The Space Merchants

by Wendie Nordgren

  "You make a breathtaking sight in that dress gazing out at rain covered flowers," Phillip said.

  "I do not need to ask. It is evident that Simon took excellent care of you. Thank you, Simon," Yukihyo said. Yukihyo kissed my forehead.

  "I trust things went well today?" Simon asked.

  "They did. Unfortunately, we must depart tomorrow in order to ensure delivery to Scipio and procure additional supplies for Malta," Hiroshi said.

  Simon addressed Yukihyo, "I hope, upon your return, you will visit with your lady and accept my hospitality under better circumstances."

  "Thank you, Simon. I accept your kind offer." Stewart appeared.

  "Dinner will be ready shortly, sir."

  "Thank you, Stewart."

  A short time later, we enjoyed a delicious dinner. Thunderdrop had returned to my lap. I found it odd that such a terrifying creature could be so soothing.

  During a lull in the conversation, I said, "I had visitors today."

  "Oh, who came to see you?" Phillip asked.

  "Dr. Victor, the lieutenant, and Captain Flint." They all exchanged glances. "There were eight of them?" My voice cracked. "You might all have been killed. You had no intention of telling me did you?" I felt the end of my nose turning red and my eyes beginning to fill. They found other things to look at.

  Hiroshi said, "It is over. There is no reason for you to suffer any more fear." My eyes started to spill over. Thunderdrop chittered and nuzzled under my chin.

  "That may be true, but all of this has made me realize how much I love you all. I couldn't bear losing any of you." I wiped my eyes with my napkin. "I've never had a family before, not a real one. And what is this I hear about you fighting in matches on Malta?"

  Yukihyo said, "It's nothing, really. Right, Hiroshi?"

  Shocked, Hiroshi said, "No, nothing."

  Phillip smirked, "If you want, I'll tell you all about it back home on Tora, Cupcake." I nodded at him. I petted Thunderdrop. Another tear fell anyway. I wiped at it. "Please, don't cry. I can't take it," Phillip said.

  "I'm trying to stop." Thunderdrop jumped on top of my head. I laughed at him. Yukihyo laughed, too. My eyes grew wide, and I looked at Hiroshi.

  Alarmed, he said, "What is wrong?" I sniffed and wiped at my eyes again. Then, I raised my hand up to touch one of the spider's legs.

  "Hiroshi, will you let me keep him? Simon said I could have him. Please?"

  Hiroshi grunted. "What choice do I have? Your tears have defeated me." Simon gave Hiroshi a smug grin.

  "Did you hear that, baby? Do you want to come home with me?" Thunderdrop crawled off of my head and down my braid where he clung and chittered at me.

  Early the next morning, Yukihyo helped me to dress in a pair of soft, loose, black silk pants and a grey long sleeved shirt of matching fabric. The sleeves were loose enough to fit over my cast. I slipped on black sandals. Thunderdrop claimed my shoulder. I convinced them that I was capable of walking, but Yukihyo kept a gentle arm around my waist. A new cream colored transport with tan seats had been loaded with crates of canned spider food and bags and bags of clothes from Simon. As we were getting into the transport, I gave Simon a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  Looking into his pale blue eyes, I said, "Thank you for everything, Simon."

  "Just promise you will come back," he said softly.

  "I promise." The men all shook hands. Thunderdrop chittered at Cass. The ride home to Tora was long, but thankfully uneventful. The thick driving rain obscured my view of where ever our accident on the long road had been.

  When the door to my quarters slid open, I said, "It's so good to be home!" My bags were still on the floor from my solo shopping trip.

  "We are departing right away," Hiroshi said as he followed Yukihyo into my quarters. Phillip entered last. They all had their arms full.

  "I think ole Simon bought you one of everything. Nothing twists a man up worse than a poor, sweet, injured, little female. Right, Yukihyo?" Phillip asked.

  "This is true," Yukihyo answered in his deep monotone.

  "Yukihyo, did you ever visit Sashka's mother? I totally forgot," I said.

  "Yes, the three of us paid her a quick visit yesterday. She asked us to deliver a cake to her daughter. It will be difficult to resist eating it ourselves."

  "Are we going back to Scipio next?" I asked.

  "Yes, very briefly," Hiroshi answered.

