Page 7 of Legend of Scorpio
Given the mockery he’d suffer if the reason he returned empty-handed ever got out, he chose the latter.
“Listen, I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot.”
“Go away.”
“I can’t. The fate of the world depends on you helping me to find some relic.”
She whirled suddenly. “You are talking to the wrong person. I don’t have anything you might want. Or are you here to steal my equipment?”
“No. I’m here because you’re supposed to help me find some ancient artifact.”
“Wrong place. In case you hadn’t noticed, there is nothing out here but ice and snow.”
“And seals.”
“And penguins. Whatever,” she exclaimed. “Whatever it is you seek, I can’t help you. All I’ve discovered since getting here are glacier samples.”
“Sage is never wrong.”
“Always a first time,” she chirped before heading away from him again. In the distance, he could see a trio of tents, one pyramid-shaped right next to a pair of domed ones.
“Are you here alone?”
She stiffened before saying, “Nope. My partner is around somewhere. And he’s bigger than you.”
She lied. He could tell. He let it pass. She thought him dangerous. True, but he wouldn’t be harming her.
“If there’s nothing to see, then why are you out here?” he called out instead.
“Because it’s my job. I’m a climate scientist with degrees in biology, geology, and glaciology.”
“What the fuck is glaciology?”
“A science that studies glaciers.”
“Oh. That’s a thing?”
She didn’t reply.
He’d stuck his foot in it again. “What’s so interesting about glaciers?”
She sighed. “What part of go away are you not grasping?”
“I’ll leave when I’ve gotten what I came for.”
“You’ll be waiting a long time then,” she muttered before she unzipped the flap on the domed tent and entered.
Should he follow? She might be waiting with a frying pan or a knife.
But she did mention having whiskey, and his blue balls—with a hint of purple now!—could use a shot of warmth.
He marched into the tent and found her standing by a fold-up table plugging in an electric kettle.
She glanced at him. “You just don’t quit.”
“Did you really think I’d leave that easily?”
“No.” She sighed. “Whiskey?” She held up a bottle half-full of amber liquid.