I’m steadily working on the second RENOVO manuscript, scrabbling around in the dirt of an alien planet and trying to get any remaining crew to stay alive. It’s fun. And, you know Dr. Rachel Galliance – she likes to put herself in danger.

I thought I’d reveal a little excerpt from today’s morning session. First draft and all, so don’t judge too heavily. 😉

Yacin took yet another step towards her, decreasing the distance between them. She instinctively shrank back, her heart pounding. She couldn’t get away. She was barely able to walk, let alone run. Rachel tightened her fingers around the stick in preparation to attack. I’ve survived a crash landing and damn well near died from exposure, I’m not about to get murdered without a fight.

The smoke from the fire continued to roll down the corridor with increasing intensity, and she held back the urge to cough as she felt the fumes at her throat.

Don’t take your eyes of him. Not even for a moment.

“What do you want?” Rachel stammered, trying to keep her fear under control but doing a poor job of it. She knew her voice sounded strangled.

“To talk,” Yacin replied.

She didn’t believe him. She’d made that mistake before. She’d trusted him. Because of that, they were marooned on this planet. Because of that, she’d lost Silver.

“There’s nothing to say,” she said, managing a slightly steelier reply.

“There’s everything to say,” he said almost without taking a breath. He stepped forward again and Rachel felt every cell of her being flick into high alert. A thick plume of smoke drifted by. As Yacin finished his sentence he spluttered as the fumes intensified. She realised it might be her only opportunity to strike so she seized it, lifting the cane from the floor, pulling it back behind her head and smashing it towards Yacin with as much strength as she could muster. She hit him squarely across the face, and heard the crack as the metal bar met bone. That horrible sound was still in her memory as she cried for help, knowing that her only hope was for someone to get to her before Yacin was finished.

You know, when I first started out, I thought Rachel and Yacin might have a rosy romance. I guess not.

Now, I better get back to writing – I want to try and complete the manuscript before Christmas!