ARC: Under Nameless Stars by Christian Schoon Page B

pieces of news.”
    “Then you’d better come in,” Zenn said.
    “I have found details on the passenger about whom you inquired. The guest in cabin 786 of deck 5 is registered under the name Pokt Mahg-Skirnik.”
    “Yes, Pokt,” Zenn said. “That’s what Liam called him.”
    “He has booked second-class passage through to Enchara. Also, I spoke with our ship’s physician. He has seen no red-haired Earth male suiting the description you gave me. Nor has he noted any visit from Guest Pokt to the Helen’s sickbay unit.”
    This was disappointing. And perplexing. At some point in the not-too-distant past, the Skirni must have been in the sickbay with her father. But when? And why wasn’t he seen?
    “Furthermore,” Yed went on, “it is my pleasure to convey salutations from Captain Oolo. He was very pleased to hear his Cleevus singing and in good health again.”
    “I’m glad I was able to help,” Zenn told him. “Please tell the Captain it was no trouble.”
    “As it turns out, you can tell him yourself.”
    “I can?”
    “Yes. You are both requested to accept Captain Oolo’s invitation to dine at the Captain’s table with him this very night, at the pre-tunneling party. It is a costume gala. This is a ship’s tradition of long standing. I can say you accept?”
    Zenn’s smile froze on her lips.
    “The Captain’s table,” Jules said. “This is quite an honor, I believe.”
    “Yes, it is…” Zenn said, searching for a reason to decline. “But I really don’t deserve it, do I, Jules?”
    “But you assuredly do,” Jules extended both mech-hands toward her. “You repaired the Captain’s favorite creature. And now a costume party. These events are enjoyable. I have attended them in the past.”
    “Yes, please, it is most appropriate. To accept this invitation.” Yed’s tone now became fretful. “It would be your chance to tell our Captain of how satisfied the Bodines are with our services. And our good treatment of the unpleasant creature in the cargo hold. Captain Oolo would be most appreciative. Are you reluctant? The Captain will feel badly about a reluctance to dine with him.”
    Yes. She was reluctant. What if questions were asked? What if she was revealed as a stowaway? Or spotted by the Skirni?
    “I don’t know… I’m not very good… with crowds.” She stared hard at Jules. “You know, Jules, with lots of people. Looking at me .”
    Finally, the dolphin caught on.
    “Ah, yes, this is true,” Jules said slowly, thinking. “But it’s a costume party. You could hide your shyness. Behind a mask.”
    Yed said, “Yes, indeed. I can provide this. The ship has a wide selection of costumes for guests. We stock a wide variety of maskings and ornamentation.”
    Zenn racked her brain to formulate some other credible excuse, but nothing came.
    Yed shuffled his feet, a pained look on his wide, rubbery face. “Our Captain Oolo will be most disappointed if you decline,” he said. Taking a step closer to her, he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “No one declines such an invitation. Please. It is not done.”
     
    Later that evening, Zenn stood before the archway leading into the ship’s Grand Ballroom. Jules had stopped outside the hall to check his costume one last time. He surveyed Zenn’s outfit. “You are most appropriately attired. Shall we proceed?”
    “I look ridiculous,” she said, staring down at herself. From inside the ballroom, music, voices and laughter spilled out into the corridor. It was too late to back out now. But why hadn’t she spent more time selecting her disguise? She didn’t even understand the origin of the obscure Earther legend about half-fish women who wore bikini tops made out of coconut shells. Now, on the verge of dining at the Captain’s table in front of hundreds of people, Zenn felt silly, oddly vulnerable and decidedly chilly.
    “But you are an excellent and convincing mermaid. This is both festive and exotic,” Jules told her