The Bright Black Sea by C. Litka Page B
Authors: C. Litka
Tags: Space Opera, space adventure, epic science fiction, space pirates, classic science fiction, golden age science fiction
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Chapter 10 Pilot
I savored my appointment. So what if it seemed mostly
due to Min's inability to find a plausible excuse to sack me than
anything else? It was a compliment, really. You serve at the whim
of the owner, give them a reason to send you down and they will. I
hadn't given her one.
With our fate seemingly settled, I'd want to re-sign
the gang and if we landed the charter, we'd need a third pilot as
well, since the contract would certainly require a full
Guild-standard staffing level and that meant three full duty
pilots.
'I say, Min,' I began, intending to ask her when I
could re-sign the gang when it struck me that I'd my third pilot in
the chart room.
'Yes?' she asked glancing my way.
I gave it only a second's thought. Neb may care, it
felt like fate. 'Rockets Away,' I muttered to myself, 'How'd you
like to follow your dream and run off to space as a tramp ship
pilot? I'm a pilot short.'
She glared, darkly. 'No, and I don't find it
funny.'
There was indeed, no humor in her glare, but I wasn't
about to be intimidated.
'I'm serious. We'll need a third pilot, assuming
Molaye gets her ticket and you're the ideal choice – a born pilot,
excellent navigator and an old shipmate who'd fit right in.'
And to emphasize my point, I called the Guild
contract form to the surface of the chart room table. 'I have the
form right here...'
'I'm not free.' she said, sharply. 'I've a business
to run, part of which involves keeping you employed. You may not
consider it much of a job, but you'd be on the beach if I shared
that attitude.'
'Oh, I know it's essential, it's just not for you.
Not now. Someday, maybe, but not now. You've faced your terrible
losses and haven't flinched. You've stepped up to your
responsibilities, but...' I paused to consider what I wanted to say
next.
She just watched me, nothing I'd said had softened
her sharp, angry glare.
'But it would be a shame to compound that price by
sacrificing your youth to the tragedy as well.'
'That price has already been paid. My course is set.
I'm no longer a young girl dreaming. I'll not run off and abandon
my parents' work of fifty years, especially in these times. We're
done here.'
I'm not more superstitious than the next spaceer and
I've never seen a ghost aboard the Lost Star , but I'd a
feeling in my bones that if I ever did meet the ghosts of Captain
Vinden or the Mins I'd want to say to them that I tried to get
Tallith Min to follow her old dream. She was glaring laser knives
at me, but since she'd all but admitted that she couldn't fire me,
I was undeterred.
'The Nine Stars have aligned to put you in a position
to follow your dreams – and aboard your parents' fabled ship.
You're too young to find yourself in a downside office. I'm certain
even your parents would've wanted you to see something of the
Nebula before you settled into a downside office. Why you'll not
even be able to see the rockets go up once you move to your new
office.'
'The die is cast. It is too late to change it.'
'It's not too late. Kardea is extremely competent.
She's been running the operation for decades, so you needn't worry
how Min & Co will fare without you...'
'Thank you for that candid appreciation of the value
of my work...'
'Damn it, Min, you're a spaceer not a ship broker.
Let Kardea run it. She's a shipbroker. If it makes you feel guilty,
take her on as a partner in the firm. She's earned it. But sail
with us.'
'I'll not shirk my responsibilities, whether you
think me capable or not.' She rose from the stool and turned to go.
'It's getting late.'
'Tallith, wait.' I'd found my true course.
'Please?'
She glanced sharply back, as did the dogs, who'd
risen from their nap when she started to leave.
'We've been talking at cross purposes,' I began
slowly, giving the germ of an idea time to grow. 'You don't have to
choose between Min & Co and the Lost Star .'
'Really?' A word like a spoken knife edge.
'Yes. It's my understanding Kardea ran
Chapter 10 Pilot
I savored my appointment. So what if it seemed mostly
due to Min's inability to find a plausible excuse to sack me than
anything else? It was a compliment, really. You serve at the whim
of the owner, give them a reason to send you down and they will. I
hadn't given her one.
With our fate seemingly settled, I'd want to re-sign
the gang and if we landed the charter, we'd need a third pilot as
well, since the contract would certainly require a full
Guild-standard staffing level and that meant three full duty
pilots.
'I say, Min,' I began, intending to ask her when I
could re-sign the gang when it struck me that I'd my third pilot in
the chart room.
'Yes?' she asked glancing my way.
I gave it only a second's thought. Neb may care, it
felt like fate. 'Rockets Away,' I muttered to myself, 'How'd you
like to follow your dream and run off to space as a tramp ship
pilot? I'm a pilot short.'
She glared, darkly. 'No, and I don't find it
funny.'
There was indeed, no humor in her glare, but I wasn't
about to be intimidated.
'I'm serious. We'll need a third pilot, assuming
Molaye gets her ticket and you're the ideal choice – a born pilot,
excellent navigator and an old shipmate who'd fit right in.'
And to emphasize my point, I called the Guild
contract form to the surface of the chart room table. 'I have the
form right here...'
'I'm not free.' she said, sharply. 'I've a business
to run, part of which involves keeping you employed. You may not
consider it much of a job, but you'd be on the beach if I shared
that attitude.'
'Oh, I know it's essential, it's just not for you.
Not now. Someday, maybe, but not now. You've faced your terrible
losses and haven't flinched. You've stepped up to your
responsibilities, but...' I paused to consider what I wanted to say
next.
She just watched me, nothing I'd said had softened
her sharp, angry glare.
'But it would be a shame to compound that price by
sacrificing your youth to the tragedy as well.'
'That price has already been paid. My course is set.
I'm no longer a young girl dreaming. I'll not run off and abandon
my parents' work of fifty years, especially in these times. We're
done here.'
I'm not more superstitious than the next spaceer and
I've never seen a ghost aboard the Lost Star , but I'd a
feeling in my bones that if I ever did meet the ghosts of Captain
Vinden or the Mins I'd want to say to them that I tried to get
Tallith Min to follow her old dream. She was glaring laser knives
at me, but since she'd all but admitted that she couldn't fire me,
I was undeterred.
'The Nine Stars have aligned to put you in a position
to follow your dreams – and aboard your parents' fabled ship.
You're too young to find yourself in a downside office. I'm certain
even your parents would've wanted you to see something of the
Nebula before you settled into a downside office. Why you'll not
even be able to see the rockets go up once you move to your new
office.'
'The die is cast. It is too late to change it.'
'It's not too late. Kardea is extremely competent.
She's been running the operation for decades, so you needn't worry
how Min & Co will fare without you...'
'Thank you for that candid appreciation of the value
of my work...'
'Damn it, Min, you're a spaceer not a ship broker.
Let Kardea run it. She's a shipbroker. If it makes you feel guilty,
take her on as a partner in the firm. She's earned it. But sail
with us.'
'I'll not shirk my responsibilities, whether you
think me capable or not.' She rose from the stool and turned to go.
'It's getting late.'
'Tallith, wait.' I'd found my true course.
'Please?'
She glanced sharply back, as did the dogs, who'd
risen from their nap when she started to leave.
'We've been talking at cross purposes,' I began
slowly, giving the germ of an idea time to grow. 'You don't have to
choose between Min & Co and the Lost Star .'
'Really?' A word like a spoken knife edge.
'Yes. It's my understanding Kardea ran
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