The Bright Black Sea (28 page)

'Neb, Min. I'm just an inconvenient witness,' I
protested. 'I'm simply not worth it.'

'If they're intent on killing me for something I
might know, they may think you know it too. But more to the point –
you're important simply because you're a link to me. It's all about
me, Litang,' she laughed.

'Well, yes, I see that. So the less you tell me and
the less we meet, the less of a danger I'll be to you and the less
of a prize I'd be to them. Whomever they are.'

'Right. And that is how we'll operate. And I have to
assume that the assassins did enough research before setting up
their Calissant attempt that they'd know about Vyn and Ten. I won't
be able to put off seeing them on a fairly regular basis, but I'll
make those meetings at random times and places. Still, keep them as
busy as you can aboard ship.'

'Right. Well, I'll take precautions – for your sake,'
I added with, what I hoped, was an easy laugh – my best Brilliant
Pax impression. I was, however, feeling far from that
confident.

'You're serious, aren't you?' she asked, watching me
carefully.

'Yes. You know I'm a cautious fellow. I take the
threat to you very seriously. I take the threat to me, because if
my connection to you, very seriously as well. I'll take precautions
until we sail. And I'll hope that you'll decide to sail with us in
the end – if only to get away from Lontria and put any potential
assassins a star system behind.'

'No. And you know my reasons.'

'And you're still going after them, alone?'

'Yes. But differently. On Calissant I was thinking of
revenge. Now I've come to see nothing good would come of that. It's
a futile goal. But I still want to know who killed my parents and
why. I'll find those answers, but I'll do it cautiously, in slow,
hidden steps. You can now give me your lecture on how foolish I'm
being.'

'No, I promised myself I wouldn't. I'll let Vyn give
it,' I added, with a laugh.

'I don't believe you,' she replied with a smile.
'You're giving up too quickly.'

'Oh, I'm not giving up. I merely think I've a better
offer, which, after you've give it some thought, you'll agree that
it's better, quicker and safer than going alone.'

'And how is that different from a lecture?'

'I'm not going to try to talk you into it. I'll
merely outline it and you'll see for yourself. And I won't even
insist that you hear it, if you really don't want to risk seeing
things my way... I did promise to give you advice only when you
asked for it.'

'And now you're taunting me. Okay, Wil, make your
case.'

'My case is simple. The
Lost Star
will take
you where you want to go – at your command. And you'll have
resources and shipmates with skills that'll make finding what you
want faster and safer than if you go it alone.

'First off, there is the true log of the
Lost
Star
which should, at least, give some strong hints as to where
to look, if not the actual place. Since the true log can not be
destroyed, we feel it's hidden in what's called a data black hole.
In Rafe gil'Giles, we've one of a very small cadre of hackers who
can find that data hole and fish the true log out. I already have
him at work on the project.'

'Did you tell him why you wanted it?' she asked
sharply.

'I told him given the ship's mysterious past, I
suspected there are places in the Nebula that the
Lost Star
might not be welcome. I said you, as owner, would be interested in
it too. I've said nothing about the Yacht Club, though everyone
knows your suspicions about the crash, so using the ship to find
the Four Shipmates' secrets wouldn't surprise anyone.'

'You know my attitude about putting people in danger
by my presence.'

'In Rafe, Ten and Vyn, we've people who can make you,
and the
ship
disappear. It took 'em half a
century to track down the Four Shipmates, and they didn't seem to
hide all that deeply. We can sail into the deep drifts as the
Lost Star
and turn up in another system as a completely
different ship. Rafe was telling me the other day he can give us
new identities that'll still refer back to our current Guild
records for verification. It just involves some data switching in
the Guild information system where he has cyber bots in place
already. You don't need to be a tourist at the mercy of ship
schedules and routes to travel and still be anonymous.'

She gave a little shrug, but said nothing, so I
continued, 'The
Lost Star
may be too well known to get close
to your enemies, but if we're successful, we can perhaps earn the
credits to buy a small drift trader you could use when the time
comes without arousing suspicion. It'd be far more convenient to
locate and study your enemies aboard your own ship than as a
tourist or a spaceer on some tramp – with no control over where you
go, or how long you stay.

'So you see, we've the resources to avoid danger and
find what you're looking for faster and on your own terms.'

