Page 69 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

“Come in.”

A smiling Murph pushed through carrying a food tray with a covered dish, a silver pot of hot water for tea, and a frosty-cold glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. The lanky lover boy also wore a serving towel draped over his arm the way he’d seen Maurice do it hundreds of times before.

Linlin’s eyes brightened as she stood. “Murph! So glad you came.”

Murph lifted the cover off the plate with a flourish, releasing a puff of steam.

Linlin’s eyes widened.

“Chicken and waffles! My favorite! You remembered.”

“Of course I remembered. How could I ever forget?”

Murph suddenly blushed, regretting the emotional outburst. He promised himself to control his feelings, which, like his racing heart, were galloping away at a thousand miles an hour. He tried to cover his tracks by describing the specially prepared breakfast.

“Cookie whipped you up a batch of buttermilk fried chicken with cheddar and chive waffles, drizzled with spicy honey, along with a rasher of pork belly bacon on the side.”

He set the breakfast tray down on her desk.

“Wow. Sounds more like a meal on a cruise ship than a cargo ship.”

“The Chairman was pulling your leg before. Cookie obsesses about food.” Murph gently pushed aside her e-reader and set her place with a single service of silverware, a cloth napkin, and a thick ceramic mug for her tea.

“Aren’t you joining me?” she asked.

“I’ll eat later. I’m kind of in the middle of something right now. I just wanted to grab your breakfast for you and see how you’re doing.”

“Well, to be honest, I’m pretty bored. Not much going on in here. Just glad I brought my e-reader.”

She waved her hand around the cabin. The small ten-by-ten room was gray-painted steel, with a narrow cot, a small desk and chair, and an old, battered AM/FM radio that only picked up staticky Spanish-language stations. “Not that I’m not grateful, of course.”

“No, no, I get it.” Murph nodded at the e-reader. “Whatchya reading?”

“I’m rereadingNeuromancer.”

“Classic. One of my favorites, ever.”

“I know.” She smiled. “It’s great. But I can only read so many books. Wish I had a gaming computer in here.”

“I’ve got a monster gaming machine back in my cabin, but well, you know. You’re kinda stuck here for a while.”

“Yes, of course.” She smiled again, trying to prompt him to the next obvious thought. It worked.

“I asked about bringing you a laptop but, um, we don’t seem to have a free one available right now. Sorry about that.”

“I understand. I just threw everything into a pack when I heard they were coming…” Linlin’s eyes teared up as her voice trailed off.

Murph laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry that happened to you. It must have been scary.”

She sniffed, but didn’t say a word.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what the future holds.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

“I’m scared, Murph. And I’m tired of being alone. Can’t you stay here with me?”