Part 19 (1/2)
They rounded a corner, entering the long hallway that led to the bridge. Mr. dea'Gauss cleared his throat as the tingle of pretransition raced through the s.h.i.+p.
”Your Lords.h.i.+p has done quite well in the initial moves. The warnings will cost Trader Olanek much in time, in flexibility, in money. Of course, in this, as in chess, which I believe your Lords.h.i.+p studies, it is important for us to cast our minds ahead, considering the possible countermoves open to our opponent.”
The Jump-quiver came. From nowhere, from everywhere-the shriek of a siren. Above Shan's head, a lightplate snapped from yellow to red-and Shan himself was suddenly gone, running flat out toward the bridge.
The digits in the corner of the screen told their final tally and faded as the break-Jump chime rang across the bridge. Priscilla extended a hand toward the board.COLLISION COURSE the red letters screamed. Abruptly her hands were flas.h.i.+ng over the keys, calling up defense screens, demanding data as her eyes scanned the instruments, a.s.sessing what it was, how big, how fast and- HOSTILE ACTION.
Second screens up, Jump alert, coords locked back in, coils-Hurry up, coils! She saw it now, the screen providing maximum amplification: a tiny s.h.i.+p, bristling guns, in position for a second run-by.
Coils... coils-up!
Her hand was at the Jump control, eyes on the distance dial. There was enough room-just. Now...
”Well done, Priscilla.” A big hand closed around her wrist, pulling her away from the switch even as he slammed into the copilot's chair and rammed his card into the slot. ”Series A29, shunt 42-second screens up? Of course...”
Priscilla's fingers flew in obedience, a.s.signing control to him; she heard him snap an order to Rusty for a visual and another to someone unknown, regarding Turret 7.
”Hurry up, please, Rusty.”
”Got 'em, Cap'n-your screen.”
The image filled both their screens: the bridge of the other vessel, smaller than the Pa.s.sage by several magnitudes. A man was at the board. From off-screen, a woman's voice, initially inaudible, was becoming rapidly clear: ”... tell Jury to start her run?”
”You will observe,” the captain said from Priscilla's side, ”the position of the gun turret on our off side.”
The pilot of the other s.h.i.+p looked up in shock, made lightning adjustments to his unseen board, and swore. ”Tell Jury to hang where she is!” he snapped over his shoulder.
”A wise choice,” the captain said gently. ”I hate to belabor the point, but I believe we now have five turrets trained on your vessel. Do correct me if I'm wrong.”
The man took a deep breath. ”You're right.” He glanced behind him as another man came into the screen, a man older than the pilot, hard-faced and calm.
”What goes, Klaus?”
Wordlessly, the pilot pointed at something out of the range of the watchers on the Pa.s.sage. The boss considered for a moment before turning back to the screen and inclining his head.
”Nothing personal, Captain. A contract.”
”A contract,” Shan repeated. ”With whom?”
The boss grinned and shook his head. ”Confidential. But I'll tell you this: he wanted you out of the race real bad.”
”Did he? I hope you got your money in cash and up front, sir. No?” He shook his head at the look of sudden dismay on the mercenary captain's face. ”That was careless of you. I suppose you're sure that you have the right s.h.i.+p?”
”He gave me your break-in pattern, a time frame for arrival, approximate ma.s.s-real approximate.””But he gave you no name? And you didn't ask-no, why should you? This is the Dutiful Pa.s.sage, sir.
Clan Korval. Tree and Dragon Family. Stop me when you hear something familiar.”
”I Dare.” The voice of the unseen woman was breathless with awe.
”A student of heraldry? Exactly. I Dare.'”
The other captain seemed uncomfortable. His eyes strayed from the screen back to the pilot's unseen instruments, then came back to the screen again. ”All right, Captain, what's the deal? You've got weaponry and the ma.s.s to back it. You gonna use it?”
”That depends on you, doesn't it? I suppose you wouldn't be betraying a confidence if I asked if the name of the man you dealt with was Olanek or the s.h.i.+p Daxflan. You needn't say yes, only no.”
There was silence.
Shan shook his head. ”I hope you got at least half of your money in advance, sir. No? Forty percent?
Thirty? Twenty-fivel” He laughed suddenly at the acute distress on the other man's face. ”I'm ashamed of you sir! Didn't your mother tell you never to sign a Liaden's contract? Twenty-five percent down on a job that would mark you all for the rest of your lives? Ask your crew member there if she believes a family with I Dare' for a motto would let you rest if you'd completed your mission successfully.”
The mercenary captain shrugged. ”There wasn't a contract,” he said sheepishly. ”It was a gentleman's agreement. But I know where to find him.”
”No doubt you do,” Shan said cordially. ”I should perhaps mention that Daxflan is also capably armed.
And the captain is counted a very fair shot.”
The boss bowed his head. ”What's the price?”
”Get out of here,” the captain snapped, his voice suddenly hard-edged and cold. ”We have your s.h.i.+ps recorded and filed. The information is being pin-beamed this moment to the Federated Trade Commission. I advise you to take up a different line of work.”
The boss glanced over his shoulder. ”Tell Jury and Sal to scram. We'll do the same, if the captain'll deflect his guns.”
The last s.h.i.+p reached its Jump point and blinked out of existence. Priscilla's instruments showed empty s.p.a.ce around the Dutiful Pa.s.sage for several light-minutes in all directions. In the chair beside her, Shan yos'Galan took a deep breath and spoke, voice glacial. ”Second Mate.”
There was a slight hesitation before Janice answered from directly behind them.
”Captain?”
”You will report to the captain's office immediately before prime. You will bring hard copy of your contract. Dismissed to quarters.”
Priscilla caught her breath at the other woman's shock; she thought for a heartbeat that one of them would cry in protest.
The second mate cleared her throat. ”Yes, Captain.” And Priscilla heard her go.
Relief flooded through her, shocking in its intensity, mixed with outrage, pain, and near-manic glee. She gripped the arms of the chair, seeking serenity, buffeted by emotion. Adrenaline high, she told herself,keeping to the search for the path.
”Ms. Mendoza.”
She took a breath and found her voice. ”Yes, Captain?”
”On behalf of this s.h.i.+p and of Clan Korval, Ms. Mendoza, all thanks. I could have done no better in your place, given the resources at your command. I only hope I would have done as well.” He pulled his card from the slot and tucked it absently into his belt. 'There will be a meeting of the crew immediately after prime. I would like to see you in my office following it, please.”
”Of course, Captain.” The inner chaos was subsiding somewhat. Daring to turn her head, Priscilla met a pair of quizzical pale eyes even as the feeling hit her again-differently, though as intense-an overwhelming impulse to fling back her head and laugh, to embrace the man beside her...
Just as she knew she must be lost, she found the pathway. She flew down the inner way, found the door, and slammed it hard behind her.
Beside her, Shan sighed sharply and snapped to his feet, spinning to face the incoming relief pilots. ”Your boards,” he said curtly.
Vilobar bowed. ”The s.h.i.+ft changes, Pilots.”