The Bright Black Sea (131 page)

'Yes, of course. I'm sure you're right,' I sniffed.
'Hopefully not as Sunny Day.'

Illy smiled. 'A chance we'll have to take.'

Wil Litang was no more superstitious than most
spaceers. Most spaceers are very superstitious. I know that one of
Wil's greatest fears was the luck he ascribed to his success, would
some day either run out or need to be paid for. I know he did what
he could to pay for that luck, but I can't help but wonder, here –
wherever here is – in the absolute blackness of the great sea of
space, if his luck did, indeed run out.

It's time for me to find my sleeper-pod and turn the
ship completely over to Botts, until we emerge from this black
reef. I'll put these black thoughts down to the loneliness of the
time and place. Hopefully when I awake the Nebula will be burning
brighter than it is at the moment.

--- Molaye Merlun, Captain (Acting),
Starry
Shore
nee
Lost Star
and a dozen other names

The End