Page 54 of A Flash of Golden Fire

I looked up, slowly, as if preparing to see a ghost or a sworn enemy.

He stood there, watching me. He was all of a piece, and I let my gaze drag down his body to be sure.

“Of course, Captain,” Faraday said, standing and giving me a nod. “Look after yourself, White.”

“White will be under my care,” Captain Martin said.

Faraday smiled, gave him a nod, and left us.

I don’t deserve this. I almost caused your death.

I looked away and curled in on myself.

“Simon.”

I didn’t respond.

“Rooster,” he said, in softer tones.

But that only made me more miserable.

He sighed. “Look at me.”

“No.”

Silence.

“You dare disobey a direct order from your captain, White?”

I couldn’t ignore his commanding tone. I looked up at him.

His expression relaxed into pity. “What’s wrong?”

What’s wrong?

How could he ask that? Everything was wrong. Where had he been for the last few hours?

I blinked, trying to summon the words.

“I…I…”

I felt like an object was stuck in my throat.

I wanted to say that I’d almost caused his death; I’d produced the storm that had destroyed that vessel. Instead, my face collapsed, and I started to cry.

The captain spoke. “You saved me, Simon White. Somehow. I don’t understand what happened any more than you do. But you spared my life and no one else’s.”

I shook my head. His survival had been a fortunate bit of luck. I didn’t have that kind of control. Maybe I never would.

He bent down so we were at eye level. “Get up, Rooster, and come with me.”

I shook my head again.

The captain sighed. “Rooster.”

I kept crying, and now I’d started to shake.

“I’ll carry you if I have to,” he warned.