The Pirates of Sufiro (Book 1) (Old Star New Earth) (30 page)

A week later, Ellison Firebrandt, his daughter, and Roberts sat outside the homestead on a warm spring evening. They were all naked, enjoying the balmy air. The sun was low on the horizon. Insects buzzed along the river. A flying mammal cried out. Otherwise it was quiet—peace and freedom reigned anew. They saw their field, now tended by Juan Raton's children.

The night before, the last of the slaves returned from Tejo. There were celebrations going on all around New Granada. The sale of the Stone and Hill mines to the Mao Corporation was complete. McClintlock announced free elections would be held the following week in Tejo. John Mark was en route to the jump point for Earth, his mission finished.

"I wish Suki could be here," Firebrandt sighed.
"She would have liked this night," said Roberts. "It's been years since I've enjoyed a quiet night like this,"

said Fire. "I haven't enjoyed a night like this since I was a girl." She smiled. "Ever since Manuel Raton called last night, I do feel like a young girl."

"I'm happy to hear that," said Firebrandt, smiling. He thought back to the early days, remembering the exile. "Suki and I had a dream of a pleasant, quiet retirement, living in luxury. I thought my mother had taken that away from me." He looked around at Roberts and Fire. He looked at his feet, wondering if she would be proud. He found himself wanting to thank her for what she had done.

Roberts sat back in the hover chair. "If it had been quiet, would you have survived this long?"
Firebrandt pondered that. He was eighty-three. He looked down at his body. It didn't look eighty-three years old. "Are you suggesting it's time for me to move on."
Fire laughed. "If you died, this planet would fall apart. Your dream would die. Mother's dream would die."
"Then I'd better not die," said Firebrandt. "I'll live forever!" ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers in Southern New Mexico. His novels are
The Pirates of Sufiro, Children of the Old Stars, Heirs of the New Earth,
and
Vampires of the Scarlet Order.
His short stories and poems have appeared in numerous magazines including
Realms of Fantasy, Aoife's Kiss, Star*Line and The Santa Clara Review.
David is also the founding editor of
Tales of the Talisman
Magazine.