The Sam Gunn Omnibus

Selene City

When Jade got back to her office the next morning there was a message waiting for her. From Spence!

Her heart thumping, she hit the playback tab on her desktop keyboard. Spence’s handsome face appeared on her screen, crinkling a smile at her.

“Hi, Jade. Guess who I ran into right after I saw you off? Larry Karsh. You know, the VCI engineer I told you about. He’s on his way to Selene and he says he has an audio disk that Sam himself recorded. About the time when he opened his honeymoon hotel in Earth orbit. Thought you’d want to listen to it.”

Jade nodded eagerly at Spence’s image.

“Okay, that’s it. Thought you ought to know about it. Larry’s on his way to Selene. Maybe you can get him to let you hear the disk. ’Bye.”

And his image winked out.

Not a word about me, she thought as she stared at the blank screen. Not a word about us. He’s just doing a favor for a friend. Nothing more.

She felt crushed, terribly let down. For long moments she simply sat at her desk trying to fight back the disappointment that threatened to engulf her.

He doesn’t care about me. Not the way I want him to. Not the way I care about him.

Suddenly she felt the shock of realizing that she truly did care about Spence. Am I in love with him? she asked herself. She had no answer.

At last she shook her head, as if trying to clear the cobwebs of emotion that were entangling her. You’re a news reporter, she told herself sternly. Spence has given you a lead on a hot story. Sam’s own voice!

Without even asking Jumbo Jim, she checked the incoming flight arrivals, then made her way to Selene’s spaceport.