Privateers (46 page)
Suddenly realizing that he was being impolite, Dan snapped his eyes open again. The room was empty, except for Lucita, still sitting beside the bunk.
“What happened to everybody?”
“You fell asleep,” she said softly. “They left.”
Seeing his empty liquor cabinet, Dan said, “They took the rest of the sherry with them. I’ll bet that was Sai’s idea.”
“No,” Lucita said. “I told them to. I didn’t think they would leave without it.”
He grinned at her. “Come here.”
She sat on the edge of the bunk and leaned over him. He kissed her, gently.
The phone buzzed.
Holding Lucita close to him with his good arm, Dan clumsily snapped his fingers. It took two tries before the phone’s little screen on the desk lit up and showed the face of a communications technician.
“Mr. Randolph?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Oh. Hard to see, your room’s dark.”
“What is it?” Dan demanded.
“The President, sir. She wants to talk to you.”
“The President of the United States?”
“Yessir!” The technician was an American, Dan could see from her attitude. “She’s calling from Washington.”
Dan hesitated a moment. Then, “Tell her I’m resting. Doctor’s orders.”
The technician’s eyes went wide with disbelief.
“Dan,” Lucita whispered urgently, “you can’t make the President wait. …”
“I’ll call her back,” Dan said to the phone screen. “Tell her I appreciate her call, and I hope she takes advantage of what’s been accomplished today. And give her my thanks for her help.”
“Yes, sir,” the technician replied. “Is that all?”
“That’s all for now.” He snapped his fingers and the phone screen went dark.
Lucita looked alarmed. “Dan, La Presidenta …”
He pulled her closer and covered her lips with a kiss.
“You’re much more important to me,” he said. “America’s an old nation, Lucita. Maybe she’ll become great again, maybe not. We’ve given her the chance, now it’s up to the people and their leaders. You and me, though, we have other places to go, other worlds to see.”
“But I thought …”
He smiled at her. “You’re the only woman I’m interested in, amada; I’ve found what I’ve been searching for.”
She nestled her head against his shoulder. “Truly?”
“Truly.” He nuzzled her dark, fragrant hair. Then he laughed softly. “How would you like to spend your honeymoon on Mars?”
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