'It's a tempting offer, but...' she said
thoughtfully.

'Do I need to make it stronger? I'm not just talking
about being safe from your enemies. Shipping as a spaceer in a
system you're unfamiliar with can land in berths that are very
unpleasant, even on Guild ships. And if you'd have to sail in the
drifts, likely in non-Guild ships, it could even be dangerous.'

We walked in silence for a while. 'I'll give it some
thought,' she said, at last. 'But tell me, could I not ask
gil'Giles to create a new identity for me without being aboard? And
could you not send along a copy of true log once it's out of the
black hole? Why can't I reap the benefits of the
Lost Star
without adding to its risks? And if you manage to earn enough
credits to buy a small ship, I can use those credits without being
on the ship as well. You've given me something to think about, but
it seems I still can avoid putting you and the gang in any danger
at all while getting the benefits you've presented.'

Bloody Neb. That had actually escaped me. I shrugged.
'I suppose... But you'll be all alone in the wide Nebula – if you
can give Vyn and Ten the slip, that is – which might be hard to
do,' I added, desperately.

'Oh, I'll talk 'em around. Don't worry, they'll stay
onboard.'

'I doubt it. Vyn looks on you as a daughter now.'
Which might explain her rather tentative view of me – the price of
that message from the Yacht Club.

'Oh, I can be very persuasive when I put my mind to
it. I may have to slander you a bit, spin a tale about how I need
them aboard to look after you and my ship. If you get a hint of
that, just discount it. I trust you – and the gang with my ship,
with or without Vyn and Ten.

'Thank you. Just so you know, I want all three of you
aboard, but if we can't convince you to sail with us, I'd want them
with you. You'll get no help from me in that respect. It's probably
just timid old me, but I can't imagine kicking about the Nebula all
alone,' I added, shaking my head. 'Really, Tallith, we're spaceers.
A little danger is neither here nor there, and I know the gang will
think nothing of taking on whatever slight danger you bring with
you, which I think we can eliminate with Rafe's magic.'

'I'll give what you said some thought, but I doubt
I'll change my mind. Now, what is it that you and Ten are so
anxious to spend my credits on?'

'Two things. First, the anti-meteor defensive missile
system. Our detection and control system is mid-level, but our
current supply of anti-meteor missiles are very basic, providing us
with only a C level of protection – adequate for circling Azminn,
but not for drift work,' I said. Unlike in the drifts, meteors are
very rare in the planetary belt and pirates completely absent,
unlike the drifts. 'Vyn and Ten would like to see our system
upgraded to B level at least, and ideally A level, if only to keep
insurance rates affordable.'

'That just involves getting better missiles, or is
there more to it?'

'I gather the ratings are a combination of control
and missiles. Upgrading one or the other might earn us a B rating,
but we'd need to upgrade both our sensor array and missile control
systems, plus ship a larger variety and more sophisticated mix of
missiles to get an A rating. I've scanned the catalogs and it seems
with the ship's budget, a complete A level system would be out of
reach even with the proceeds of the Tiladore charter. However, if
we go refurbished we might be able to just swing an A level rating.
Luckily the & Kin's yard, which your uncle always used for any
work he wanted done on his ships, is located here.'

'Could we settle for a B level?'

'We could, but Ten says the lower A level insurance
rates would quickly pay the difference. And, I should add, he's
pushing for a full A level upgrade. He says he'd be a lot more
comfortable with an A level response – which, I might add, makes me
rather prefer an A level as well...' I added with a laugh. 'But
it's a matter of your credits...'

She sighed. 'At least we have some now. You're
suggesting & Kin for the work.'

'No better yard. Your uncle had all his ships
serviced and refitted at & Kin's yard. I'm sure they'd be eager
to keep your business. And I don't think you'd find a better price.
I can contact them and look into our prospects. Ten has turned in a
number of possible options for both control and missile systems, so
I can work up some hard prices for you in a day or two, with your
permission, of course.'

'Fair enough. I can see we'll need to do something,
and we do have some credits to work with.'

