She Bleeds for Us: The Galactic Consortium 3

Chapter 31

Jake watched a dozen kids run by, chasing a soccer ball. He turned back to find Åse looking at him, her expression soft. He tried to hide his blush and failed. "How was your day," he fumbled out.

"Good. Yours?"

"Good."

"Heading back to quarters?"

He risked meeting her eyes again. "Yeah, just finished up."

They started down the lane. She wrapped her arms about his left arm as they walked.

The refugee camp at the Mosque de Pamalapa had grown to a veritable city. Hundreds of prefab domes and larger bunker style shelters covered nearly three miles of land.

The border had been better secured now and new arrivals were rarer. A few of the refugees had moved elsewhere, to the new city of Narashtanas in Southern Africa or to other camps. But most stayed here, hoping not for a new home but for a new chance for their old home. That remained very much an open question. Consortium diplomats were constantly "in talks" with president Burundi but they didn't seem to be making any progress breaking the deadlock with protestors in Freetown and elsewhere in the country.

The kids ran past, going the other direction.

"I love kids," Åse commented as they went past. "So resilient. Just a week ago they were scared and hungry. Now, look at them go."

"Yeah, I agree," Jake replied. Not admitting that he had been looking for a particular boy. Heck, he wasn't sure what it had been about that boy anyway. But he kept hoping the kid would show up, come in and get help.

"Supper?" she asked as they reached the end of the lane, where the camp turned from refugees to barracks for the administration.

"Sounds great," Jake said as his stomach rolled.

"Should message the others," Åse said, pulling out her slate.

Jake nodded even though he'd been happy to have a private supper with Åse. But when he thought about asking her, it made butterfly's go loose in his stomach. Besides the middle of a refugee camp wasn't exactly a traditional first date. Maybe back on base, he could invite her up to the station, or to one of the restaurants that Abioya took them to in Bamako proper.

"Already beat you to it," Åse's friend Helvig was saying, her head holographically projected through the slate. She was sitting at a table in the mess with Chatura and Pierre on either side.

"Hi, Jake," Chatura said, waving through the projection.

"We'll be there shortly," Åse said, dismissing the projection.

"What's your schedule like after tomorrow?" Jake asked as they got in line. Tomorrow they would drive back to their home base.

"Long term mission for three and a half days."

That was their new shortened route.

"And after?" he persisted.

"Might go home early," she said. She caught his look and shrugged. "I've not been home in over a month. Mom's getting worried. Thinks I've met someone." She gave him an expectant look and bit her lip.

He was supposed to insert some fun and flirty comment here. But he had no idea what.

The moment past and he cursed himself inwardly.

They got their food and found the others towards the back to the mess hall. They spoke of lighter things, of their days and their upcoming schedules.

"You going home this break?" Pierre asked.

The week that Pierre, Åse and Helvig drove the long term route was technically Jake's week off. Both crews had taken to spending those breaks working extra. But not this week.

"Yeah, my sister graduates high school this week. Can't miss that." Even though he'd likely be distracted by what was going on here the whole time.

"Did you get her something?" Åse asked.

Jake blushed. "I've been trying to think of something, but I can't. What does she need?"

"What's your budget?" Åse asked.

"I've been doing so much overtime, there's not much limit."

"You said her and her friends are going to move to Shoshone," Pierre said. "To take basic education and then hopefully move on."

"Yeah."

"So get her a place," Pierre said. "Contact a realtor and put a month down. They can pick their apartment when they get there."

"Pierre," Jake declared. "You are a genius!"

"I know," he joked. "Now if you could tell the girls..."

"I never said you weren't smart," Helvig protested. "Just that you can't drive for shit."

When they got back to their sleeping quarters, Jake spent some time on his slate looking at apartments on Shoshone. Pierre was right, he could afford a month down on something and it would make Cynthia's moving that much easier.

He was surprised at how many people were living on Shoshone these days, but there were still places open and he bookmarked several places to show Cynthia when he got home.