“Right, that’s my concern,” he said. “But it shouldn’t be a problem. By the time the smelter melts, there won’t be anyone around.”
“Yeah,” I said. “And if the tanks do leak and explode that’s great. Even more damage!”
“I guess,” he said, clearly not convinced. “It just bugs me, you know? It’s not part of the plan. I don’t like things that don’t match a plan.”
“If that’s the worst thing you can think of, I’m in good shape.”
“Guess so,” he said.
I stretched my back. “I wonder if I’ll sleep tonight.”
“You crashing here?”
“Eh…” I said. “Ngugi isn’t going to sell me out again. Have I mentioned she’s a bitch?”
“It’s come up.”
“Anyway, now no one can track me down by my Gizmo. So I can pay for a hotel. I’ll probably be up late fretting, anyway. I wouldn’t want to keep you awake.”
“Okay,” he said. Was there a hint of disappointment in his voice?
I put my hands on his shoulders. Not sure why, but I did. “Thanks for always being in my corner. It means a lot to me.”
“Sure.” He craned his neck around to look up at me. “I’ll always be there for you, Jazz.”
We looked at each other for a moment.
“Hey, did you try out the condom yet?” he asked.
“Goddammit, Svoboda!” I said.
“What? I’m waiting for feedback here.”
I threw my hands up and walked away.
—
The huge door to the freight airlock lumbered open and revealed the desolate lunar landscape beyond.
Dale checked a reading on the rover’s control panel. “Pressure is good, air mix A-okay, CO2 absorption on automatic.”
I looked over the screens in front of my seat. “Batteries at one hundred percent, wheel motor diagnostics are green, comms are five-by-five.”
He grabbed the control stick. “Port of Entry Airlock, request permission to disembark.”
“Granted,” came Bob’s voice over the intercom. “Take good care of my rover, Shapiro.”
“Will do.”
“Try not to screw it up, Bashara,” Bob said.
“Bite me,” I said.
Dale slapped the Mute button and shot me a look. “You know what, Jazz? We’re breaking every guild rule in the book. If we get caught, Bob and I will both get kicked out. Forever. We’re risking our livelihood here. Can you be a little more fucking considerate?!”
I unmuted the mike. “Uh…thanks, Bob. For…all this.”
“Copy,” came the clipped reply.