Bhumi tugged at his wrist to lead him through the flooded corridors toward the ship’s bridge. The doorway to the bridge was open, but demarked by a glistening film where a smooth wall of water met the trapped air of the bridge. The pocket of air surrounding him burped as Bhumi drew him into the room.
Gunder and the three wives watched him with wide eyes and slack jaws; their postures in their chairs were uncertain, almost frightened. Roger had hooked his belt to Shon’s chair while she tended to cherry-red cracked skin on his face, but now they both stared at Cormick.
Bhumi touched Cormick’s shoulder. “The Garden is planted, Man – we must leave this planet.” She smiled sweetly and crossed to Roger, taking his cheeks between her fingers.
Cormick blinked and turned to Gunder. “Can we jump?”
Gunder was slow to answer; his eyes were fixed to Roger, who had gone rigid at Bhumi’s touch. “…Well, we’re high enough above the surface if we’re feeling reckless.”
“But the ship-”
“Yes. Yes!” His eyes flicked back toward the helm. “But not because of anything I’ve done. The systems are waterlogged and riddled with functional holes, but the diatherine core and jump piston are report nominal. And the jump vector’s already been programmed, courtesy of your friend in the hold. Star Ceteron. All that’s left is to pull the trigger.”
“No, please wait.” Tetva’s voice was soft, but pleading. The intensity made the whole bridge seem quiet. “Just a moment more…” Tetva was free from her chair and now clutching at Bhumi’s arm. Her eyes flicked to Roger’s now glowingly healthy face, then back to Bhumi. “Please… Byrie. Can you give him back to me? I will devote to you whatever you ask.”
Darling Bhumi’s smile was patient as she detached Tetva from her arm. “Your man is dead, child, and his body has been claimed by the planet. His soul has already begun its flight to the sun of Ohida, to cleave to his sun god. But as he has served us so well, perhaps my sister Vrahi will demand him back from his A’lah. I believe they are on good terms.”
Bhumi glanced then to Cormick. Her aura had retreated, and now glowed just beneath her skin. “It is time.”
Cormick motioned to Damwick, and the jump piston hummed; the diatherine bubble enveloped the ship, collapsed the dimensional cylinder to a disk, and pushed them all across the universe.
