Half Share by Nathan Lowell Page B

headed for the gym.
    Neither of us spoke until we got down to the changing room. Pip was the first and asked, “What in the name of little fuzzy nuggets is going on here?”
    I plunked myself down on the bench. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
    “Start with how long has she been here, and just kind of fill in to the point where we played the game with the darberry pie,” he said seriously.
    I explained how we spent the day and mentioned Cookie’s observation that he thought she might have been beaten recently. After watching her all day, I had to agree with him. I also added my two cents of speculation that she probably had not been eating much. I finished up by explaining how I had been forcing food and liquid down her since she had arrived ship-side.
    When I finished Pip sat with his mouth half open. “Okay, how do we help her?” he asked.
    “I’m not sure, but she’s hurt, she’s scared, and she’s here. I think we need to give her some room and learn to trust us. Lois will take care of her.”
    “Ish? You know you’ve started talking about the imaginary crewman as if she were real, right?”
    “What? Oh, yeah. Well, of course, she’s not real, but you can’t tell me that the Lois doesn’t have some of the best people in the galaxy as crew. And that includes everyone right up to and including the captain.”
    “Yeah, you’re right, but that doesn’t mean we have ghosts!”
    “Not ghosts, Pip, spirit. We take care of our own.”
    “Well, of course. We’re shipmates.”
    “Exactly, and now she’s one of us, so we need to take care of her.”
    “Okay, I agree. But that still leaves me with my original question. What do we do? How can we help her?”
    “Trust Lois . She’ll sort it out. We just need to keep our eyes open and be ready to help when the time comes.”
    “You do know that sounds like your brain has lost a data coupling somewhere, right?”
    “Yeah. I know what it sounds like. But I like the feeling.”
    We stood there without saying anything for a few more ticks. “How long before we can go back do you think?” Pip asked.
    “I think it’s been long enough for us to go and get a status report. We’re going to have to rack out soon. You’ve got the duty tomorrow and I have to start my new job.”
    We went back to the berthing area and found everything quiet. Sarah was rolled up in the blankets and appeared to be sound asleep. Bev was awake and guarding her. She backed us out of the quad and over to the berthing area’s table. When we got out where the light was brighter, I could see that her eyes were all red and puffy.
    “Beverly?” I asked. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. We had a chat about the ship-tee and boxers. I think she understands now and seeing other people wandering about has helped. Sarah has some issues that will take some time to sort out. She shared them with me a bit, but I don’t want to speak for her. It’s her choice if she wants to say anything. I’ll warn you, though, the story is horrific.”
    Pip sighed. “Anything we can do?”
    Bev shook her head. “Give her room. You’re both good-hearted guys even if you’re both blockheads,” she said with a grin. “Just treat her like a shipmate and don’t make a big deal if she’s a little further off balance than a normal greenie. We’re heading out tomorrow and the sooner the better. It will be good for her to get into a routine.”
    Pip asked Bev, “So? Now what?”
    “She’s exhausted. We had a little talk and I told her that I’d watch out for her while she slept. She rolled into the blankets and went out like a light. Tomorrow’s another day. I suggest that you guys call it a night as well. I’ll sit up for a bit in case she wakes up.”
    “Is it going to be okay for me to sleep in the same quad?” Pip asked.
    Bev considered the question for a few heartbeats and I thought she might say no, but finally she sighed and said, “Well, bunkie. That’s the way we sleep