  "Where do you want the spider food?" asked Phillip.

  "In the laundry room, please. I'll find a place to put it." Phillip and Hiroshi left. Yukihyo pulled me into his arms and kissed me until I was breathless.

  "I intend to give you all of my manly attentions tonight."

  "Why wait until then?"

  "I will see what I can do. I miss being able to hold you and talk to you behind a closed door."

  "I miss that too, but we're home now, my love." My cast was against his back, and I ran my right hand through his hair. He kissed me again. The blue light flashed above my door. He groaned and pulled away from me, going to the bridge.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I looked around me at the bags covering my floor. "Oh, Thunderdrop. Where do I put all of this?" I took everything out of the bags and laid it all on my bed. I took everything out of my storage unit. Then, I put the dresses in a long hanging cabinet on the right side. Shoes went in the two drawers on the bottom left, toes pointed down so I could see the matched pairs. I put my new boots in their own drawer. Then, I put undies in a drawer. Night clothes went into a drawer of their own. Shirts went in one and pants in another. Exercise things got a drawer of their own. I put Yukihyo's pajama bottoms in with my nightgowns. I spared a moment to think about all of his muscles. Those in his arms, back, and stomach were so well defined. Thunderdrop chittered at me.

  "Okay!" I moved away from my full storage unit. I put my blaster box in a drawer in my vanity. I was glad that I hadn't worn the necklace Yukihyo had given me the day we were attacked. I couldn't believe my shock stick had broken. I placed my hair ties, pins, and clips in another drawer of my vanity. Simon had given me several beautiful scarves. I placed them in a drawer of the vanity, too. I let out a sigh of relief that everything had fit. I had never had so many things in all of my life. Thunderdrop followed me into my bathroom and climbed on everything while he waited for me. I washed my hands and face.

  "Do you want to see the kitchen?" I held my arm out for him to climb. I picked up all of the bags and took them with us. I opened the crates and found my spider's food dishes. I filled one with water in the kitchen. I placed it on the counter in the laundry room. He jumped on the table and stuck his face in it. I opened a can and emptied it into another bowl, placing it by the water. Thunderdrop was hungry. I started opening drawers and looking in cabinets, trying to decide on the best place to put his food. There was an empty enough section in the pantry. I had to push some things over, but I cleared enough space and stacked his cans inside. Simon had told me to feed Thunderdrop two cans a day. While Thunderdrop enjoyed his breakfast, I recycled the empty bags. By then he had finished eating.

  "Let's wash your dishes." I showed Thunderdrop the kitchen, cleaned his dishes, and returned them to the laundry room counter. Back in the kitchen, I made myself a cup of coffee while Thunderdrop explored. He liked the corner desk and vid-screen. "That's where I usually study, Thunderdrop." I cleaned and put away my cup. The coffee hadn't been enough to keep me awake. I was tired. "Let's go rest for a little while." He crawled up my leg and to my back. In our room, I slipped out of my shoes, and pulled back my covers. "Here, boy." I tapped the bed, and he jumped to it. "Good boy!" I crawled under my covers. The men had opened the skylights. With Thunderdrop draped across my shoulder, I fell asleep.

  When I woke up at home and in my own bed, I felt so much better. I went to my bathroom, took out my braid, put everything I wore in my laundry basket, and entered my shower. I braced the shampoo bottle between my feet and unscrewed the lid with my hand. I washed my hair twice, as
carefully as I could with one hand and my cast held out of the spray. I loved the smell of the shampoo I had made for us on Arachne. Thunderdrop, who spied on me, seemed to like it, too. I dried off and wrapped my hair in a second towel. What to wear? Not long ago, I had my reclamation jumper and my pajamas. Now, I had a wardrobe of Arachnean silk. I dressed in a knee length light green dress and found a pair of sandals that matched. I sat at my vanity and brushed through my hair until my arm grew tired. I left my hair down. My scalp was sore. The light flashed above my door. It was Phillip.

  "How are you feeling?" he asked.

  "Much better. It is so good to be home."

  "I know what you mean. I'm much more relaxed here. See you at dinner," he said.

