Higher Ground by Becky Black (notion reading list txt) 📗

“He…he will be okay?”

She smiled at him. “Oh yes. He’s going to be fine.”

Adam sagged with relief and had to lean on the bed to keep his knees from giving out.

“You should get some rest too.”

“Yes, I…” He remembered what she’d said about resetting the leg. “Ah, I set his leg, after his accident. Did I screw it up?”

“No, Mr. Gray,” she said, smiling. “Falling down a mountain screwed it up. You did the best you could in the circumstances. Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong we can’t fix. Now, please, you’re clearly exhausted; go and find yourself a bed and sleep. I promise I’ll call you if there’s any change.”

Though he hated to be away from Zach, Adam knew she was right, so he would come back once he could see straight and stand up without swaying. The tiredness had caught up and hit him like a club, as if it finally had permission now they were safe. After thanking the doctor some more, he went to find a place to sleep.

He didn’t get straight to his bed. When he left the medical bay, he bumped right into someone who’d left the mountain days ago, not only minutes.

“Ann!”

“Hello, handsome.”

Korrie looked cleaner and tidier than when he’d last seen her. More like the lady he and Zach had visited what seemed like a year ago. His exhaustion forgotten momentarily, he caught her up in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet.

“What are you doing here, you mad old rock witch?” he asked, setting her down and grinning stupidly at her.

“I was there at the start of the colony, I had to come and see the end of it. After all these years studying the island and…” She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Well, I had to come.”

Her words sobered Adam, and he followed her to a port to look out at the ring of islands that was all that remained of Zahara. Adam put his arm around her as the ship accelerated away, the ring growing smaller, finally disappearing from sight. Tears ran down her face, and Adam didn’t say anything, just held her. Someone else he’d be bonded to forever. More of the group had drifted over to join them, saying a silent good-bye to their friends, homes, and lives.

“Hello, Simon,” he heard Korrie say and turned to see her unbutton the bag she carried. “I have something for you. Amina was a little frightened on the flight, and she was worried you might be too when your turn came, so she asked me to bring you this.” She took a rag doll with long striped legs from the bag. “I think she called her Peggy, but you probably know that better than me. Anyway, she said she thought Peggy would help you not to be scared.” She smiled. “She and Visha are fine. They’re taking care of Tuzo for me until we get back.”

Simon took the doll, staring at it, then looked at Korrie. “Thank you.” His voice came out choked, and he turned and walked away abruptly. Simon, their rock, would never want them to see him cry. But in less than a day, he’d give the doll back to his child and hold her in his arms. He wouldn’t be able to hide his tears then.

“Hey,” Korrie said, taking Adam’s arm suddenly. He’d stumbled as he’d turned back from watching Simon, and his head swam. She looked into his face and scowled. “How long since you had enough food, water, and sleep? Too long, I’ll bet.” She took his arm and led him away. “Let’s get you working on the sleep part first.”

* * * *

Zach knew he’d seen Adam several times over the last couple of days but hadn’t had a coherent conversation. The drugs the doctors gave him were much more exciting than the ones in Glyn’s medical kit. Even when hypothetically awake, he’d been only dimly aware of the world.

But at last he reached what he could finally call a state of full consciousness to find himself in a bed in a hospital ward. This must be the infirmary on Dunbarrow outpost. There were a half dozen other beds in the ward, all unoccupied and dark, the only light in the room over his bed. His broken leg was held immobile in a plasti-cast from ankle to thigh, only the site of the incision from the surgery exposed.

Ah yes, he’d had surgery; he remembered going into the OR when they’d arrived at the outpost. His leg felt heavy and numb but not painful. Probably full of local anesthetic. Everything else seemed to be in order, he thought, looking down at himself. He had a few dressings on cuts. And he felt the freshest he had for days. When he raised a hand to touch it, his hair felt soft and clean. He’d been shaved recently; his chin was smooth.

“You’re awake.”

A quiet but delighted voice. Adam stepped out of the shadows where he’d been looking out of a window into darkness. Clean and shaved, like Zach, but, unlike Zach—who wore only a hospital gown—dressed in utilitarian and unflattering basic fatigues he must have got here at the outpost. Somehow he made them look good. He didn’t look tired anymore either. He had color back in his face, and the dark circles under his eyes had faded.

“Adam, you look wonderful.”

Adam laughed. “You know how to start a conversation, I must say.” He sat down by the bed, rested his elbows on it, and took Zach’s hand.

“Is this Dunbarrow?” Zach asked.

“Yes. We’ve been here nearly two days.” He nodded around the empty ward. “You’re the last of the casualties. Everyone else has been discharged. Long-range transport ships are on the way to pick us up and take us out of here.”

“Take us where?”

Adam shrugged. “Still being straightened out. We’re waiting to hear from the Terraforming Authority. Most of us are under contract to them. And who knows what’s going to