The Stars Blue Yonder by Sandra McDonald Page A

didn’t like her swollen ankles, either. Or the way her center of balance shifted daily, and how she had to trot off to the bathroom far too often, and how she felt hot all the time, no matter what the outside temperature was. But sitting in the shade was nice, and she’d decided a brief nap before the return trip was just the thing a tired expectant mom needed.
    Her gib beeped.
    â€œJust wanted to say hi.” Louise Sharp’s voice was as loud and cheery as ever. “Haven’t heard from you lately.”
    Jodenny pulled her hat down lower on her head. “I’m sitting on the beach with a fruity tropical drink.”
    â€œReally? Damn nice, that must be. Any handsome hula boys for me?”
    â€œNo hula boys,” Jodenny conceded.
    â€œYou’re at Skipper’s Point?”
    â€œNear the lagoon.”
    â€œCome on down for dinner,” Louise suggested. “We’re having a fish fry. Again. Folks would love to see you.”
    Every night was fish night down at the Outpost. Though they’d negotiated their share of military rations from the
Kamchatka
’s stores, they saved it for special occasions and hard times. Their hunters weren’t quite as good as the ones who’d stayed with Providence, and they hadn’t had much luck with their crops, but no one was starving yet. Mostly they just complained about the menu. Complained and drank beer.
    â€œI promised to be home by dinner,” Jodenny said.
    â€œGot you on a leash, do they?” Louise sounded amused.
    Jodenny refrained from kicking sand on the gib. “I’ll be on your doorstep by seven.”
    â€œWe’ll have a pajama party,” Louise said.
    She pinged Mark to let them know she’d be spending the night down at the Outpost. He didn’t sound happy about it.
    â€œForecast has changed,” he said. “We’re due for some serious rain tonight.”
    â€œThey have roofs down there, Mark. I’ll call you in the morning.”
    After that she dozed off to the sounds of the surf, low and comforting. When she woke the sky had clouded over and the temperature had dropped. She hadn’t meant to sleep so long. Her mind was still groggy as she packed up her things. Junior must have been napping along with her, but now he was awake and pushing his head against her bladder. For good measure, he threw in an extra kick or two.
    â€œYou better be one hell of a soccer player,” she said.
    She was on the path to the Outpost when she thought about theirlatrines, and how hard the beds were down there, and wouldn’t it be nicer to be in her own bed. Standing in the middle of the coastal woods, one hand on her hat to keep it from blowing away, she considered how indecisive and muddy-headed pregnancy had made her. If she went down to the Outpost for a day or so, she’d get a much-needed break from all the do-gooders back home. If she went home, she’d have better creature comforts and wouldn’t have to eat fish for dinner.
    â€œLouise,” she said, once she’d raised the other woman on her gib. “I’m taking a raincheck. I’ll be down at the end of the week.”
    â€œYou okay?”
    â€œI want my own bathroom and bed,” she said, and that brought a bark of short laughter.
    â€œAll right, missy with the full bladder. Come on down Friday. We’ll have us some fish then.”
    Jodenny reversed course and headed back to Providence. Soon the hidden sun was setting, casting the woods in gloom, but she had her flashlight and knew the way, and had no concerns. The wild animals had learned to avoid the area and Mark Sweeney’s great aim. The bugs came out but she had on her repellent, and though she had to stop again to piss in the bushes, she had more than enough water to carry her through another twenty minutes of walking.
    Five minutes later, a man appeared in front of her on the path.
    Appeared, just like magic. Popped out of