Outrageous Fortune-Errant Freight Book One

Chapter 44

The suns had long since set when the Errant returned to Nike where, according to Gideon Quinn, Jinna would now be safe to return.

During the brief radio contact, Quinn also said something about General Rand, but the Errant was only at the edge of Nike signal range and the call cut out before Quinn could finish the statement, leaving John to hope all had gone well for the ex-soldier. Given Jinna's desire to thank him for facilitating the business with Del, he assumed they'd learn what had occurred in Nike soon enough.

For now, however, the Errant's crew, plus one, were enjoying a well-earned hour of leisure at the Frayed Rigging, which was doing a brisk business.

Brisk enough the drinkers at the bar angled sideways to make room for their fellows and those seated at tables were guaranteed to bump elbows every time they lifted a glass. To John's memory, it had always been like this, though, unlike the Rigging of six years past, there were fewer uniforms on the bodies scattered around the pub. The blue and black of the Corps had been, by and large, replaced by the battered flight leathers and coveralls of working aeronauts.

The change went deeper than wardrobe, however, as also absent from the night's festivities was the underlying drive to live as fully as possible in the moment, because those moments might run out on the next tour.

Some veterans mourned the change, but John found it made for a more relaxing evening.

Or perhaps, after the past two days, he was simply tired.

He lifted his glass, bumping into Jagati's shoulder as he did, not that she noticed.

She and Jinna and Rory were all preoccupied by the dancing happening in front of the Rigging's handkerchief-sized stage, which tonight featured two drums, a fiddle, and an oud.

Eitan was on the floor with a handful of others, his arms and hips moving as one with the music, the fingers of his hand snapping, his body interweaving with the four men and two women into a twining, sinuous strand.

Then, in tune with each other and the musicians, the strand broke apart, again becoming six disparate individuals, following the drums into a sudden stamping, whirling crescendo which just as suddenly stopped.

Applause broke out, dancers and musicians shared hand grips, embraces, and the occasional formal kiss on the cheek.

"I could never move like that," Jinna observed as the dancers returned to their various parties while the musicians set down their instruments to take a break. "Not even before I got pregnant."

In the meantime, Eitan was edging his way to their table and John could mark his passage by the stares, dropped jaws, and any number of drinks that missed their marks, spilling instead on any number of shirts.

Eitan, seemingly oblivious to the devastation left in his wake, slung himself into the chair Jagati had been guarding against all comers.

"Is there nothing you don't do well?" Rory asked, sounding only slightly bitter.

Eitan didn't answer at once, but first took a deep draft of the cold ale they'd all been guarding. "Knit," he said at last, setting the mug on the table.

"Ha," said Rory.

"Truly." As he spoke, Eitan's smile held the barest of shadows. After the past few days, John figured this was the best one could hope for. "In primary school I was the despair of my Textiles instructors."

"Same here," Jinna said, sipping at her tea. "I can't get through a row on a blanket for the baby without dropping at least three stitches." With which statement she threw a curious glance Rory's way.