“But we have to tell him what’s going on!”
“I promise I’ll keep it in mind. But for now, all I can do is keep following the trail. I’ll try to reach one of the ships and send a signal. Or maybe I can steal one. Unless you have a better plan…”
“Steal one? If you could take one, would you leave?” I ask.
Just saying it makes my heart ache. I always knew he came here by accident, that he was only passing through—and that the moment an opportunity presented itself, he’d go back to his people. But now that possibility feels too real. Selfishly, I don’t want him to leave. I don’t want to lose him. And I don’t want to give up on Meg, Kiran, or little Sanjay either.
“Getting our hands on a two-seater would be a huge win,” he replies. “We’d move faster across Mars, and I’d have access to the full regional map. It’d be a major advantage in fighting the traffickers. At least until the Confederation shows up and takes over.”
A wave of relief washes over me at his words. He’s not going to leave us in the middle of this storm. Not yet, at least…
“Let’s hurry,” he concludes. “The faster we find their landing site, the sooner we can figure out what to do.”
“And rescue the prisoners!” I add, thinking of the others locked inside that transport.
“I can’t promise anything. One step at a time, my sweet Neela. I know how frustrating this is, but rushing in won’t help. Let’s find their base first, then figure out a plan.”
Unfortunately, the hours drag on, and it still feels like we’re wandering aimlessly, though my handsome Sadjim insists he’s following the trail. During our long march, we spot two more aerial crafts overhead. I can’t say if they’re the same ones from earlier, and neither can Prax. Which means we have no clue how many traffickers are already on Mars.
Just when I’m about to lose hope—and my feet are screaming from exhaustion—Prax stops again and listens intently.
“We’re here,” he whispers. “They’re less than half a mile away, if I’m estimating right. It’s getting dark—it’s too late to do anything now. We’ll move away a bit for the night. I’ll go scout once they’re all asleep. We’ll decide in the morning.”
“How do you know they’re there? Half a mile is a lot. No one’s hearing is that good.”
“Wrong. I can hear loud sounds from over two and a half miles away. That’s why we’re whispering. If I can hear them, maybe one of them can hear us too.”
“Does Bully have hearing like yours?” I ask.
“No, Bully’s a Penubian—a partly reptilian species. He’s sensitive to smells and ground and air vibrations. So no, he and his kind can’t detect us like I can. But there’s no guarantee they haven’t hired a Sadjim. I’d rather play it safe than put us at risk.”
“Okay. So how can I help?”
“By staying hidden with Pallas. That way I won’t have to worry about your safety.”
I see how it is. Sometimes, he gently scolds colonists like me for being too naive or idealistic. Other times, he pushes me aside and tells me not to get involved—because he wants to face our enemies alone.
I give him a sharp look.
“So basically, you think I’m too weak to be useful?”
“I never said that! You’re not weak—you’re strong, smart, beautiful, and loyal! You’re amazing, Neela. Don’t doubt that.But you don’t know these enemies like I do. You wouldn’t stand a chance against them.”
“Then explain it to me,” I insist.
My gorgeous Sadjim looks deeply annoyed. He leads us into a thick grove and, after checking the surroundings, sets up our tent for the night. Finally, though clearly reluctant, he shares the information I asked for.
“Penubians, like I told you before, are primarily reptilian. They lack empathy. They don’t feel family love, they—”
“Didn’t you say Bully was working with his cousins?” I cut in.
“I did. That doesn’t mean he won’t shoot them in the back if it suits him. Anyway—Penubians are calm and cold. They can be cruel if needed, but not for pleasure, just out of necessity. Except when it comes to revenge. Bully wants me dead, and he won’t stop until one of us is.”
I remember clearly what caused their falling out. Bully had tried to sell a Human woman, and Prax—clearly taken by her, Ileana—had offered their ship in exchange for her freedom. It wasn’t enough to win the auction, but it was enough to end their partnership.
Still, Bully’s thirst for revenge seems a bit over the top. Maybe there’s more to their story than Prax has admitted…
“If you’re ever unlucky enough to face a Penubian, remember this: their vision and hearing are poor, like I said. Their strengths are their sense of smell and their ability to feel vibrations in the ground and air. Whatever you do, avoid their fangs—they may inject a paralytic venom when they bite. But all of that is irrelevant, because you are going to stay in this well-hidden tent and wait for me to come back. Aren’t you, Purrsong?”
