Page 23 of Alien Burn

The attendant's eyes moved to Sereya, then back.

“Nothing has been recovered yet.”

Sereya wished Roemary hadn't asked. She could still see a piece of the ship tumbling past the ramp, far too large to be turning over like that. Somewhere inside it might have been the little case beneath her bunk. Two good dresses. A comb with a chipped tooth. A scarf she never wore because someone might recognize the pattern.

Six years she had kept that scarf.

“We'll need access to a proper communications service,” Roemary said. “My father will be frantic.”

“The instructions are on the panel. Some channels are restricted during the lockdown.”

Roemary's mouth tightened.

Sereya stepped forward before the attendant had to apologize for that too.

“Thank you. For the rooms.”

“Of course.” The female glanced at the dressing on her hand. “Medical assistance is available through the same panel. You needn't wait until morning.”

Sereya nodded.

The attendant left. Roemary took the room with the larger window.

“Did you hear her? Nothing recovered. As if that answers anything.”

Sereya put her hand on the back of the couch. The blanket was soft beneath her fingers. She had been cold on the transport, though everyone else seemed to be warm.

“They're still looking for people.”

“I know that.” Roemary turned. “You don't have to say it as though I don't know.”

“I didn't mean⁠—”

“After everything I did to get us off that ramp.”

Sereya looked at her.

“If I hadn't insisted that the guards move us, who knows how many more would have been hurt? Someone had to say something. Poor Graecey. I warned her on the ship that the whole presentation was badly arranged. You heard me.”

Sereya remembered Graecey trying to get the groups together. The clip in Adryel's hair. Roemary coming back up the ramp furious because Khalzin had chosen Janae.

She did not remember a warning.

“Sereya.”

“I'm tired.”

“We all are.”

Roemary waited. There had been a time when Sereya would have filled that silence with an apology and whatever answer was wanted. Tonight she could not seem to find the words quickly enough.

At last Roemary sighed.

“Go wash. You still have soot on your face.”

In the smaller sleeping room, Sereya closed the door and put her palm against it until the lock engaged.

Then she tested it.