The Way Back (Champions of the Crystal Book 4)

Chapter 16.2

Sabrina spent another evening trying to fall asleep over her comconsole, with as little success as ever. Several times, she told herself she should go to bed; her eyes were burning, and her mind was no longer processing any of the information on the screen. But she lingered, not knowing why, until an incoming call chime roused her from a daze.

"You're still up! Sabrina, honestly, you might at least have the grace to pretend to be sleeping when I call you at strange hours," Ford said.

She thought he was halfway serious. "It's not that late," she lied.

Instead of launching into the instant reprimand she expected, he paused, frowning. "Isn't it? Well, never mind. You look all right, and you'll not get away without sleeping with Mother there."

"You're the one who looks like he's been getting away with not sleeping." He looked horrible, in fact, she realized, coming totally awake. "What's happening?"

"Oh, I've become mired in bureaucracy. I'm here on Kaldoun, waiting for the ship that's supposed to come pick me up. They've got me in a quarantine of sorts. It took me several hours of my very best persuasive skills to get a call put through to Praxatillus. I don't know how long they'll tolerate it, so tell me quickly, how are things?"

"Fine. Mara's back, taking charge and catching up. Aurora went down to see her parents. I met with the decorators again. Tristan found a bug—well, I think it was a bug. There weren't many lower life forms around when I was here before. I know you guys were trying to restore your entire biosphere after the war, but did you have to recreate the insects?"

Ford grinned. "What did he do with it?"

"He tried to eat it, of course. He was a valiant spider-killer on Earth. But I got it away from him. God only knows, it might be toxic for him. I guess I should see if I can get someone to analyze what he can and can't eat around here. I can hardly send Mara to Earth for cat food every other week."

Ford sputtered in an attempt to contain an outburst of near-hysterical mirth. Sabrina was pleased; that was the most she'd ever made him laugh, and she hadn't even had to try that hard. She had to admit, the image of Mara in a grocery store had some hilarious possibilities. She must remember to share that one with Tirqwin, too. And Scotty.... "Has there been any news?"

"No. They haven't let me speak to Father yet. I think they want to finish whatever it is they're doing to make sure it's safe for me to enter their space before they allow any contact."

"Ford...if what they're doing...if you start to suspect you're in danger, it's all right to turn back," she said after a moment.

"No, it's not. But don't worry, I don't suspect they mean me any harm. On the contrary, they're the ones who are worried." He glanced over his shoulder. "Ah. I think this conversation is about to come to an untimely end. Give Mother my love and tell her I'm fine, please."

"You didn't call her first? Ford!"

A sheepish grin acknowledged her reproach. "Well, I know Mother's all right. It was you I wondered about. Now, go to bed, brat!"

"Make me!" she shot back.

"You're getting that little sister thing down pat," he said. "But practice some of the nicer qualities before I get back, okay? By the way, tell Marie hello for me. I'm trying to find her a present, but the selection in this facility is atrocious—"

The connection was cut abruptly. Sabrina shook her head, resisting the urge to heave a sigh. Instead, she got up, picked up Tristan from the nearby chair where he'd fallen asleep hours ago, and went into her bedroom. She got into her pajamas and crawled between the covers, but didn't turn the lights out. Something told her she still wasn't going to be able to sleep, and she was mentally reviewing the books in her library for soporific qualities when she blinked to find Mara standing there.