The Marine's Queen by Susan Kelley Page A

treat some wounds.”
    The doctor gave them efficient instructions, keeping them busy as the sounds from outside slowly quieted. Webb’s eyes wandered to the door, but he warned them not to open it. “Sometimes they lurk in dark places and wait to pounce. Joe will make sure they got them all before he opens that door.”
    Glory and Sally slept on Callie’s bed while they all waited. The children mumbled and tossed in their restless sleep. The disruption of their peaceful paradise reminded everyone of their vulnerability and the dangers of this alien world.
    After another hour passed, Kam opened the door and slipped inside. He closed it firmly and leaned his back against the wall. His tired gaze searched for Riba first. “All clear.”
    Nobody relaxed.
    “ Where’s everyone else?” Callie asked.
    A large gash seeped blood from Kam’s left forearm, though he didn’t seem to notice. His large, gloved hands clutched his activated weapon across his chest.
    “ Let me take a look at your arm, Kam,” Webb said quietly. “Give Yalo the gun and sit down here.”
    Kam obeyed, still looking a bit dazed. He handed off the weapon and shuffled over to the bench Webb pointed to. Only then did they all see the larger wound across his back.
    By the time they removed Kam’s gloves and shirt, blood puddled on the floor beneath the bench. A tinge of gray showed through the marine’s tanned face, but not so much as a sigh escaped him.
    “ Where are the others?” Callie asked again as she handed the hot fortified drink to Kam that Webb had had them prepare. She couldn’t help but imagine Joe’s body covered with gaping wounds like Kam’s.
    “ They went to find Tar.”
    “ All of them?” Yalo asked.
    Kam nodded slowly. “In case they have to carry him.”
    No one said anything for a long moment.
    “ Is anyone else injured?” Grace finally asked. She sat on the bed with Glory who was watching Webb clean Kam’s wound.
    “ Roz is fine,” Kam answered.
    “ And Vin?” Yalo asked, her face turning red.
    “ Nothing vital.”
    “ Mak?” Acacia asked.
    “ They never touched him.”
    Silence filled the room again except for an occasional soft curse from Webb as he scrubbed at the edges of the ragged wound.
    What about Joe? Callie wanted to scream, but to ask was to admit to all how much she cared. The other women stared at her with questions in their eyes, and Webb looked away from Kam long enough to give her a dark glance. Even little Glory frowned at her.
    Only Kam didn’t turn his gaze to her. His eyes were closed and his lips pressed tight together in a grimace.
    Her mouth dry, her throat tight, Callie tried to speak. Only a barely audible croak emerged from her mouth. She swallowed and tried again. “Is Joe…?”
    Kam still didn’t open his eyes. “I don’t know. He took off ahead of the others so he’s well enough to run.”
    Webb sprinkled a powder on Kam’s open wound. The marine’s posture stiffened, and his eyes popped open.
    “ Joe always feels so responsible for the men,” Webb said without looking up.
    Callie understood Joe’s feelings more than the others ever could.
    “ Why did they attack?” Acacia asked.
    “ We’ve only seen them twice before,” Webb answered. “They don’t live on this area we’ve claimed. We believe they live west of here at another fertile area. They’re ravenous when they arrive in a massive swarm across the sands. Perhaps when their population reaches a certain point they try to migrate to a new habitat.”
    “ We’re just another morsel of food for them,” Kam said in a flat voice.
    “ Do you think Tar got out of the way?” Riba asked as she helped the doctor wrap a bandage round Kam’s chest and back.
    “ He wouldn’t have moved out of the way,” Webb answered. “If he was lucky, they went around him.”
    Kam finally sighed but not with physical pain. He hung his head. “They killed two of us the first time they swarmed.”
    No one spoke after that. When