[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the tingle. No, there hadn't been any residual affection there.
"To hell with you, then," he said, his voice flat. "Go. You've got plenty of
money from your shares to go anywhere you want."
"I don't want it." Aha, that surprised him. "I've never taken a thing out of
the kitty, Aldon. It's all still there. I'll leave you every credit in
exchange for a ship, any ship, even a junker. I can make it run."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Bisman said, making a fist. He
held it in midair as if he didn't know what to do with it. For a moment Minna
was afraid he would hit her. Then he slammed his hand against the bulkhead
over her shoulder.
"You're crazy, the both of you. All right, then. When we make planetfall, you
can leave in a ship, and go to hell while you're at it." He threw the last
words over his shoulder as he stalked away toward the galley. Always the
master of the parting line.
Page 163
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Thank you, Aldon," Minna called after him, genuinely grateful. He'd given her
his word. Bisman wasn't paying any attention. Probably planning the next raid
to make up for the loss of a ship.
She had to think of her own next move, too, after Thelerie. They were only a
day or two away. It was going to take some fancy planning to begin life anew
without a credit to her name. At least she could top off the tank of whatever
vessel Bisman let her have. Thunderstorm's wrecks were available, but they
wouldn't get her a light-year before blowing up. Damn it, she thought. She
would have liked to stick around until
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Nye_Jody_Lynn_-_Ship_06_-...006]%20-%20Ship%20Errant
,%20The%20(EDGv1,html).html (247 of 329)15-7-2004 1:12:50
JODY LYNN NYE - [The Ship Who Sang Series - 06] The Ship Errant the Thelerie
became spaceworthy on their own. They were coming along so well. It would have
been this generation that finally made the last step, and she would've been
there to see it. Maybe some day she'd meet one of them in a remote outpost
somewhere. Maybe they'd remember her. Minna sighed, her heart and shoulders
equally heavy. Maybe not. She went to tell Zonzalo of her decision.
Minna woke in the dark and stared up at the ceiling. Yes, she had heard
something, a noise on the edge of sound. A hiss.
In the utter blackness of her cabin she couldn't see anything, but she sensed
that the shape of the space had changed. She could feel the air blowing on her
skin from another angle. The door was open, but the corridor lights had been
killed. Mirinas remaining senses roared up to high awareness. The pulses of
the ship grew loud, and she felt the thrum of the engines in her flesh. Her
sense of smell became enhanced, too. Mirina scented sweat and another, less
tangible odor, sharp and thin. Fear. The shape of the darkness changed again,
as a body moved between her and the source of air.
"Who's there?" she said out loud. The light hiss stopped, but no one spoke.
Mirina felt a cold ball of terror in her stomach. She drew her legs to one
side, bracing her muscles to spring to her feet on the bunk. Her balance was
bad because her hip couldn't lie flat, forcing her knee to stay up. Damn, she
wished she had kept in better shape!
Complacency might now be the death of her.
The unseen person drew closer. She was almost certain the intruder was alone.
Who was it? Why was it there? Such elaborate preparations boded no good to
her.
In a voice so calm it surprised her, she said, "I have a laser pistol in my
hand. I don't give a damn if the beam goes through you or the bulkhead. I'll
give you to three before
I start slagging everything in this cabin. One. Two& " She threw back the
covers from her arms.
The small sound alarmed the intruder. The footsteps, for the sound was feet
sliding on the floor, scurried out into the passage. The door ground back into
place, and the room regained its proper shape. Mirina clapped her hand to the
wall for the lights. After two or three attempts, the switches engaged,
flooding the room with white light. Mirina blinked blindly. In a moment, her
eyes adjusted, and she scanned the cabin. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.
Somebody had disconnected the power to her lights and
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Nye_Jody_Lynn_-_Ship_06_-...006]%20-%20Ship%20Errant
,%20The%20(EDGv1,html).html (248 of 329)15-7-2004 1:12:50
JODY LYNN NYE - [The Ship Who Sang Series - 06] The Ship Errant her door to
make his or her work easier, and would join the group expressing shock and
outrage in the morning when Mirina would be found conveniently dead. She had
foiled the attempt, but the sneak remained at large in the ship, having left
no clues as to identity.
She ought to go wake up Bisman, and start an inquiry immediately, and check
Page 164
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
who, right now, had an elevated pulse. Maybe the sneak left fingerprints on
the life-support controls, or footprints on her floor. Then Mirina realized
that Bisman couldn't care less any more what happened to her. No clue was
worth interrupting sleep.
