Casserine Read Online Free Page B

slowly, he could rip skin and tendon, causing Byers great pain. He could hear her groaning already, and he took no pleasure in it. He had spent hours the day before they left, explaining in detail how torturous his first month had been on Casserine. She had brightly thanked him for his honesty, but insisted on seeing it through.
    Jake stood carefully, taking on her weight, as she clung to him weakly. Tears began streaming down her cheeks. She choked down her sobs. “I am so sorry, Jake. I never would have come here if I had really listened to you.”
    He began walking with her, step by step, to their bathroom, letting her move her legs one after the other. “Forget all that, Adrian. It’s not like I have millions of things to do. I do like it better though when you insult me, and my lineage, back to the dawn of time. You were really funny when you first left the ship. I don’t want you to cry, and definitely not for being a burden on me.”
    “You can’t nursemaid me for the next three months. You will have to put a knife in me and put me out of my misery.”
    “That’s better,” Jake laughed. He admired this woman more than he had ever admired any other living being. He had been afraid she would go into a comatose state once they reached the surface, and he would not be able to help her at all. She had tried gamely for the first few hours to move on her own, finally having to accept his help or collapse.
    “You could call them back on a life or death deal,” she said hesitatingly.
    “I will not do that unless you want me to, Adrian. I gave you myword.”
    “I release you from your oath, Marine. You can turn me in for the incompetent boob I am.”
    “What, and miss all of this stimulating company. No way. Will you be okay from here?” He asked as they entered the spacious bathroom facility.
    “Yea, but I will need your help getting back to my room, and I am sure in no position to demand privacy. I’m glad you talked me out of wearing jumpsuits down here.”
    Jake laughed again as he moved to the door. “Just call me when you want me again.” He left, shutting the door behind him.
    “Will ‘hey, you bastard’ do?” She called out through the door.
    “Tea,” he laughed, “that’ll do.”
    Jake returned to unpacking the supplies they had brought down with them from the base. A few minutes later, he heard the bathroom door open. He looked around in surprise as he saw Adrian clumsily crawling out of the bathroom, her arms trembling with the effort. She made it all the way to the table Jake used for meals. Smiling crookedly, she looked up at him with sweat running down her face. Her pullover shirt clung wetly to her.
    “Not bad, huh?”
    “Fabulous,” Jake said. “Can you make it over in front of my chair? I’ll be right over.”
    “Grrrrrrrrrrrrr…”
    “Would you like a cup of tea, Honey?” Jake asked cheerfully.
    “That sounds wonderful, but do I have to drink it down here?”
    “No, would you like to try sitting upright in a chair?”
    “It would be preferable to my hands and knees, thank you.”
    Jake walked over and helped her into a chair, where she sat exhausted. He wet a towel with cold water, and came over to wipe down her face, neck, and arms. She smiled her thanks. Leaving the towel with her, he finished fixing their tea. He placed a cup in front of her. Adrian scooted more upright in the chair, and shakily took the cup Jake had placed a straw in. She sipped it noisily, making Jake laugh.
    ‘You’re lucky I left it only warm. Otherwise, you would have a burned mouth on top of everything else.”
    “I watched you, Jake. Why didn’t it affect you when we touched down. I hardly see any difference in the way you move here and the way you moved on the base.”
    “I feel it, but like anything else, it takes believing you can do it. Your strength will build up, and then you will believe.” “Just like that, huh?” “Yes Honey, just like that.”
    ‘You plan on continuing to call