Ruthless looked as tired and worn as Tanya. This morning her hair had been a checkerboard of black and white squares, tufts twisted into messy spikes. Now the white squares were ochre with road dust. Knowing it, she ran her hand briskly through her tufts and let the cloud of dust fall away from her. “Christ, this stuff gets everywhere.”

“Down my throat for starters,” Tanya said. “C’mon, let’s get out of here. I want a long hot shower and a long cold beer.”

They headed to the next rig. On the way, Ruthless glanced with interest towards Charlie’s office. “Do you think she’s in there?”

“Who?”

“The newbie, the seer.”

Tanya snorted. “Don’t think about her. She won’t last.”

“Who’s collecting her, then?”

Tanya looked grim. “Who do you fucking think?”

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