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Using a series of quick commands on its control panel, she loosened the tightness of the energy bands on his wrists.

Shoving the chow back in his face, she walked away.

Trying to work around the spoon and bowl was awkward, but he soon got the hang of it.

He wolfed the grub down as his hunger awakened.

It was delicious, confirming she still had the chops to assemble a kickass meal.

They ate in silence, with Élisa avoiding his gaze.

After they were done, she set aside her bowl and pulled out an ancient, distinctive pot from her supplies.

Riv almost leaped for joy. ‘Kahawa?’

She gave him a quick look and then nodded.

‘Oh, mother of all Galicia, you are an angel.’

His words surprised her, and she tamped back a smile.

Score.

‘I haven’t had a goodkahawain days. I’m dying for it.’

‘Brace yourself. You’re about to go to paradise.’ Her tone was dry, but a light danced in her eyes, not from the flames flickering from the energy sticks.

He’d no doubt he’d savor the promised land because even back then, she’d been ace at brewing a mean mutha of a cup.

His eyes glittered in anticipation as she filled the carafe with water and added the ground beans, making it strong and rich.

His hands trembled for it when she eventually handed him a cup of the thick, dark, fragrant brew.

He drank with thankful appreciation, closing his eyes in rapture.

When he opened them, he found her quizzical silver regard on him.

Her husky tone cracked as she spoke. ‘Someone I once knew long ago also reacted like you did when drinkingkahawa.’

He sat back with careful nonchalance. ‘Yeah, who?’

She tore her gaze from him, and he glimpsed a deep sadness on her face.

Who, indeed, Élisa?

‘This reminds me of a few wacky camping trips I had as a young lad,’ he murmured, needing to whisk her mind away from sadness.

She turned to him with a raised, skeptical brow. ‘Like what?’ she challenged.

He pulled from his memories of life as a boy in far-off Eden City and his later years in Eden II and Dunia.

‘Once, I sat on a poisonous red ant hill, and my balls paid the price for days. Another time, I drank from a can full of bees and got stung. Then there’s the time I slipped and fell right onto the steaks on the grill that my mates were cooking.’

She didn’t laugh, but her eye glittered. ‘Were you drunk?’

‘Close to it. Sooner after, we stuck a wine spigot in an empty Tansinian whiskey bottle and laid it on the fire ring. It got hot, and the cork flew out and shot my friend in the ass.’

This time, she chuckled, clapping her hands over her mouth as if surprised by her unexpected reaction.