“And then he spent the whole time just sucking my toes, and when the time had run out, we were both still dressed, but he didn’t care. In fact, he looked pretty happy with his session!” Some of the other girls shrieked with laughter at this funny customer, and Beka gave an embarrassed smile. It was funny, and it had been funny at the time, but she still wasn’t used to sharing something like this. Sometimes it was hard to remember that she didn’t need to be embarrassed about what she did, because they all did the same thing. Another girl called Emralda started talking about a customer she’d had who couldn’t stop sneezing and eventually had to leave without doing anything. She knew it was funny, but somehow she couldn’t listen. She looked in half-disgust at the soup in her bowl. There was nothing wrong with it, but she still couldn’t quite stick eating.
“Talking about sticks, I’ll look like one soon,” she reprimanded herself. “It’ll only get worse if I don’t eat.” She forced herself to take a few spoonfuls of the soup, nearly gagging each time. She sighed. “If I can actually do this job and put up with it, I can eat. Just stop fretting.” Somehow, her reprimanding herself kind of worked. She finished the rest of the bowl of soup, and while it made her feel sick, she could do it and hold it down. Adna looked at her appreciatively.
“You finished your food,” she praised. “That’s a good sign.” Beka smiled at her. It was, wasn’t it? Was she…getting used to it? While it was probably a good thing, considering she didn’t have much choice, she didn’t like the idea. Being a prostitute was bad enough, but actually getting used to it, and settling into the life as one? It didn’t sound right.
“Thanks,” she managed weakly before excusing herself. She suddenly felt very ill and decided to go up to her room. As she walked up the stairs and into the corridor, she noticed how quiet it was. It wasn’t usually this quiet. She looked around her, giving a small shiver. It was dark as well, someone had turned off the light. Where was everyone? Down at dinner obviously, but there was always someone around. On her bare feet, she tip-toed quickly towards her room, desperate to retreat to her own mind.
She didn’t make it.
****
Everyone was collected in the obs deck where Dylan had called them. No one knew what was going on, not even Rommie apparently, but she could just be saying what he told her to say. Dylan appeared later than everyone else, possibly trying to make a dramatic appearance. He saw everyone waiting for him and couldn’t help noticing they didn’t quite seem themselves. They looked like they’d lost all their hope. He sighed. Hopefully he could now rectify that.
“Um,” he said, clearing his throat. No one seemed interested.
“Oh get on with it Dylan,” Harper said in a depressed tone of voice, “just get on with it. Someone wants to join the commonwealth so we’re going there, celebrate, hurrah hurrah, then we leave. Ok. Can we go now?” Dylan would have laughed if he didn’t knew the engineer was probably serious.
“No, actually…it’s nothing like that. I…uh…I know you’re all worrying about Beka, and, well, I have been, and I am, as well.” Suddenly he was getting happier looks from Harper and Trance.
“We’re going to look for her?” Trance said in a hopeful voice. He smiled, not able to keep it a secret anymore.
“Yes Trance,” he sighed. “Against my better judgment, I have decided we are going to go look for Beka. But!” he wagged his finger, half jokingly, half seriously. “If we find her happily going about her own business with no problems, we leave! Ok? We leave, and let her do whatever she’s doing. And,” he sighed, “in case of the unlikely possibility that she’s in trouble, well, we’ll see if we can sort it out. But we are not, I repeat, not going to make her come back.”
“We can ask her, can’t we?” Harper said pleadingly. Dylan sighed.
“Well, yes, I suppose you can ask her,” he said, giving in. “But if she says no, it’s no.” Harper nodded.
“Ok,” he said, “I can deal with that.” He then jumped up, unable to keep still anymore. “I can’t believe we’re going to look for her!” He started a little victory dance, and Trance joined him. Tyr glanced over at them with a raised eyebrow, but he was smiling, and he was obviously happy. Dylan tried to smile himself. He just hoped he was making the right choice.
****
A hand on her shoulder made her flinch, and she turned back with a start.
“Oh,” she said, half relieved, “Mr Culligan…” He grinned at her, his yellow teeth glimmering in the darkness. His rough hand went up to stroke her hair and she flinched away from him.
“I’m…I’m just going to my room. Getting some sleep before work,” she stuttered. He smiled.
“Good idea,” he said, but the serious tone in his voice seemed mocking somehow. “I’m glad you’re taking your work seriously.” She nodded, wanting to get away but knowing she couldn’t be rude to him. She tried to walk away, but in one swift motion, he had her pushed against the wall. She panicked.
“Let me go,” she cried between gritted teeth, struggling against him. He gave a small laugh, pushing up against her harder, his face muffled against her hair. “Please,” she whispered. He loosened her grip and grinned at her, stroking a strand of hair out of his face.
“You’re a very pretty girl,” he mumbled, “I might have to…” he strayed off, and Beka wasn’t sure she wanted him to finish the sentence.
“I really should go now,” she said in a tearful voice, “I’ve got work soon Mr Culligan.” He grabbed her hand, pulling it down to his crotch where a bulge was forming. She cringed, trying to snatch her hand away. He grinned.
“Maybe I’ll let you keep your tips in the future,” he whispered. She looked up at him, his grey stringy hair falling into his face which was adorned with lines. He was old, ugly, dirty.
“Please,” she whispered, trying to get away. “You’re old enough to be my father.” It wouldn’t have surprised her if he was old enough to be her grandfather! He suddenly let her go, pushing her away from him, causing her to fall flat on the floor. He grinned at her and gave a cynical laugh.
“Do you really think I care Rebekah? Do you really think I care?” He turned and walked away as Beka made a quick dash for her room.
