Neptune Crossing

  *

  The time passed with numbing slowness. He learned to use the shipboard laundry, and found some clothing in stores that fit him, more or less. He’d finished his speech to Triton and to Earth at least a dozen times, before Neptune vanished into the darkness behind him. How many times he’d finished his speech to Julie was beyond counting, as were the times he’d come to, with a start, realizing that he’d been dreaming that she was here with him. By now, she might have had time to go looking for the translator. Would it allow her to find it? Would she believe him then—really believe him? Would she forgive him?

  He ached to know, to hear her voice.

  /// I didn’t expect

  that you would form such intense attachments

  so quickly. ///

  /I guess there’s a lot you don’t know about me,/ Bandicut thought gruffly. /I’d like to know if that guy lived, too. Jensen. And the people on those two ships./

  /// Yes, ///

  was all Charlie said in reply.