Ice Runner by Viola Grace Page B

as the leaves he was working with.
    That his manner was shy and introverted was in direct contrast to the pure beauty of his features.
    Kescu smiled and sipped at the water tube. It was still cold, but her body needed it.
    She watched him perform the same miracle with the other ten samples. He had had everything waiting for her.
    “Why did you get on your knees and surrender when you arrived?”
    She chuckled. “One or two of the bases like to greet me with weapons and keep me confined until I can be on my way the next day. Apparently, their research is top secret.”
    “If there is such secrecy, why do they use you?” Kescu shrugged. “I am the fastest means of transport between bases. If they don’t want to run it through the tunnels, they are stuck with me. It really bugs them that I can’t take anything over thirty pounds, though. That I can tell you for certain.”
    He chuckled. “If they are crafting weaponry, I am sure that the weight concern is frustrating.”
    “Tough. If they could move as fast as I could on ice, they wouldn’t need to use me.” She swayed a little.
    “I see. Well, I am done here for now. I need to make that call and wait for the flowers to open. That should leave us time for a meal.” He smiled.
    “Thank you, Dr. Wender.”
    “Lorvik or Lor, please.”
    “Kes on my part then. Kescu is what my mother calls me. Well, part of what she calls me. When she really gets riled, I get all my names back to back.”
    She chuckled and then clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. It’s after-run rambles. Who needs to get drunk, I just need to get tired.” She giggled, and he helped her out of the greenhouse and into a living area. “Are you alone here?”
    “I am. For my work, I don’t need a team. The Citadel has sent me here to work with Yola Base, and together, we are testing the seeds that they are producing. If we can come up with a reliable plant that can consistently be grown in laboratory conditions and from there planted into the tunnels, we will have something that can feed millions of under dwellers around the Alliance.” She watched him putter around the kitchen and describe his work to her in detail. She was still dizzy, but the blurting part of her was mercifully quiet. She settled in to have a nice dinner and then find a nice corner to take over and nap in.
    Hopefully, Lor wouldn’t insist on her witnessing the last of his experiment.

Chapter Two
    “S o, you have to pollenate each one?” Kes tried to keep her voice chipper and encouraging.
    She stifled a yawn.
    “Yes. Even in our high-tech world, we can’t create self-pollinating plants. Well, we can, but they don’t taste very good and don’t produce fruit.” He went around with a swab and a brush dipped in different pollen, tending to each one of the twelve plants in turn.
    She turned idly on her chair and took in the expanse of the greenhouse. Some of the plants were bearing fruit, some looked familiar and some looked downright dangerous.
    “Do you eat any of this?”
    “Some. The researchers at Yola transported the living plants to me through the tunnels, but it is faster to have a courier bring them. I can send them my results within a day instead of weeks.”
    “Nice. Why weren’t they using me before?”
    “I asked Dr. Senzer that when I confirmed the delivery. Apparently, you are very expensive.” Kes sat up and wiggled her shoulders happily.
    “Yes, I am. That was my mother’s idea. She said that since my skills were so specific, I needed to get paid for their exotic nature. How can you two afford me now?”
    He snorted. “The Citadel is picking up the tab and charging the Alliance.”
    “Very nice. I am guessing that a run between Teckaro and Yola might become a regular thing.” Mentally, she rubbed her hands together as she contemplated the extra funds. Her sister, Eera, was going to be getting a new tunnel sled for her birthday. It may not be the most lady-like present, but Eera was years from