sorry it took me so long to get these chapters up! but i hope they make up for it!
Chapter 23
Over the next several days the work on the cave wall progressed very slowly.
On the 32nd day in the mines Rican and her entire family came to their compartment immediately after working hours.
"There is a celebration every third lunar cycle before the Scorpion's have picked up their shipment of aquanda. The clotheslines are taken down and there is a big party in the outdoor laundry area." Rican began. "We were hoping you would use that happy time when there is music, food and drink."
"I'll go," Aaron said and the rest of them agreed.
"Wonderful!" Said Rican. "Get out your mugs and we will celebrate with some of my wine!"
Theta and Rose exchanged glances remembering how uninhibited the wine made them feel when they drank it a few weeks before.
"With only 40 days until the collection, I will have to get to work making a new dress for Kareen." Rican said happily.
Rose looked down at her shoes. The woman was so happy and had no idea that they would use the diversion of the party to make their escape.
Theta noticed Rose's sudden change of mood and knew what she was thinking. He thought to himself 'Rose, we have to get ourselves out of here. That's our number one priority and you know it.' He said nothing.
Rican and her family finally went home, but not before the group had consumed 3 bottles of her wine.
Theta announced that since they were all feeling a little tipsy from the wine that they would take the night off from working on their escape.
Rose took first watch by the fire, and the rest of them gratefully went to bed and fell asleep quickly. As soon as everyone was asleep Theta slipped out of his bed and went to sit with her by the fire. Since beginning work on their escape, they hadn't had any time together except for the few minutes it took them to walk to the laundry each day so they could take turns showering during the midday break.
They sat together by the fire in companionable silence, still feeling the effects of the wine Rican had given them.
Theta looked at his beautiful companion, the firelight dancing on her face. They were making progress on the hole in the side of the cave, Dace was gone, and here in the mines, Rose belonged to him. He wanted to hold her, touch, and make love to her without the threat of death. He realized the wine had gone to his head again and quickly looked back at the fire.
Rose leaned her head on his shoulder. It was the first real physical contact they had had since they began working on their escape. Because of the work schedules, they were no longer sleeping at the same times so they didn't even have the minimal contact that came from sleeping, fully clothed, in the same bed.
Theta put his arm around her and lightly kissed the top of her head.
Finally Rose spoke "Let's wait 10 more days and then tell Claudio that I think I'm pregnant."
"With Dace gone..." Theta began
"I know, but Claudio will still send me to live with the prostitutes if you haven't gotten me pregnant in 30 more days."
Theta nodded his head and Rose put hers back on his shoulder. They sat that way through both of their watches. After their watches were over, Theta woke Jack to take his turn and then gratefully spooned up against Rose in the bed.
