Dek gave her a warning look, hooking a thumb toward the pilot’s seat as he did. A reminder that unfriendly ears were listening in. “Don’t be so dire. There’s no one on this planet who wouldn’t stand up, throw a screaming fit, and demand you be reinstated.” And louder, he said, “You kept the colony alive, Supervisor. And you did it through guts, determination, skill, and unbridled competence.” A beat. “And that will be the official Taglioni report.”

Kalico gave him a crooked smile. Turned her head toward the window to watch as the shuttle raced its way south toward the Winds. Sometimes it was good to have friends, especially when everything was headed straight into the toilet.

Chapter 50

  50  

Nothing in her life had prepared Falise Taglioni for Donovan. And, to date, nothing on Donovan had prepared her for that first encounter with Flute. Just the opposite, she’d always been in control. In her element.

And just as terrifying, even though the monstrosity hadn’t eaten her in the middle of the night, the big quetzal was curled on the cargo deck less than a meter behind her. The creature’s three eyes were clamped shut as it fought the shivers.

Falise Taglioni had never felt so traumatized. So vulnerable. What that thing had done to her? Talk about inconceivable violation! And worse, that brat Kylee had to have heard Falise as she spewed vomit all over the ground.

The humiliation of it was infuckingtolerable!

Falise had a lot of time to dwell on it as the airtruck flew over the lush verdure of blues, greens, and every hue in between. She’d never seen so much thick and dense foliage. This was forested wilderness, without a sign of humanity. It did nothing to sooth her rattled nerves.

Images from the night before kept playing in her head. Back in Solar System, she’d never been in proximity to a large animal. Not even a horse. Her first encounter with a quetzal had been watching it eat Ednund.

Falise hadn’t slept a wink, had spent the night tasting peppermint and trying not to throw up. Had huddled on the dubious bedding, sure that the terrible creature would sneak across the floor in the darkness to eat her.

Had to have been the most horrible night of her life.

Now, as she was flying across this trackless and unbroken forest, the sense of lonely desolation came crashing down. For Falise’s entire life, she’d been surrounded by humanity. Since childhood, Ednund and Clarice had been her constant companions. The sights and sounds of masses of people had always been with her. She had lived in a safe warren packed with human beings.

The thought hit her as she looked out on the endless forest: There is nothing here.

Only Kylee.