The Stars Blue Yonder by Sandra McDonald Page B

right now. Twig, come here.”
    She buried her face in Jodenny’s shoulder, her thin arms shaking. “No.”
    He tried to go to her, to wrench her away, but instead crashed to hisknees on the carpet. Only Kyle’s support under his arm kept him from collapsing altogether. The security tech was already calling for an emergency medical team. Jodenny had backed up against the bulkhead with Twig, and Osherman’s hand was squeezing her shoulder.
    â€œPlease,” Myell gasped. “She has to come with us.”
    Osherman had been staring at Myell. Slowly he said to Jodenny, “Give her to me.”
    Jodenny asked, “Sir?”
    â€œGive her to me,” Osherman said, and there was no mistaking it was an order. “Come here, Twig.”
    Reluctantly Jodenny handed over the little girl. Osherman smoothed back her hair with his hand and said, “He’s your grandfather, right?”
    She nodded.
    â€œThen trust him. And trust me.”
    Osherman took three steps forward and thrust Twig into Myell’s arms.
    Jodenny cried, “No—” just as a blue light flashed, sparked, was gone.

CHAPTER SIX
    Another Friday night, another romantic dinner. Jodenny hadn’t been this happy in a long time. She and Sam Osherman made their way through the crowds as a comet blazed on the domed overhead of the Rocks. Passengers and crew alike dined at the sidewalk cafés, and danced at the nightclubs, and watched street performers. Teenagers flirted and children played tag and Jodenny slipped her hand into Osherman’s. He smiled down on her.
    â€œDrink or two?” he asked. “Dancing, or maybe an old-fashioned movie?”
    â€œLet’s just walk,” she said. Duty and obligations and the constant pressure of shipboard life fell away. Outside the bulkheads, the great space river Alcheringa carried the
Yangtze
on its long journey throughthe Seven Sisters. Inside, Jodenny enjoyed the pull and push and vibrancy of the crowds.
    A creek ran down the center of the promenade, flanked by winding stone paths. Koala bots frolicked in the gum and eucalyptus trees of the promenade. Lovers strolled there with heads bent low and eyes only for each other. Jodenny turned and kissed Osherman, and he gave her a wide smile.
    â€œWhat was that for?” he asked.
    â€œNo special reason.”
    He kissed her back, right there under the trees and stars, and Jodenny could have stood there forever but for a girl’s quick, high shout.
    â€œNana!”
    She turned from Sam’s lips to see a man, a boy, and a girl standing just a few meters away, gawking at her. The man wore wrinkled civilian clothes and had no shoes over his socks. The kids were in pajamas. The man had his hand on the girl’s shoulder and appeared to be holding her back.
    â€œNana!” the girl said again.
    â€œShe doesn’t remember,” the man said. “Sorry, ma’am. Sir. She’s a little mixed up.”
    Jodenny had never seen any of them before. A quick glance at Osherman confirmed that he, too, was confused.
    â€œHow do you know I’m a lieutenant?” she asked. Neither of them were wearing uniforms, after all. “Who are you?”
    â€œNever mind,” the man said. “We won’t bother you anymore.”
    He tugged the children away. The girl left reluctantly, glancing backward over her shoulder.
    â€œThat was strange,” Osherman said.
    â€œThey must have us confused with someone else,” Jodenny said.
    Every planet in the Seven Sisters boasted of pristine beaches and welcoming seas, but this stretch of golden sand on Kiwi was the best tropical shoreline Jodenny had ever visited. She bobbed up and down in the warm salty water with Osherman right beside her. Their masks and fins hungloosely on their arms, because kissing was much more fun than snorkeling.
    â€œYou should get out of the sun,” Osherman murmured, his lips soft against hers.