Free Retribution by Dave O'Connor Page A

as the Resolute but not as high. Rihan craned a look out through the entrance and saw it settle.
    A minute later she got a hail from Tumos control telling her to marshal her crew for boarding. Rihan stood on one of the chairs near the entrance and in a big voice yelled out. “OK everyone can you please line up in your designated serials, with serial 1 up front. Make your way out and follow the direction of the ground staff. You will hand over your gear to the load masters and then board the shuttle. The crew will direct you to your allocated seats.”
    Dave and Rihan were the last to board and took their seat at the front of A deck. Rihan looked down the line of seats, saw that everyone was seated, most were smiling or engaged in animated conversation. ‘Aagh, it’s over’ she said to herself and sat down next to Dave.
    He placed his hand on her knee and whispered in her ear “Well done. Thanks honey.”
    Rihan finally relaxed her body and leant her head on Dave’s shoulder. The ship’s chief steward stepped toward Rihan and was obviously a bit embarrassed at her familiarity with a senior officer and that he would have to interrupt her. “Excuse me Maam but are you and you crew all done. Our tally indicates we have everyone.” Rihan nodded and then leant her head back on Dave’s shoulder and closed her eyes. The steward smiled and made his way forward to the cockpit.
    “Don’t worry honey” said Dave “tonight we dine at Renata’s and tomorrow we will be up at Terra Fuaga with our feet dangling in the tropical waters.”
    “Can’t wait” said Rihan as the flight safety video began playing. She tuned out having seen it a million times already. By the time it finished the shuttle’s engines revved up and they began ascending before the huge aft thrusters propelled them headlong over the runway.

Chapter 18. Nova Vista 1400, 3 June
    It was a weary Rihan that pulled her suitcase through the door of their apartment on the 41 st Floor of Nelson Towers. She twitched her nose on encountering the slightly stale air and flicked the control to kick off the air conditioning while Dave held the door open. He pulled in his suitcase and let the door close behind him. He went straight over to the windows and opened them. The warm air rushed in and he breathed deeply.
    “I’ve just turned the air conditioning on” complained Rihan.
    “It’s OK honey we can close these once the old air is flushed out.”
    He wheeled the cases into their bedroom and smiled as memories of pleasure flooded back to him. He was still smiling as he came back out into the open plan living area to find Rihan collapsed in one of the big lounge chairs. She was vaguely looking out through the windows to the spaceport beyond but her mind was not focussing. She had let her hair down and the soft auburn curls fell about her reclining head.
    Dave came over behind her and massaged her head. “Mmm” she sighed. He intensified the pressure on her scalp and she rolled her head back a little further. She closed her eyes and murmured “More!” He moved his fingers to her shoulders and he could feel her muscles relaxing. He gazed out the window as the curtain on the left billowed with the fresh warm breeze. He could see the spaceport and then remembered.
    “Oh I promised to call in and see Art” he said.
    “What now?”
    “Soonish. He’s in North Shore hospital.”
    “Dammed inconvenient.”
    “Why don’t you give Sue a ring?”
    “Why don’t you Mr Energy?” she mumbled.
    “All right, I’ll do it.”
    “Don’t stop” she commanded.
    “I’m afraid I’m not that good at multitasking.”
    “Just a minute more.”
    A minute later he stopped and hailed Sue.
    “Sue, it’s Dave” he said giving her the signal that he was calling as a friend not her boss. “We want to call in on Art this afternoon.”
    “I’m at the hospital now Dave. Art’s in good spirits. Come on over. Do you know where to go?”
    “North Shore 14C Room