Page 151 of The Space Between Stars

Though Calver paused for a moment. Dex’s ability to read signals had improved… impressively so. But considering their destination, the boy would be more of a liability than an asset.

Dex didn’t move. “You need me.”

“Because I have a plan.”

“What is it then? Statistically speaking, it can’t be worse than your last one. The one that nearly blew up half the encampment and your discretion along with it.”

Calver blinked hard enough to stamp iron. It felt like half the military was in on his life, now, and meddling with its outcome.

Simple. That was simple, right?

“Listen, we need to go now, before we lose our shot, and I’m not taking you to the supplies until you agree we’re getting out of here together.”

Chaos, did Calver ever have a headache. he asked, shaking his hand for emphasis.

“Because I just loosed about fifty wagon horses off the eastern rim, and the night watchguards have all been rounded up to retrieve them. And because if you don’t, Thyatira will know I’m complicit faster than it takes to scrape two stones together.” Calver would never again doubt the capabilities of a scrawny person. “And because I know how to shut down a distortion circuit. And because I have a copy of the same universal activator that Thyatira holds.”

Any lingering doubt about Dex’s trustworthiness evaporated. That was a dangerous revelation.

Calver shook his head. It had been completed on another. One made by a perversion of his blood.

“Regardless of whether my universal activator will work, I need to go with you to keep my sister informed.”

“That’s a given.”

“That’s not fair.”

There were times when victory could not be inclusive.

Calver left the tent and made for the western rim. Dex dashed around him, sand flying out from beneath his boots, and barred his path.

“This recruitment will see me properly tended beneath the dunes before I let my sister get framed for malintent. Understand me? Going with you is my best bet at keeping her head attached to her obstinate shoulders. Which means you’re going to have to knock me senseless to stop me.”

Fates, did Calver ever understand. Seconds ticked by. He glared at the diminutive boy, whose iris-less eyes widened into obsidian pits.

“Everything doubled.”

“No. I’ve always wanted to.”

“I’ve been sore for two months.”

Calver scrunched his eyes shut, trying to make sense of the overwhelming sensation in his chest that didn’t draw the Survivor from the Void. Because it wasn’t anger. It wasn’t anxiety.

It was gratitude.