Rivers of Orion by Dana Kelly (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .TXT) 📕

a jawker’s secret,” whispered Xylander, and he retrieved a very old phone. He tapped on his camera, but as soon as he started recording, the lantern skink recoiled. Her purr fell silent, and she padded back toward the door. In a flash, she bolted out into the blizzard, vanishing completely from sight.

“How’d you do that?” asked Xylander.

“I’ve always been good with animals,” said Shona, and she nodded at his phone. “Ask for permission next time, same as you would a person. I don’t know why, but it works.”

He pocketed his device. “What just happened between you two, that was special. Very special. The kind of special that the skyman needs to hear about. I hope you’ll consider doing a little scealing when you get back, because I’d wager the skyman would love to work it all into our story.”

“I was starting to think scealing was storytelling,” said Shona. “Now I’m totally lost.”

“No, Shona, I think you’re right,” said Orin. “I think ‘story’ is their word for history—an oral tradition I bet, and the skyman is the keeper of it.”

“Look at you, getting all ridgy,” said Xylander. “Careful you don’t fall for this life.”

“Hey, you never know,” said Orin.

“We should get back,” said Malmoradan.

“Right you are,” said Xylander, and he turned off the space heater.

He led Orin, Shona, and Malmoradan back out into the blizzard.

◆◆◆

Hector’s office doors clattered as Shona pushed them open. She set down the body bag, and they all dropped clumps of snow on the floor as they shed their cold weather attire. “Is there any coffee left?” she asked. She shivered, and she rubbed her hands together.

“I just finished brewing you guys a fresh pot,” said Mike. “Orin, I set out some hot chocolate pouches for you, too.”

“Thanks,” said Shona. She leaned forward and kissed him. “That was very sweet.”

“You guys took long enough,” said Hector. “What did you do, walk there?”

“As a matter of fact, we did,” said Malmoradan.

Hector scoffed. “In the middle of a log-lifter? That was dumb. Why didn’t you take one of the buggies?”

“According to Xylander, they were all in use,” said Orin. He told them of their trip through the blizzard, the room full of body bags, and their encounter with the giant lantern skink.

Hector whistled appreciatively. “You guys have definitely earned your coffee. John, let’s get this slug over to the OR so we can start defrosting it. Everyone should find something to do for a few hours. Also, don’t drink all my coffee. It’s one of the few things they grow up there, and it isn’t cheap. Okay?”

“You want me to get that for you?” asked Shona, and she easily hoisted the body bag.

Hector cleared his throat. “Seriously. What are you?”

“She’s my daughter,” grumbled Malmoradan.

“You must take after your mother,” said Hector. “Thanks, Shona. I welcome the assist. Make a right past the bathrooms, and it’s the double doors at the end. We’ll follow you.”

“You’re welcome,” said Shona, and she carried the body bag to the operating room.

Cajun and Hector squeezed past her. “Right over here,” said Hector, and he rolled a surgical table into the center of the room. He stepped on the wheel locks, halting the table in place. Shona set down the bag, and Hector moved a massive lamp into position above it. He switched on a red light, and the room immediately began to warm.

“All right guys, good luck,” said Shona. “Please don’t make us go and get another one.” She stooped out of the room, headed back for the lobby.

“I suppose we should find somethin’ to do, ourselves,” said Cajun.

“How about brunch? For everyone. On me,” said Hector.

Cajun chuckled. “I suppose I’ll have to see exactly how keen they are on stardust and unicorn meat.” Hector and Cajun rejoined the others in the lobby, and Hector repeated his offer to pay for brunch.

“We appreciate the offer, but I doubt my team has the stomach flora required to process the local cuisine,” said Casey. She jostled the duffle bag. “We brought our own.”

Hector laughed, and his legs clanked as he stood with arms akimbo. “You’re taking a pass on the stardust and the unicorn meat?”

“Rusty called it that,” said Shona. “Why do you call it that?”

“Well, because it’s more believable than sunshine and rainbows, don’t you think?” asked Hector.

“Casey, what’s in their food?” asked Shona.

“You’ll want to stick with the rations,” said Casey. “Trust me. I forgot to brief most of you on this, but the food here is ninety-nine percent reclaimed organic matter. The water is completely reclaimed.”

Orin shrugged. “I’m game. Thanks, Hector.” He glanced outside, spotting a dozen residents as they moved to and from the cantina. “Most of the public water on Rhyon is reclaimed. Stardust and unicorn meat sounds better than all the vat scrapings I ate growing up.”

“I’ll join you,” said Mike.

Shona shook her head. “You heard the part where she said reclaimed organic matter, right?”

“I did,” said Mike

“You understand what that means, right?” She gagged slightly as she thought about it.

“I had a chance to scout out the cantina while you three were getting the body blank,” said Mike. “They’re using food printers. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Shona coughed. “I don’t think you get what they’re using for source material. I really didn’t wanna spell it out for you, but I guess I have to.”

“No, I get it,” said Mike. He grinned as he jammed his thumb into the bottom of his fist and slowly pulled it out.

“Mike, stop!” said Shona.

Orin’s eyes widened, and he leaned in close to Mike. “Wait, it’s recycled shit?”

“Sure, in the same way that vegetables are recycled manure,” said Mike. “I can’t speak to what else happens to the waste along the way, but the space stations send down perfectly usable nutrient pellets and protein bricks.”

“Oh,” said Orin, and he stood up straight. “Well, I guess it can’t be that bad. The diners sounded pretty happy last night, so it must taste pretty good.”

Shona covered her mouthpiece. “No!”

“Don’t worry about us,” said Mike. “Enjoy your