Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [73]
“I'm fine. There's no need—” He wasn't listening. She turned and left the cabin. The night was cool and there was a slight breeze lifting her hair as she went to lean on the rail.
“Nice out here.” He didn't speak for a few minutes, then, “Same dream?”
She nodded. “Kafas. I half expected it. We're getting close to Marinth. I can't stop thinking about it.”
“I could try going after it alone. Pete and Susie know me now.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
She wearily shook her head. “I don't know.” She thought about it. “Yes, I do. It's one of the things I've been hiding from all these years. I was as excited as Phil when I first thought we'd found Marinth. Then I let Kafas poison it for me. I shouldn't have let that happen. Hell, men have been sons of bitches to women all through history. Back in the Middle Ages, a council of noblemen even met to decide whether women were beasts or human. The only reason they decided we were human was that they didn't want to be charged with bestiality. But we still managed to survive and gain our independence.”
He smiled. “Because you learned to deal with it.”
“In spades.” She turned to look at him. “So I'll give you your Marinth, and you'd damn well better find something wonderful there. Wonderful enough to make up for those women who didn't get their chance to overthrow those blasted male chauvinists.”
“I'll do my best.” His hand, warm and comforting, covered hers on the rail. “Are you ready to go get some coffee?”
“Not yet. I need a little time.” But the terror was fading, she realized with surprise. It usually took much longer for her to come to terms with it. She gazed out at the water. “Archer didn't call again tonight. It worries me.”
“That's probably what he wants to do. He seems to have mental torture down to a science.”
She nodded. “He's a terrible man and he must hate women.” She grimaced. “I bet he'd be lobbying at the council for the beast theory.”
He chuckled. “No bet.”
They were laughing at Archer. The knowledge stunned her. Yet letting in the possibility of humor made Archer seem smaller, less intimidating.
“He's just a vicious little man, Melis.” Kelby was studying her expression. “We can take him down.”
She nodded and smiled with an effort. “Sure we can. I'm ready for that coffee now.” She turned and headed for the galley. “I'll make it. You've been very self-sacrificing, listening to my lecture on women's lib.”
“Hey, you're preaching to the converted. I've never run across any weakness in my experience with women. I've just tried to survive them.”
His mother and grandmother. She had a sudden surge of anger as she thought of that child ripped between the two of them. “There's independence and then there's sheer bitchery.” She frowned. “And I don't think I like the idea of you calling your ship the Trina. I know it's kind of a twisted joke, but she shouldn't even have that much place in your life.”
“You're angry.”
“Yes, I am.” Angry and protective and scared that she was feeling this way. She drew a deep breath. “Why not? You were nice to me. Usually, I have to rely on the dolphins to keep me company when I have a nightmare.”
“Here we go again. Just a substitute for Pete and Susie.” He opened the door of the galley. “The story of my life.”
She stopped. “You weren't a substitute for— I didn't need Pete and Susie. Even when I was with them after a nightmare, I felt . . . sort of hollow. But I didn't feel alone tonight.” She was stumbling and she was probably saying things he didn't want to hear. She hurried past him toward the coffeemaker on the counter. “That's all. I just wanted to tell you I don't think you'd have given the beast vote at that council. And for the right reason, not the wrong.”
“I'm grateful,” he said quietly.
“You should be.” She turned to face him. “Where's the coffee canister in this stainless-steel jungle? I expect it to—” She inhaled sharply. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What?” He glanced away from her. “Oh. Lust. Sheer unadulterated lust.” He sat down at the table. “But I'll try to