She beat her hands on her thighs in frustration. How naive of her to think
she'd just be allowed to walk away from the Melange! Bisman had gone straight
to the mess hall and told everyone the Dons wanted to jump ship. Naturally,
the first thought through everyone's mind must have been that she and Zonzalo
intended to turn them all in and plead states evidence. How stupid of her not
to take that into account. From now until there was a light-year or so between
her and the crew, her life was in danger. She'd better start pack-fag that
threatened pistol, and take other precautions. Listening for more footsteps in
the hall, Mirina rose and hunted out her toolkit. She disconnected the door's
mechanism, so there would be no more surprises, from that source at least.
The next two days were miserable. The raiders shunned even eye contact with
the traitor. Mirina had felt lonely before, but she couldn't have anticipated
real isolation.
Zonzalo was no help. He resented being yanked away from his friends, and what
he thought of as a career. He would go with his sister when she left, but he
was unhappy, and he let everyone know it, loudly. Mirina was alone in her
insistence on their upcoming departure. Fortunately, no one made an attempt on
her life during day shift.
The atmosphere was growing so hostile that Mirina started wearing the laser
pistol on her hip and other weapons concealed about her person. Bisman didn't
look at her directly at any time, but she caught sidelong glances when he
thought she wasn't paying attention. She wondered what he was thinking.
She anticipated another attack, probably just as she and Zonzalo were ready to
leave.
They couldn't go, she realized. Not with the knowledge she had of all their
operations, all their bases their identity. By opening her mouth, she'd
doomed herself and her brother.
Why hadn't she simply taken Zon and gone away, all those years ago? She'd been
a
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Nye_Jody_Lynn_-_Ship_06_-...006]%20-%20Ship%20Errant
,%20The%20(EDGv1,html).html (249 of 329)15-7-2004 1:12:50
JODY LYNN NYE - [The Ship Who Sang Series - 06] The Ship Errant fool. Ignored
by the bridge crew, Mirina went back to her cabin and locked herself in.
"Mirina?" Sunsets mellow voice, sweet and sad, came from outside her door on
the morning of the third, lonely day.
"Yes?" she asked, without opening it. She checked the monitor camera she had
hidden in the bulkhead across from her door during the last dark shift.
Nothing there but the back and wings of the young Thelerie. "What do you
want?"
"May I see you?" he asked.
"That would be a bad idea right now," she said, keeping her voice flat. She
was afraid to show the young Thelerie any warmth, lest Bisman and the others
take out their anger on him after the Dons were gone. Or dead.
"Then, when? I must speak."
Minna sighed. "Come in, but quickly." She reconnected the mechanism and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
the tingle. No, there hadn't been any residual affection there.
"To hell with you, then," he said, his voice flat. "Go. You've got plenty of
money from your shares to go anywhere you want."
"I don't want it." Aha, that surprised him. "I've never taken a thing out of
the kitty, Aldon. It's all still there. I'll leave you every credit in
exchange for a ship, any ship, even a junker. I can make it run."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Bisman said, making a fist. He
held it in midair as if he didn't know what to do with it. For a moment Minna
was afraid he would hit her. Then he slammed his hand against the bulkhead
over her shoulder.
"You're crazy, the both of you. All right, then. When we make planetfall, you
can leave in a ship, and go to hell while you're at it." He threw the last
words over his shoulder as he stalked away toward the galley. Always the
master of the parting line.
Page 163
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Thank you, Aldon," Minna called after him, genuinely grateful. He'd given her
his word. Bisman wasn't paying any attention. Probably planning the next raid
to make up for the loss of a ship.
She had to think of her own next move, too, after Thelerie. They were only a
day or two away. It was going to take some fancy planning to begin life anew
without a credit to her name. At least she could top off the tank of whatever
vessel Bisman let her have. Thunderstorm's wrecks were available, but they
wouldn't get her a light-year before blowing up. Damn it, she thought. She
would have liked to stick around until
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Nye_Jody_Lynn_-_Ship_06_-...006]%20-%20Ship%20Errant
,%20The%20(EDGv1,html).html (247 of 329)15-7-2004 1:12:50
JODY LYNN NYE - [The Ship Who Sang Series - 06] The Ship Errant the Thelerie
became spaceworthy on their own. They were coming along so well. It would have
been this generation that finally made the last step, and she would've been
there to see it. Maybe some day she'd meet one of them in a remote outpost
somewhere. Maybe they'd remember her. Minna sighed, her heart and shoulders
equally heavy. Maybe not. She went to tell Zonzalo of her decision.
Minna woke in the dark and stared up at the ceiling. Yes, she had heard
something, a noise on the edge of sound. A hiss.
In the utter blackness of her cabin she couldn't see anything, but she sensed
that the shape of the space had changed. She could feel the air blowing on her
skin from another angle. The door was open, but the corridor lights had been
killed. Mirinas remaining senses roared up to high awareness. The pulses of
the ship grew loud, and she felt the thrum of the engines in her flesh. Her
sense of smell became enhanced, too. Mirina scented sweat and another, less
tangible odor, sharp and thin. Fear. The shape of the darkness changed again,
as a body moved between her and the source of air.
