"Well, then." Mal stretched, hands clasped together above her head. "Let's talk as much as we can while we can. No telling what's coming."

For some reason, she had no real illusions about finding anyone she knew. Maybe it was because she wasn't all that close to anyone, not on any sort of deep level. There was no one she knew well enough to confide in, certainly. Having Polly around might be comforting simply because she knew Polly knew what she was doing, but they would not be having any heart-to-heart conversations.

Anyway, hoping would likely be futile. It was a big, empty world out here, and Mal had herself to worry about at the moment.

Making a face, she let her arms fall to her sides. "Intrusive. I'm sure there are things about their lives they don't want everyone knowing. Rude beyond belief." She was only half-joking. Honestly, she was perfectly fine with people not knowing who she'd been before she'd become a Black Ribboner. It was embarrassing.

Glancing at the sun, Mal calculated automatically. Assuming the sun worked the way hers had . . . "About four?" she hazarded. "Roughly."