Outside, the wind continued to howl, periodically flinging loose gravel against the side of the vehicle with a soft thump, thump, like someone knocking gently at the door.
Suzy drank the last of the broth and set her bowl down.
Seeing that she was finished, Mark reached over to gather the dishes, but she stopped him.
"Leave them. I'll wash up in a bit."
He pulled his hand back without insistence, set his bowl on his lap, and leaned back against the seat.
A quiet hush fell over the cabin for a few seconds.
Suzy wiped her hands and looked up at him.
"So, you've made it to the P City Base," she began, her tone unhurried. "You mentioned before that you were planning to head this way anyway... Now that we're here, what are your plans?"
Mark froze for a split second. He looked down at the empty bowl in front of him, his fingertip mindlessly tracing its rim.
"I..." he uttered a single word, then paused as if carefully weighing his options.
