Conlan leads the way out of the depths of
the ship up to the comm center. He walks with his head down but I
can see him chew his lower lip, he’s thinking over what I said. If
Shanley’s already exposed to the bleed, there’s no reason he can’t
come back and help Marie. And get us out of here, I add
silently. To tell you the truth, that’s all I’m really hoping for
right now, to get out of this. First thing I’ll do is hold Dylan
and never let him go. I don’t like the memory of the steel bars
keeping our bodies apart.
I can see the indecision play across
Conlan’s face—he’s thinking of ways to broach the topic with the
committee maybe, plead for Shanley to come back. How long has it
been since they were supposed to land? Hours, and how much more
time does Marie have before the terbu
