Chapter FiveLIEUTENANT IDRIS THERON led Jas into the army barracks. The sentry checked her ID and gave her a cursory once-over with his eyes as they passed through the gate. Jas wondered what a sight she must look in her poorly made, shapeless pants and tunic, but at least the air could now circulate over her skin and cool her down.
There had been no answer at Lingiari’s door that morning, and Jas was beginning to become concerned about the AWOL pilot. She’d asked the woman at the hostel desk if she’d seen him come in the night before, but she hadn’t. That didn’t mean much, however, because it wasn’t necessary to pass the desk to go up to the rooms. It was conceivable that Lingiari was simply catching up on lost sleep after the recent harrowing few days aboard the Galathea.
“How was brea