'Right, the second item is Vyn's suggestion that we
add several drones to help navigate the drifts. In the charted and
well traveled space lanes they're not necessary, but if we're to
sail the deep drifts, we'd want at least one and preferably several
to extend our sensor range. We've one aboard we can refit during
the long voyage, but she'd like two more. I gather sailing behind
drones not only allows us to safely increase our speed, but extends
our safety margin for any other unpleasant surprises the drift
might spring on us. & Kin should have a good selection of
salvaged drones, but I've no cost estimation. I'll get that for you
too.'

She sighed again. 'Anything else you need my credits
for?'

'Those are the two major items. Everything else we
picked up in Calissant. I'll transfer Ten and Vyn's detailed
proposals as well as my final accountings for the voyage,' I
said.

We spent the next several hours walking and going
over our trade options and prospects – which came down to sending
us out hollow in a month or two unless prospects looked to be
picking up. Min said I could rotate the crew between unpaid leave
and harbor watch rates without paying them off, the best balance
between the ship's and crew's requirements that could be found in
these uncertain times.

Eventually we ended up in a walled garden cafe. The
ally-like streets allow only pedestrian, small electric scooter and
buggy traffic. They're shaded by trees and lined with high vine
covered walls on the upside, pierced with gates opening to
courtyards. The residences are of one to three stories, depending
on their location in the diamond shaped block, and set back against
the slope of the crater. The downside of the streets are bordered
by the vine and creeper covered walls of these residences, pierced
by doors that lead to the house or courtyard. The buildings are all
flat roofed with patios overlooking the green bowl of the crater.
The cafe we found, Cafe Malay, was entered through a vine draped
gate leading to a light dappled courtyard with tables scattered
about. Only the kitchens were enclosed, since every day is a sunny
day in the craters of Lontria.

The fruit, grain and stir fried vegetable courses
were colorful, spicy and delicious. Even with a chef like Barlan,
it's a treat to have something distinctly different – in this case,
unfamiliar vegetables and an unique combination of spices...

As we sipped our cha in comfortable silence I
considered the difference a month on her own had made. She looked
up, noticed, and gave me an inquiring glare.

We'd arrived, once more, at a point were we were
comfortable together. 'I was just noting that your youth has
returned. When I first saw you I couldn't place your age, your face
was thin and weary, but your eyes did not have the look of someone
who'd seen a century. Now you look your age again, the stress lines
are gone, and well, there's no mistaking your youth or
happiness.'

'Thank you Captain. Such flattery. I do feel young
again, or younger, at any rate, I have for quite some time. My
recovery was demanding and I'd returned to Calissant only two
months prior to your arrival where I was kept busy starting my
career as a shipbroker and settling my parent's estate. It took its
toll. But that's all astern now in time and space. Despite my habit
of taking precautions and staying aware, I've felt comfortable here
and have been able to enjoy the freedom to wander as I please.'

'It's good to see you this way. Still, I must admit
I'd been rather keen on having you onboard as a pilot and owner.
Have you really decided tramp spacing is not for you?'

'Oh, I don't know,' she admitted. 'This has been a
time out of time, so to speak. An interlude, not a life that I
intend to lead. I'll just have to take what follows and
decide...'

I said enough, so I left her to her thoughts.

We both started yawning so we said goodbye soon after
and she went her way. I didn't ask because I didn't want to know
where. I decided to take a bumboat back to the ship from Bramble
Vale's small landing field, so I took the light monorail to the
exit port and the small landing field outside the crater's wall to
signal for a lift. I was amazed to find an old friend and fellow
first mate, Kan Kantis, of the Distant Star Line tramp
Polaris
, as the bumboat pilot. We caught up on news as he
took me up through the anchorage to the
ship
. Kan said his bum boat was actually the
Polaris's
launch which he was leasing since the Polaris was
paid off and laid up in the anchorage. As I mentioned, the Distant
Star Line encourages go-getters and Kan Kantis, unwilling to rot
about PortCity, had struck a deal with his captain to lease the
launch and operate a taxi service, since there'd been an explosion
in demand for such services. He'd started only a week before and
was already making a small profit. Keeping busy and meeting old
mates was his main motivation, or so he'd have me believe but I
know him better than that. He's right at home in the Distant Star
Line. As I said, a go-getter. I told him he was the official
bumboat supplier for the
Lost Star
, and invited him aboard
for a mug of cha, but he got another signal so he promised to stop
around, time permitting, and was off to pick up his next fare.