Page 109 of Commander’s Mate

“Maybe it should be.”

Silence again.

“What did Earth smell like?” he asked.

That was harder.

“Depends where.”

“Cherry Street.”

I closed my eyes.

“Cut grass. Car exhaust if the wind was wrong. Somebody grilling in summer. Wet pavement. Lilacs from Mrs. Dorn’s yard. In autumn, leaves. Real leaves, not whatever alien equivalent you have.”

“We have leaves.”

“Prove it.”

“I will.”

The promise slipped in quietly.

Not I will take you to Farseek.

Not you will stay.

Just: I will show you.

I opened my eyes.

“My mail truck smelled like old vinyl and coffee.”

“You drove?”

“Every day.”

“You operated transport.”

“Do not make mail delivery sound sexy.”

“I was not.”

“You were.”

He looked genuinely offended.

I smiled.

“I had a route. Same houses most days. Some businesses. Packages. Certified letters. Dogs who hated me.”

“Dogs.”

“Animals.”

“I know the word. Scarlet has explained Billy to everyone within hearing distance.”

My chest tightened.