Page 21 of Atlas: Colony: Nyx #5(Intergalactic Dating Agency)
TWENTY-ONE
Atlas might be able to hide from the Human in the orchard, but Miranda found him, like the keen hunter she was. She came lolloping out of the trees, with the corpse of something dangling from her beak. She laid it proudly at his feet and stepped back, flaring her wings in the meowl version of jazz hands.
Atlas picked it up, and gave the corpse an experimental sniff. Peri's scent almost overwhelmed him. It wasn't a corpse at all, but a strip of furry fabric torn from her dress the first time she'd come in here. He dropped it on the ground, and Miranda immediately snagged it with her paw, rolling over to play with the scrap.
Atlas reached out to ruffle her pelt, a surprisingly harmonious blend of feathers and fur. She let out a chirp, turning bright, shining eyes of adoration from her toy to his face.
He gathered in her up in his arms, wings, talons, toy and all, and cuddled her to his chest. She settled happily into his embrace and began to purr.
"I'm such a failure. Two comets I've discovered now, and both times I couldn't even get a decent picture of it. I should just give up, and settle for being Hera's apple farmer instead. I'd still have you, and the orchard, and maybe the food fabricator, so you could have all the fish and chicken you can eat. Maybe when solstice fever comes around again, I could go to the pub and find some girl willing to spend the night with an apple farmer, instead of an astronomer. Maybe..."
He'd promised Peri an apple, hadn't he? And while he hadn't managed to capture the comet properly, that wasn't her fault. She'd done everything he'd asked her to, and given him the wildest, most wonderful night of his life. For the first time, he'd actually enjoyed solstice fever, instead of hating it. Because she'd met his animal, accepted him, and urged him on, enjoying every moment.
Maybe he was in the wrong line of work. Maybe he should find a brothel in the Colony somewhere – there had to be some. Hera would know where they were, if he couldn't find them himself. He could apply there for a casual job, selling his body during the solstice, and returning to the orchard for the rest of the time.
Atlas swallowed. No, he couldn't do that. Going to a brothel or even Hercules' pub would mean venturing into the heat and bustle of Metropolis City, which would drive him mad. Better to stay here, where he could be alone. It wasn't like he could bring anyone back here, where they might see Hera's orchard and try to steal the apples. Peri obviously hadn't recognised them for what they were, but he'd have to make sure she didn't tell anyone about them. He should have sworn her to secrecy when she'd arrived, but he could still make it a condition of releasing her. Which he should probably do now, before anyone reported her missing and came to investigate.
In a moment. Right now, he just wanted to sit here and cuddle his purring meowl, and forget all his other responsibilities and failures for a few more minutes...
Someone began pounding on the door. "Atlas!"