distance from the Milky Way’s center.”
Jordan exchanged a long look with Vivianne. Both of them knew that such a rough estimate wouldn’t do them much good. But it
was a start.
“What kind of topography is down there?” Vivianne asked.
“Funny you should ask that.” Sean scratched his head. “These readings are peculiar. In fact, I’m wondering if the cold damaged
the sensors.”
“Why?” Jordan asked, peering over his shoulder.
Sean pointed. “Can a world be this flat and uniform? Every reading’s the same. Shadow’s seas register the exact same depth.
The land is exactly three feet above sea level everywhere. There’s no variety. It’s almost as if the world is artificial.”
Jordan clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a genius.”
“I am?” Sean’s eyes rounded with puzzlement.
“If Shadow’s artificial, then someone created it. That ups the likelihood of finding food down there.” Jordan smiled.
Tennison shook his head. “The entire planet seems to be shielded.”
“A shield might mean that whoever’s down there doesn’t want to be found.” Vivianne peered at the planet as if willing it to
give up its mysteries.
Jordan wondered what kind of people could create such technology. “Between the warning we already received to stay away from
one world and those cubes that chased us out of hyperspace, this part of the galaxy isn’t exactly friendly.”
Vivianne followed his reasoning. “Maybe it’s not so surprising they’ve made Shadow look unappealing.”
Knox entered the bridge with a plate of burgers and a tray of drinks. “Anyone hungry?”
They helped themselves. Although they were rationing food, Jordan spied Vivianne feeding George part of her burger. Sean and
Tennison did the same. And when George came over begging, Jordan tossed him a bite, too. When Jordan looked up, he caught
Vivianne watching him, a smile softening her expression, then hardening.
Did she think he’d fed the dog to get on her good side? Come to think of it, that wasn’t a bad idea.
Except Jordan shouldn’t be thinking about Vivianne at all, never mind the dog. He couldn’t afford distractions.
He picked a spot where the land met the sea at random. “Let’s set down here.”
To be wronged is nothing unless you do continue to remember it.
—C ONFUCIUS
10
T he
Draco
dropped from a high orbit around Shadow into a landing pattern. Vivianne blinked, then blinked again, still unable to believe
her eyes. The brown seas they’d seen at the higher altitudes were gone. In their place was a gorgeous turquoise ocean. And
the flat, barren view of the continents had been replaced by lush forests and verdant valleys with quaint villages dotting
the landscape.
“You might want to rethink the landing site,” Vivianne said.
“Set us down in that open field,” Jordan directed, his voice tight.
“I’d love to see the specs on Shadow’s shield technology,” Sean muttered.
Jordan’s eyes narrowed. The cords in his neck and shoulders tightened.
Vivianne would have thought he’d be happy to see a healthy planet with abundant flora and fauna. She moved close to him and
kept her voice low. “What’s wrong?”
Jordan stared at the peaceful village, the rolling farmland, the clean skies and blue waters. Did Shadow remind him of home?
“I’m not a big fan of making first contact,” he said.
“Why not?”
“It’s too easy to have misunderstandings. People always fear what’s different. They might attack us the instant we open the
hatch because they think we’re hostile, or because we smell bad. Or they fear people with two arms and two legs. We should
have experts in first contact here with us—not a bunch of nerd-brained engineers.”
“Speak for yourself, boss,” Tennison chipped in.
Vivianne gave Jordan a sharp look. “We would have had those experts with us if you hadn’t taken off ahead of schedule.”
“True. But this crew”—Jordan folded his
Jordan exchanged a long look with Vivianne. Both of them knew that such a rough estimate wouldn’t do them much good. But it
was a start.
“What kind of topography is down there?” Vivianne asked.
“Funny you should ask that.” Sean scratched his head. “These readings are peculiar. In fact, I’m wondering if the cold damaged
the sensors.”
“Why?” Jordan asked, peering over his shoulder.
Sean pointed. “Can a world be this flat and uniform? Every reading’s the same. Shadow’s seas register the exact same depth.
The land is exactly three feet above sea level everywhere. There’s no variety. It’s almost as if the world is artificial.”
Jordan clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a genius.”
“I am?” Sean’s eyes rounded with puzzlement.
“If Shadow’s artificial, then someone created it. That ups the likelihood of finding food down there.” Jordan smiled.
Tennison shook his head. “The entire planet seems to be shielded.”
“A shield might mean that whoever’s down there doesn’t want to be found.” Vivianne peered at the planet as if willing it to
give up its mysteries.
Jordan wondered what kind of people could create such technology. “Between the warning we already received to stay away from
one world and those cubes that chased us out of hyperspace, this part of the galaxy isn’t exactly friendly.”
Vivianne followed his reasoning. “Maybe it’s not so surprising they’ve made Shadow look unappealing.”
Knox entered the bridge with a plate of burgers and a tray of drinks. “Anyone hungry?”
They helped themselves. Although they were rationing food, Jordan spied Vivianne feeding George part of her burger. Sean and
Tennison did the same. And when George came over begging, Jordan tossed him a bite, too. When Jordan looked up, he caught
Vivianne watching him, a smile softening her expression, then hardening.
Did she think he’d fed the dog to get on her good side? Come to think of it, that wasn’t a bad idea.
Except Jordan shouldn’t be thinking about Vivianne at all, never mind the dog. He couldn’t afford distractions.
He picked a spot where the land met the sea at random. “Let’s set down here.”
To be wronged is nothing unless you do continue to remember it.
—C ONFUCIUS
10
T he
Draco
dropped from a high orbit around Shadow into a landing pattern. Vivianne blinked, then blinked again, still unable to believe
her eyes. The brown seas they’d seen at the higher altitudes were gone. In their place was a gorgeous turquoise ocean. And
the flat, barren view of the continents had been replaced by lush forests and verdant valleys with quaint villages dotting
the landscape.
“You might want to rethink the landing site,” Vivianne said.
“Set us down in that open field,” Jordan directed, his voice tight.
“I’d love to see the specs on Shadow’s shield technology,” Sean muttered.
Jordan’s eyes narrowed. The cords in his neck and shoulders tightened.
Vivianne would have thought he’d be happy to see a healthy planet with abundant flora and fauna. She moved close to him and
kept her voice low. “What’s wrong?”
Jordan stared at the peaceful village, the rolling farmland, the clean skies and blue waters. Did Shadow remind him of home?
“I’m not a big fan of making first contact,” he said.
“Why not?”
“It’s too easy to have misunderstandings. People always fear what’s different. They might attack us the instant we open the
hatch because they think we’re hostile, or because we smell bad. Or they fear people with two arms and two legs. We should
have experts in first contact here with us—not a bunch of nerd-brained engineers.”
“Speak for yourself, boss,” Tennison chipped in.
Vivianne gave Jordan a sharp look. “We would have had those experts with us if you hadn’t taken off ahead of schedule.”
“True. But this crew”—Jordan folded his
Similar Books
