Read Quick, Amanda for Free Online Page A

one
    summer is long enough to get to know a man well enough to marry him?" "I don't know, but I think he's
    dreamy," Magny said. "And just think of it, you'll finally get off this rock. You're so lucky." "Lucky?"
    Ashlynne studied Niklaus's photograph. He was a handsome man, with wavy brown hair, brown eyes, a
    patrician nose. And yet, handsome as he was, she thought Number Four far more… not handsome,
    exactly, but there was something about him, something virile and extremely masculine that was lacking in
    Niklaus. "Would you want to marry a man you've never met?" "I'd marry a Hordorian swine merchant if
    he could get me away from here," Magny declared. She tossed the apple core into the disposal unit and
    fell back on the bed again, her hands clasped behind her head. "Think of it, Lynnie, you'll get to travel to
    the far side of the galaxy, live in a big house, have anything you want." "I already live in a big house,"
    Ashlynne retorted. And she had almost everything she wanted. Except the freedom to marry whom she
    wished, when she wished. "Well, if you don't want to marry Niklaus, I will," Magny said. "What about
    your sky pilot?" "Well, he's very exciting, but he'll never be rich." "Wouldn't you rather marry for love
    than for money?" "I suppose so." "Oh, Mag, I don't want to get married and move to Trellis. I don't want
    to leave here." "Why ever not?" Ashlynne bit down on her lower lip. She had never lived anywhere else,
    never been anywhere else. She was afraid to leave the security of the only home she had ever known.
    But even that wasn't the real reason. She didn't want to marry Niklaus; she wanted to stay here, because
    he was here. But she couldn't tell Magny that. "Do you think Number Four is the monster they say he is?"
    Ashlynne looked up, startled. "What?" "Number Four. Do you think he's as bad as everyone says?"
    Ashlynne stared at Magny, wondering if her friend had been reading her mind, if Magny knew how
    obsessed she had become with Number Four. She thought about him constantly, dreamed of him at
    night. "What difference does it make?" she asked, though she had often wondered the same thing herself.
    "He's a slave." "I know." Magny sighed dramatically. "But have you seen his arms? I've never seen
    muscles like that. Don't you wonder what it would be like to have him hold you?" "Magny!" Ashlynne
    exclaimed. She tried to look horrified, but failed miserably. She had wondered. Even though he was a
    slave, even though she hated him because he was rude and crude and insolent, she had noticed that he
    was a fine specimen of a man, and it embarrassed her. "Why did Dain beat him?" Magny shook her
    head. "You know Dain. He has no patience. He ordered Number Four out of the hole, and Number
    Four didn't obey quickly enough. As soon as Number Four climbed out, Dain started whipping him. Dain
    enjoys inflicting pain far too much, I think." "But he's all right?" "Who?" Magny asked, stifling a giggle.
    "Dain?" Ashlynne picked up a pillow and threw it at her frie nd. "You know who." Magny caught the
    pillow in both hands and hugged it to her chest. "Oh, you mean Number Four. He's amazing," Magny
    said, her voice tinged with awe. "He just stood there, his hands clenched, while blood dripped down his
    back. You could see Dain getting madder by the minute. I don't know what he would have done if my
    father hadn't stepped in and put a stop to it. He took Dain aside later and reprimanded him. He told Dain
    if he caught him whipping a slave for no reason again, he'd lose his position." "I've never liked him,"
    Ashlynne said. "He has sneaky eyes." Magny swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "Well," she said
    with an exaggerated sigh, "I've got to go fix dinner for my father." Rising, she dropped the pillow on the
    bed and headed toward the door. "If I see Number Four, I'll be sure to extend your regards." "Mag!"
    Ashlynne called, running down the corridor after her friend. "Mag, don't you dare! Mag!" "Can't catch
    me!"