“Hi, kid,” he breathed.
“How’re you feelin’, boss?”
“Not good.”
“Anything I can bring you? I could fix some broth or somethin’.”
“I’d just chuck it all over myself,” he said.
“We’ll be in Selene in another day and a half. Just rest yourself and we’ll get the medics —”
“Did you send my last will and testament to them?” Dan asked.
Pancho shook her head. “Havin’ troubles with the main antenna. Lars is workin’ on it.”
“How’s the laser?”
“The backup? It’s okay. We’re usin’ it to—”
“Send my will,” Dan said.
“We don’t hafta do that. You’re gonna be fine.”
“Send it,” he insisted. He tried to raise himself on one elbow and failed. “Send it,” he whispered.
“You sure you wanta leave everything to me?”
“Will you fight Humphries?”
She nodded solemnly. “Yep. That’s a promise, boss.”
“Good.” He smiled weakly. “Send it. Now.”
With a reluctant sigh, Pancho said, “Okay, if that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want,” he whispered. “And put in our claim to Haven, too.”
She nearly smiled. That’s more like Dan Randolph, she thought.
“One more day,” said Fuchs.
He and Amanda sat side by side in the wardroom. Fuchs was picking halfheartedly at a breakfast of prepackaged eggs and soymeat. Amanda hardly looked at her cereal and fruit.
“One more day,” she repeated glumly.
“You’re not happy.”
“Humphries is in Selene. It will start all over again once we get back.”
“Not if you’re married to me,” Fuchs blurted.
She stared at him. He looked totally serious, almost solemn. But then his thin lips curved slowly into a hopeful smile.
Before she could think of anything to say, Fuchs went on, “I love you, Amanda. I’m not proposing to you merely to protect you from Humphries. I love you, and more than anything in the universe I want you to be my wife.”
“But Lars, we’ve only known each other a few weeks. Not even that long.”
“How long does it take?” he asked. “I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you. It happened in an instant.”
She felt stunned. This steady, capable, thoughtful, intelligent man was looking at her expectantly, his whole life shining in his pale blue eyes. He loves me? Amanda wondered. We haven’t even kissed and he believes he loves me? Do I love him?
Fuchs licked his lips nervously and asked, “I know I’m only a graduate student and my financial prospects aren’t very wonderful, but could you — I mean to say, do you think…”
He seemed to run out of words. He simply sat there, gazing at her as if afraid to say anything more.
She thought swiftly, never taking her eyes from his. He’s strong. He’s steady. He’s wanted to come on to me, I’ve felt that often enough. Yet he didn’t. He never even touched me, never said a word until now. He’s honorable.
It seemed like an eternity before she heard herself whisper, “Yes, Lars. I’ll be happy to marry you.”
You can learn to love him, Amanda told herself. You know you can trust him, you know he’s gentle and sweet. He’ll protect you from Humphries.
Fuchs leaned toward her and slid a strong arm around her waist. Amanda closed her eyes and they kissed, softly, tenderly at first. But she felt him clutch her to him, felt real strength and passion in the lingering kiss. She wound her arms around his neck.
After several minutes they separated slightly. Amanda felt breathless.
Fuchs was beaming like a thousand lasers. “We’ve got to tell Pancho!” he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “And Dan!”
Laughing, he took Amanda’s arm as she rose to her feet. He let her duck through the hatch to the bridge, then followed right behind her.
“Pancho, Lars has asked me to marry him!”
Pancho turned halfway around in her command chair and grinned at them.” ‘Bout time,” she said. “I was wonderin’ when you two would figger it out.”
“We’ve got to tell Dan!”
Pancho nodded, scanned the instrument panel and saw that the ship’s systems were performing adequately, then got up and started back with them.
“We oughtta perform the ceremony right here, get you legally hitched before we get back to Selene,” she said.