stung her into raw fury. She shouted, 'Why can't you just let the inevitable happen ?'

    The companionway slammed and loosed a flurry of echoes in the chamber's barren confines. Ataine scraped damp hair off her forehead and rolled to her feet. She felt wretched. But physical discomfort became trivial beside the crushing ache of loss brought on by Dorren's withdrawal. Disconsolate, she followed him to the cockpit.

    He sat hunched over the controls, helmet off, and chin rested on closed fists. The glow from the screens outlined features set rigidly as a mask.

    'Does my presence sicken you? Or threaten your damned male pride?' Ataine was unable to hide the bitterness in her voice.

    He responded without moving. 'You're a wonderful person, Ataine. Sensible, intelligent, and gifted beyond belief, not to mention attractive.' The dismissal sounded rehearsed. 'But I don't want a woman in my life.' He shrugged irritably. 'Even you. I'm sorry. One day perhaps you'll understand.'

    Before she could reply, he punched the transmitter into 'send' and spoke crisply into the mike. 'Prospector IV to Sabre escort, has Captain Jern left Station with the claim buoys?'

    The speaker crackled overhead. 'He's on his way. Did you just have a power outage?'

    'Trouble with the lock,' Dorren glanced back to Ataine. 'Get your helmet on. I'll have to clear those messed gears and then set that buoy. Jern can help me. You can easily be spared, and no doubt you'd be more comfortable after a rest back at Station.'

    Ataine pitched herself into her chair, fighting tears. 'I'm staying. I don't trust that glitched lock, and Jern can't help you like I can if it malfunctions again.'

    Which was all true, but Dorren's lack of argument made the remainder of the shift pass like arctic winter, unbearably lonely and bleak. By the time the Prospector docked at Station, Ataine's nerves were drawn to snapping point.

    Her quarters seemed a prison. And the company of others only emphasized her matchless compatibility with Dorren. Isolated by her loss, she sought refuge in the cockpit of the Prospector, and with every shred of compassion she possessed, tried to understand what might motivate Dorren to reject her.

He found her there still, an hour before the next day's shift.

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