"Who's there?" she said out loud. The light hiss stopped, but no one spoke.
Mirina felt a cold ball of terror in her stomach. She drew her legs to one
side, bracing her muscles to spring to her feet on the bunk. Her balance was
bad because her hip couldn't lie flat, forcing her knee to stay up. Damn, she
wished she had kept in better shape!
Complacency might now be the death of her.
The unseen person drew closer. She was almost certain the intruder was alone.
Who was it? Why was it there? Such elaborate preparations boded no good to
her.
In a voice so calm it surprised her, she said, "I have a laser pistol in my
hand. I don't give a damn if the beam goes through you or the bulkhead. I'll
give you to three before
I start slagging everything in this cabin. One. Two& " She threw back the
covers from her arms.
The small sound alarmed the intruder. The footsteps, for the sound was feet
sliding on the floor, scurried out into the passage. The door ground back into
place, and the room regained its proper shape. Mirina clapped her hand to the
wall for the lights. After two or three attempts, the switches engaged,
flooding the room with white light. Mirina blinked blindly. In a moment, her
eyes adjusted, and she scanned the cabin. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.
Somebody had disconnected the power to her lights and
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Nye_Jody_Lynn_-_Ship_06_-...006]%20-%20Ship%20Errant
,%20The%20(EDGv1,html).html (248 of 329)15-7-2004 1:12:50
JODY LYNN NYE - [The Ship Who Sang Series - 06] The Ship Errant her door to
make his or her work easier, and would join the group expressing shock and
outrage in the morning when Mirina would be found conveniently dead. She had
foiled the attempt, but the sneak remained at large in the ship, having left
no clues as to identity.
She ought to go wake up Bisman, and start an inquiry immediately, and check
Page 164
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
who, right now, had an elevated pulse. Maybe the sneak left fingerprints on
the life-support controls, or footprints on her floor. Then Mirina realized
that Bisman couldn't care less any more what happened to her. No clue was
worth interrupting sleep.
She beat her hands on her thighs in frustration. How naive of her to think
she'd just be allowed to walk away from the Melange! Bisman had gone straight
to the mess hall and told everyone the Dons wanted to jump ship. Naturally,
the first thought through everyone's mind must have been that she and Zonzalo
intended to turn them all in and plead states evidence. How stupid of her not
to take that into account. From now until there was a light-year or so between
her and the crew, her life was in danger. She'd better start pack-fag that
threatened pistol, and take other precautions. Listening for more footsteps in
the hall, Mirina rose and hunted out her toolkit. She disconnected the door's
mechanism, so there would be no more surprises, from that source at least.
The next two days were miserable. The raiders shunned even eye contact with
the traitor. Mirina had felt lonely before, but she couldn't have anticipated
real isolation.
Zonzalo was no help. He resented being yanked away from his friends, and what
he thought of as a career. He would go with his sister when she left, but he
was unhappy, and he let everyone know it, loudly. Mirina was alone in her
insistence on their upcoming departure. Fortunately, no one made an attempt on
her life during day shift.
The atmosphere was growing so hostile that Mirina started wearing the laser
pistol on her hip and other weapons concealed about her person. Bisman didn't
look at her directly at any time, but she caught sidelong glances when he
thought she wasn't paying attention. She wondered what he was thinking.
She anticipated another attack, probably just as she and Zonzalo were ready to
leave.
They couldn't go, she realized. Not with the knowledge she had of all their
operations, all their bases their identity. By opening her mouth, she'd
doomed herself and her brother.
Why hadn't she simply taken Zon and gone away, all those years ago? She'd been
a
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Nye_Jody_Lynn_-_Ship_06_-...006]%20-%20Ship%20Errant
,%20The%20(EDGv1,html).html (249 of 329)15-7-2004 1:12:50
JODY LYNN NYE - [The Ship Who Sang Series - 06] The Ship Errant fool. Ignored
by the bridge crew, Mirina went back to her cabin and locked herself in.
"Mirina?" Sunsets mellow voice, sweet and sad, came from outside her door on
the morning of the third, lonely day.
"Yes?" she asked, without opening it. She checked the monitor camera she had
hidden in the bulkhead across from her door during the last dark shift.
Nothing there but the back and wings of the young Thelerie. "What do you
want?"
"May I see you?" he asked.
"That would be a bad idea right now," she said, keeping her voice flat. She
was afraid to show the young Thelerie any warmth, lest Bisman and the others
take out their anger on him after the Dons were gone. Or dead.
"Then, when? I must speak."
Minna sighed. "Come in, but quickly." She reconnected the mechanism and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]