Lovers of the Galaxy, Book Two: Bounty Hunters of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

Galaxies,” he swore, “there are many
artifacts to consider and choose from.”
    “Primitive,” mused Oshki.
    “Not as primitive as the Dark Ages or even time
further back such as the Bronze Age.”
    Oshki snorted. “Primitive, nonetheless.”
    “Let us get started.” After withdrawing another
packet from his belt, he licked it. The square began to grow
larger. He moved into the center of the display and placed the
packet on the floor. He spent a lot of time choosing revolvers,
finding the appropriate ammunition, and picked out sturdy knives
for each of them. Ino and Ka panted under one of the wagons.
    “If you have some extra water,” said Miln, “the pets
could use a drink.”
    “I will take care of that while you find us suitable
clothing.”
    Behind Miln, the sound of the animals’ lapping echoed
in the chamber. As he studied the clothes in the exhibits, he
realized it would be difficult to find garments that would fit
them. Finally, he gave up, and mentally cataloging the names of
each item, took double sets of pants, chaps, shirts, vests, and
anything else he could find that Venus had marked in the book she’d
sent with them. He pulled the boots off two pioneers and returned
to the sheet he’d laid on the floor. Kneeling, he set the clothing
and footwear on the marble tiles next to the silver square.
    “What did you find?” his consort asked curiously.
    “Not much that will fit our bodies. We will have to
use environites to expand the garments so we can wear them. He
removed several rubbery one-by-one-inch tiles from his tool kit.
Helping him, Oshki placed two shirts on top of each other and then
two pairs of pants in the same manner in a separate pile as Miln
prepared his items. He handed Oshki a few tiny environite squares
and kept the others. Next, he laid one on each mound of clothing
he’d prepped as his mate followed his example. Finished, Miln
reached for the boots and fastened a tile on each one.
    The environites activated and began swarming over the
garments like millions of shimmering gnats. Within minutes, the
shirts and all other clothing were blended to make larger garments,
and the boots were stretched and lengthened to allow for their
larger feet. The minuscule environites winked out and fell off the
clothing, appearing as piles of gray dust.
    Curious, Miln pulled off his boots and slipped out of
his tilk. He picked up a pair of brown pants, stepped into them,
and drew them up to button the front. “They fit well, so your set
should fit you, too.”
    His mate turned with a beige shirt in his hands, his
attention landing on him as he finished fastening the top button.
Heat glimmered in Oshki’s eyes and his expression awakened
something fierce in Miln. He suddenly knew what he could do to be
with his mate.
    “Put our armor and other things on the sheet-pack.”
He cursed the huskiness in his voice. “Trans-shift everything to
base and then return here.”
    Without a word, his lover hurriedly tossed all the
clothing and boots on the enlarged silver square, leaving only
their tool kits out of the pack. He stooped and touched each corner
of the sheet. It sealed over itself and two adjustable straps
appeared on one side. He picked it up, slung it over one
shoulder.
    “I’ll change out of these clothes at base and be
right back.” He smiled in delight and vanished.
    Trembling, his sapin so hard it pained him, Miln
waited for his lover to return. With all their belongings save for
their tool kits back at base, they could be together for the first
time since their brief encounter. He shook his head. That had been
nearly a full Muhebu lunar cycle ago, a little over a year in Earth
time. He wondered how many humans could wait that long to be with
their mates. He paced the floor in front of Ino and Ka. He knew
that they had planned on waiting until they had time shifted, but
once he and Oshki traveled back in time after Randle, unforeseen
circumstances might prevent them from having another