  I looked at my reflection. The cut above my eye was almost gone. The swelling had diminished, and the huge bruise where the Parvac soldier had hit me had turned yellow. The pale green of my dress complimented it nicely. I laughed. Thunderdrop perched above my mirror, looking at me with all of his eyes. The curl had left my hair. I still had traces of the liner, just at my lashes. "I hope Yukihyo still thinks I'm okay looking." I sat on my couch and watched a movie. My spider went over every inch of my room. Then, he got onto my back, and we went to the kitchen. I fed Thunderdrop, and he stayed in the laundry room to explore and play during our dinner.

  Finally, the day ended. Yukihyo and I curled together in bed. My cast rested against his chest. His manly attentions had been frustrating. He was afraid of hurting me. I had rolled out from under the push-up he seemed to be attempting and pushed him over onto his back. He laughed at me and in a temper, I sat on him. What had happened next was shocking, new, and extremely enjoyable for both of us.

  "I do not believe I have ever been happier or more relaxed in my entire life," Yukihyo told me.

  "I want you to tell me what happened after you told me to run." Yukihyo drew in a deep breath. He knew I meant it.

  "After I took down one of them, and before I could take down the second, a third shot me from a tree. Enforcers arrived and finished off the last ones shooting at us. I tracked you and followed your path through the forest. I found the wounded Parvac soldier. I smelled your blood on him, and he laughed and told me you were dead, that he had raped you before he killed you. Enraged, I attacked and killed him. I knew he lied. I could feel you and your terror. Simon and enforcers found you first, moving faster as they were on rollers. It wasn't until I saw you, even battered and broken, that the feral rage left me. I am very proud of you. You fought and survived. I should have protected you." I pinched him. Shocked, he paid attention.

  "What would have happened to me if you hadn't been there? If only Hiroshi, Phillip, and I had been there against eight Parvac soldiers, what would have become of us?" His white eyes locked on mine. "You did protect me."

  When we woke up, Thunderdrop had a surprise for us. During the night he had created a magnificent web for himself spanning from the outside corner of my bathroom and over my vanity to my storage unit. The web looked like delicate lace. "Thunderdrop, your web is beautiful!" I told him. He blinked down at me from his perch. After our shower, Yukihyo wrapped himself in a towel and walked toward the door. "Wait," I said as I opened my gown drawer and showed him all of the pajama bottoms in shades of blue Arachnean silk that I had purchased for him. He dropped the towel. I looked. He pulled on a pair.

  "Stop looking at me like that, or you will cause something to happen that Phillip will tease me about."

  "Fine. You win." He left. That day I got back into my domestic assistant routine. Thunderdrop followed me everywhere. He had some difficulty with the ship's walls but jumped on me and everything else. The days went by quickly, and soon we docked on Scipio.

  Our first entire day at Polybius, I stayed on Tora. The men delivered their Arachnean merchandise throughout the city and made substantial profits. I read more about Captain Espanoza's career in her biography. The men came home for dinner exhausted, but pleased with themselves. Yukihyo fell asleep once his head rested on the pillow.

  At breakfast the next day, Phillip said, "I'm off to purchase medical supplies. See you all tomorrow!" Then, he was gone. Yukihyo suggested that he and Hiroshi drop me off at the mineral baths for the day and pick me up before dinner. I didn't want to leave Tora, but hiding on board because of that Parvac soldier was stupid. Anyway, he was no longer a threat. "Let me take Thunderdrop to my quarters." I wore soft pants and a matching shirt in cream silk, gifts from Simon. "Thunderdrop, I'm going to spend the day at the baths. It will be a bunch of water all day long. You can stay here and have our room all to yourself. Be a good boy." I rubbed his leg. He blinked at me and jumped to my shoulder. "No, baby. Stay here." He refused. I bent over and couldn't even shake him off. When the door opened, this is how Yukihyo and Hiroshi found me. From the corridor, I heard the deepest loudest laughter that I had ever heard from Hiroshi.

  In his deep monotone, Yukihyo asked the obvious, "Having problems?"

  "He won't stay."

  Yukihyo said, "Take him with you."

  "In all of that water?" I asked.

  "It rains a lot on Arachne. He'll probably like it."

