When Althea and Egan climbed through the Beag-Liath ship’s hatch, they were met by one of the crew, who administered a nasal spray vaccine in each nostril and drew a syringe of blood from the two Domhanians.
The Beag then led the couple to a cabin furnished with only a chair and a cot. A moment later another crewman entered the cabin with a large pot and mimed, in a way that left nothing to the imagination. It was to be used for toileting. The two Beag exited the austere room and the door hissed shut behind them.
Althea and Egan stared at the handleless metal door when they heard the locking mechanism tumblers click into place. Egan said, “Looks like we are prisoners rather than guests.”
Althea c****d an eyebrow. “So it would seem.”
They felt the ship lurch slightly when it launched bu
