Part 22 (1/2)

”Good,” Hanan said cheerfully. ”Then that's settled.” He raised the wrench, made a small

adjustment. ”Now: watch closely and I'll show you how this is done.”

”Right,” Chandris said, putting on her best submissive student persona and trying hard not to let her clenched teeth sound through her voice. So that was how it was going to be. She'd called it, and she'd

been right. The Daviees, heavily under the influence of their angel, were apparently incapable of protecting their s.h.i.+p anymore.

So okay. She would just have to do it for them.

Watching Hanan work, listening to his running monologue and making suitable noises where

required, she began to plan out her strategy.

CHAPTER 20.

”...and this, obviously, is the control cabin,” Ornina said, ushering Kosta in.

”h.e.l.lo again,” Hanan greeted him, barely looking up from his final pre-flight check.

Chandris, helping from her own board, didn't look up at all. But she made sure to keep Kosta visible

in the corner of her eye. ”Everything all right below?” Hanan added.

”Yes, thanks,” Kosta said. ”The package is secure and-”

”He was talking to Ornina,” Chandris told him, giving him an exaggeratedly patient look.

She had the minor satisfaction of seeing him blush. ”Sorry,” he muttered.

”That's all right,” Hanan a.s.sured him cheerfully. ”You know how it is. Big s.h.i.+p and all, makes for

ma.s.s confusion all around. Ornina?”

”Everything's fine,” she said, showing Kosta to one of the two normally unused seats off to the side.

”You'll have to excuse my brother's warped sense of humor, Jereko; he was dropped on his head

when he was a baby and hasn't been the same since.”

”Except for the two o'clock feedings,” Hanan offered. ”I still rather like those. Donuts, especially, or sometimes sausage. But I can't seem to get Ornina to-”

”Hanan-”

”Anyway, better strap down,” he added blandly. ”We're tenth in line to launch. Five minutes, the

way they're running today.”

It took just over half that time for Ornina to show Kosta how to work his seat's restraint system and

then to strap in herself. ”So, Jereko,” Hanan said when everyone was finally settled. ”How long have you been with the Inst.i.tute?””Just a few weeks,” Kosta told him. ”Actually, I'm not exactly with the Inst.i.tute; I'm just a visiting researcher.”

”Visiting from where?” Ornina asked.

”Clarkston University,” Kosta said. ”Cairngorm, on Balmoral.”

”Never been to Balmoral,” Hanan said. ”Pretty rocky place, I understand. So tell us about angels.”

The sudden s.h.i.+ft in subject seemed to catch Kosta off guard. ”What do you mean?”

”Angels,” Hanan repeated, waving a hand airily. ”Weird little particle things everyone's crazy to get

their hands on.”

”Yes, I know what they are,” Kosta said, his voice sounding cautious. Trying to get a feel for Hanan,

Chandris decided, and not doing too well. Though from what she'd seen of Kosta that was probably about normal for him.”Good,” Hanan said. ”Then you can tell us what they-oops; wait a minute. Here we go.”Keeping half an eye on Kosta, Chandris gave her board one last check. The Gazelle lifted into the air, flew out over the launch dish- ”Friz!” The word that exploded from Kosta's mouth was half bark, half hiss. And on his face...

”I take it, Jereko,” Hanan said without turning around, ”that you've never watched a launch dish

operate.”

Kosta's eyes jerked away from the display to the back of Hanan's head... and for a single instant all the normal defenses were gone.

And in his face Chandris saw complete confusion.