Part seven of this peek into a blended family surviving on an alien planet.

Ben Fortunas didn’t believe in sleeping on a problem. Exhortations about the human brain needing rest made logical sense, but he could not “shut-down” with a mystery rattling around in his head.

Dremiks had once been covered with marshes and swamps. The war between the native Dremikians and their former masters, the Valtoza, destroyed most of the planet’s atmosphere, leading to the evaporation of all surface water. Deep underground aquifers still existed but pumping and transferring that water took precious time and energy.

Before Cassie could ask another question about the missing ship, someone—or something—pounded on the hut’s door. Ginny jerked and whimpered on Ben Fortunas’s shoulder.

Cassie muttered a curse under her breath as she pushed away from the futon. Ben stepped out of her way. He knew better than to get in her way when she had that look on her face.