see her die.
Ryle kisses the top of my head. “Wroz is good. He will care for them. And he is a good builder, his cart is fast and sturdy. They will be fine.”
I lean into him. My huge alien. Two doubters down, one to go. And we’re running out of time.
Which hits me with an unpleasant thought. “You aren’t going to drag me to the cave like Wroz, are you?”
Ryle pats me on the head. “We have one more day of time.”
“Ryle...”
“Shhh, my mate. You will convince your captain. All will be good.”
Shit.
?????
Our walk back to the human camp is silent. We settle down in the cargo bay after pounding on the bridge door for several long moments. Faith has locked us out and Arjun in. “Not now!” Faith shouted through the ship’s speaker system. We made a temporary retreat.
Back in the bay, we sit near the doorway. Our packs are at our sides and we’re ready to jump and go at any moment. I text Faith again - “You’re the last hold-out. Please leave with us.”
