Page 59 of Meat

Alyx stared up at the roof of the tent, contemplating this while Jale idly traced the lines of her body.

Thoughts began forming in her mind.

Did the ukkur never raid the abattoirs where the nith slaughtered humans for consumption? Probably not. It had likely never even occurred to them.

But those slaughterhouses held other human women such as herself. They were brought in by the shipful. Thousands every day. Women that the ukkur could take as mates, who could bear new generations of ukkur warriors.

She almost said this, but caught herself.

What if those women didn’t want to be mated to brutal ukkur beastmen? Alyx knew from experience that these bestial males were not interested in asking for permission. No doubt they would force themselves upon some of the women. After all, isn’t that what had happened to her? In the end, she had found happiness with her mates, but perhaps the other women would not feel the same.

Still, it was better than being slaughtered and butchered for meat, right?

Any fate seemed preferable to that.

But there was even more to it than just that. Was she seriously considering a plan to breed an army of ukkur warriors? How many would die as a result of that?

Before she had been dragged to this planet against her will, Alyx’s calling had been to bring life into the world.

Now she was dreaming about starting a war.

But what was the alternative? The status quo? Humans traded for ksh, murdered for their meat? Ukkur hybrids bred for a life of brutal slavery. And a handful of free men eking out a primitive existence in the wilderness?

She needed time to think it over.

She would not say anything just yet. She would turn it over in her mind, weigh the options, make sure there wasn’t some other path she hadn’t considered—a path that wasn’t paved with corpses and blood.

Krogg had noticed her thoughtful silence, but he didn’t ask. He respected her silence, as if he knew that she would speak about her thoughts later when she was ready.

“Come woman,” he growled. “Day is still young. We get you clean. See how Ravnar is fares with our bibis.”

Alyx smiled. She let Jale and Krogg lead her across the tent where there was a basin of rainwater, which they splashed onto her naked breasts and belly and thighs, washing away the sweat and sticky seed.

She was happy with her mates.

Whatever happened—whatever she finally decided about the other thing—she, Alyx was happy for now.

But that happiness was soon interrupted.

A boom shook the earth beneath their feet. A moment later, the world outside the tent erupted with the sounds of roaring ukkur, the vicious pop of rifle fire, and the hum of motorized vehicles drawing near.

Nith.

The nith were attacking.

CHAPTER 22

“Stay here,” Krogg said as he and Jale raced to the front of the tent, threw open the flap, and charged outside.

Alyx disobeyed and followed after.

Stepping outside was a sensory overload. For one thing, there was the sudden transition from the inner dimness of the tent to the bright midday sun that drenched the camp. Then there were the sounds of shouting voices and blasting weapons. Those had been loud inside the tent, but now they were doubly amplified.

A massive hand caught Alyx by the shoulder. Krogg’s.

“Inside,” he growled. “Stay inside.”

With a shove, Alyx was thrust back into the muted darkness of the tent. For about half a second, she really did consider staying put. There was a battle raging out there, and it was dangerous. Her survival instincts told her to stay in here where it was safe.