BooksBarbecue
Back The Long Sunset
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Prologue
  5. 1.
  6. 2.
  7. 3.
  8. 4.
  9. 5.
  10. 6.
  11. 7.
  12. 8.
  13. 9.
  14. 10.
  15. 11.
  16. 12.
  17. 13.
  18. 14.
  19. 15.
  20. 16.
  21. 17.
  22. 18.
  23. 19.
  24. 20.
  25. 21.
  26. 22.
  27. 23.
  28. 24.
  29. 25.
  30. 26.
  31. 27.
  32. 28.
  33. 29.
  34. 30.
  35. 31.
  36. 32.
  37. 33.
  38. 34.
  39. 35.
  40. 36.
  41. 37.
  42. 38.
  43. 39.
  44. 40.
  45. 41.
  46. 42.
  47. 43.
  48. 44.
  49. Epilogue
  50. About the Author
  51. Copyright

Then Derek was beside her. “Well done, Hutch.” He looked around at the crowd. “One thing before we leave. Korsek has a connection with someone who wanted them to keep us here until he had a chance to see us. Whoever that is, he’s on his way. He didn’t want the trucks to be used until he gave the okay. I guess he thought that once we got the lander back, we’d just leave and they’d never see us again.”

“Who are they talking about?”

“As nearly as I can make out, he’s an academic of some sort. Or possibly what passes for a scientist here. Something like that. Anyhow, he’s coming. But he’s on a ship. Due in tonight.”

“Okay. So, let’s come back tomorrow. We owe them that much.”

“That’s what I told him.”

•  •  •

They wasted no time attacking the food locker on the lander. Hutch couldn’t recall when beef vegetable soup and corn bread had tasted so good. They went at it with such energy that little was left when, twenty minutes later, they lifted off. The crowd had remained, apparently eager to watch the lander work what must have seemed like magic.

Hutch could not have been happier to see the Eiferman. Tasha took the lander on board; they greeted Wally and told him how grateful they were he hadn’t given up and left. Derek said he’d arrange some sort of award. And Wally laughed and said how happy he was to have them back. “I thought you guys were gone,” he said.

Hutch wasted no time showering. She threw her clothes into the washer and promised herself she’d keep the bathing suit. When she finished, she made for the bridge. Below, the ocean glittered in the sunlight. “Barry,” she said, “you been all right?”

“Yes, Captain. But I will confess I was concerned. Wally and I did not want to go home alone.”

“Well, I’m glad you waited.”

“We would not have left you.” He said nothing more while she checked the instruments and surveyed the night sky. Then: “Captain?”

“Yes, Barry?”

“I’m glad that you have returned. I was worried.”

•  •  •

Derek didn’t think it would be a good idea for anyone other than him to meet with the Volarians. “We just don’t know what might happen. We don’t know anything about this guy who’s coming in. It’s probably okay, but let’s just not take any more chances.”

“But Arin must know him,” said Hutch.

“I don’t care. I’ll go down. Everybody else stays here.”

“You need an interpreter,” said Ken.

“I’ll be okay. I’ve been working on it. If I can’t manage it, you’ll be on the commlink so you can translate.”

“You planning on flying the lander?” asked Hutch.