  "Fine." We all got in the lift. Hiroshi gave Thunderdrop a scratch behind his head and was rewarded with some chittering. I felt a little nervous during the drive. "If I finish here, I may walk over and say hello to Felicia. You can track me with my bracelet though, right?" I asked.

  "Yes," Yukihyo answered as he helped me out of the large land transport and escorted Thunderdrop and me inside. I saw Tina. She gave me a warm smile as she glided forward. Yukihyo kissed my lips. "Enjoy your day. Thunderdrop, protect our lady." Thunderdrop chittered at him. Tina noticed him then.

  "Is that a real Arachnean spider?" she asked.

  "Yes, I'm sorry, Tina. I couldn't get him to stay home." Thunderdrop had Tina's attention. She smiled.

  "It is fine, but he won't bite?"

  "No," I assured her. "He is really sweet and very smart." Thunderdrop chittered at the praise. Tina led me into the changing room with the fountain. I changed into one of the white short swim dresses and locked up my things. Tina greeted me with juice and led me off to my least favorite of the bath's services. My hip still showed yellow remnants of the huge healing bruise.

  Noticing it, Tina said, "What happened to your hip, if I may ask?" Tina stayed with me during the hair removing ordeal.

  "I got tackled by a Parvac soldier who was trying to kill me," I answered. The attendants gasped.

  With wide eyes Tina said, "How terrifying!" I nodded and a few tears fell before I could stop them.

  "It's okay now. My crew, the Galaxic Militia, and the Arachnean Enforcers got them all."

  "Got them all?" an attendant asked.

  "Yes, there were eight of them," I choked out. They wanted to know what happened. I told them what had happened to me, but not what Yukihyo had shared. I had a small audience by the time I had finished. The attendants wanted to meet Lord Simon Montgomery. And after hearing about how my spider and I had met, they all wanted to pet him. Thunderdrop made his odd purring sound. An attendant brought me more juice and a bowl of water for Thunderdrop. Tina took me to the lounging pool. He sat on my head. After that, Tina took me to a pool I had never used.

  "This bath is rich in therapeutic minerals. It will help restore you." Tina and two other attendants kept me company. I thought they must know that I was still afraid. The female companionship was nice after being surrounded only by men for weeks. While still clear, the water of the pool looked murky. The pool had been hewn from stone, and water appeared to bubble up from the pool's center. Thunderdrop jumped from my head to the towels that Tina had placed on a chair by the pool. The water was hot. Steam rose from its surface, and I began to float effortlessly. My hair streamed out behind me. I stayed there until my fingers started to shrivel. After getting somewhat dry, they sat with me near a small waterfall under the shade of a trellis, and we had a lunch of chilled fruits. One of the attendants, Patna, bro
ught a small plate with tiny bits of meat for Thunderdrop. He chittered happily. We talked about his behavior.

  "How exotic to have a pet spider who follows you everywhere and builds a web in your room!" Tina exclaimed.

  "Would you like a massage now, Teagan?" Patna asked.

  "No, not this time. My arm has only been cast free for a few days. I would like to have my hair done, though." Tina clapped her hands.

  "Very well," she smiled. The same lady who had done my hair before was there again. She jumped when she saw Thunderdrop.

  "Do you think he will sit with me?" Tina asked. Thunderdrop blinked at her and crawled from my arm to hers. He sat in her lap and allowed her to pet him.

  "What shall we do today?" the lady asked.

  "Well, I put it up when I can, but the ends seem really thick when I do. I did like the way you curled it before though."

  She agreed and said, "Leave it to me." She trimmed the ends at an angle, layered. Then, instead of spirals, she curled it in cascading waves that tumbled around my shoulders.

  "Wow! It's beautiful! I love it. Thank you," I said. She beamed, pleased with her work. They applied more of the color to my lash line. I didn't want a new manicure. I took Thunderdrop, changed, paid, and left the baths.

  I had made a promise to Felicia to visit her when I returned. With Thunderdrop perched on my shoulder, I walked a few blocks until I saw the trellised sidewalk. I saw Felicia helping a lady inside her shop as I passed by her windows to the door. I walked toward the left to look at the beautiful arrangement of skirts that she had draped over a table. One of the skirts had a bright pattern of blues and pinks, and finding it to be quite cheerful, I picked it up intent on buying it. As the other customer left, Felicia walked toward me.