––––––––
ANOTHER NINE YEARS.
Wilder stared at the overhead. She’d turned on the light, but she couldn’t get out of bed.
It would be another nine years before the Sirocco would arrive at her destination—assuming she didn’t irretrievably break down on the way—and then what? What was there on Earth to look forward to? The Scythians would have already arrived. They had numerous ships, equipped and armed. What should have been a simple trip to gather living resources had turned into a last, desperate attempt to rescue humanity from domination and s*****y.
It was hopeless.
Yet no one wanted to mention the fact. Most people, herself included, put on a mask of determination and optimism. Deep inside, they had to feel the same way as her. It was the great Unmentionable.
Each day she had t
