by Jaleta Clegg
“What good would it have done? Our ship doesn’t have any weapons. It could have just been an ore freighter.”
“With your luck? I rather doubt it.”
“There isn’t anything we could have done. Besides, they can’t land in this blizzard so we should be safe.”
“Until the storm ends. Maybe. And that’s a big maybe, Jerimon.” I shifted in my chair to face Jasyn. “Will you help us? You can see how incompetent your brother is.”
Jerimon sputtered.
She dropped her gaze, veiling her lavender eyes behind thick lashes. “He’s very competent at getting into trouble. I have to admit I miss space. This does sound intriguing.”
“It’s dangerous, Jasyn,” Jerimon argued.
I turned on him. “It was your idea to get her help. Now you’re trying to convince her not to?”
“Normal for him, Dace.” Jasyn rested one elegant finger on her cup. “I don’t suppose you are paying anything for this?”
I shrugged. “Does that mean you’ll help?”
“Jasyn, you can’t get mixed up in this.”
“You asked me, Jerimon. I’m a bit tired of bars anyway. Where are we headed?”
Jerimon made a few strangled attempts to talk before slumping in defeat. “Herifon,” he said, running his hands through his hair. “There’s a man by the name of Buzzer who deals in weird things.”
And stolen things, I added to myself as I wondered just how Jerimon, who quoted law at me, would know how to contact such a person. How much of his speeches on the ship had been posturing?
Jasyn studied us both in turn. “We’ve got a few days. Is your ship ready to go?”
“Plenty of food and fuel. We can go as soon as you say the weather will let us.” I didn’t understand how mere snow could stop us, but Jasyn knew this planet and I didn’t. I’d trust her until she gave me a reason not to.
“I’ve got a spare bed in the back room, you can have that. Jerimon can have the couch.”
I squirmed in embarrassment. I hadn’t planned on staying here long. Everything was still on the ship.
Jasyn seemed to read my mind. She smiled. “Jerimon has some spare clothes he left here last time and I’ve got some things that you can borrow.”
“You’re serious about us not making it to the ship, aren’t you?”
“Very.”
Jerimon shoved his chair away from the table. “I’ll go set things up. I know where they are, unless you’ve moved them.”
“Still in the same places.” Jasyn watched her brother leave the small kitchen. “It’s going to get crowded in here.”
“It’s four times the size of the cabin on the ship. Just this room.” I stirred the cooling liquid in my mug.
“You’re not kidding, are you?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“How long have you been on this ship with my brother?”
I counted back. “Less than three weeks,” I answered, a bit surprised. It felt much longer.
“How many times did he try to kiss you?”
My face flushed.
Jasyn laughed. “It’s his standard way of dealing with any woman under the age of sixty. You didn’t let him, did you? Must have been quite the blow to his ego. He’s not used to women rejecting him.”
“He’s very attractive, I’ll admit that.” Jasyn was very easy to talk to, like the sister I used to imagine I had. “But after the mess he got us in, I was too mad to notice. It wasn’t exactly good timing on his part.”
“His timing has never been very good.” She stood from the table, banging pots and pans on the stove as she cooked. The smell of unfamiliar spices filled the air.
“Are you sure you want to just drop everything and help us?” I asked after a moment.
Jasyn paused, spoon poised over a pot. “There’s nothing here I’ll miss much. I’ve got a friend who woud love to move in. I’ll call her in the morning. I’ve missed traveling.”
“Do you mind me asking why you’re here, working in a bar? Jerimon said you were a certified navigator. There’s enough demand you shouldn’t have had a hard time finding a job.”
“That wasn’t the problem. It was finding a captain who didn’t think the job involved his bunk. I finally got tired of it. Lily didn’t expect me to flirt with the customers, so I hired on at her bar. There were still the occasional hassles, like Luagin.” She stirred the pot. “What about you? Somehow I don’t picture you as one of Belliff’s button pushers. They have an office downtown. All of their pilots seem cut from the same sheet of plascrete.”
“I was desperate and talked them into hiring me. They needed someone naïve to front their smuggling operations. We turned in the evidence as soon as we realized what they were doing. Belliff won’t be around much longer.”
“So you really do work for the Patrol like Jerimon hinted.”
“No, I don’t work for them and never will. I want to own my own ship. I’m registered with the Independent Traders Guild, at least I was. I had my own trading ship not long ago.”
“What happened?”
“I hired an idiot crew who blew it up for me. Working for Belliff was a way to eventually buy my own ship again, at least it was supposed to be. It wasn’t supposed to involve smuggling and eight foot lizards.”
“Are you looking for a partner?”
“Are you offering?” She caught me off guard. Could I trust her enough to be her partner? I barely knew her.
“Maybe, let’s take care of the lizards first.”
“And find a ship and the rest of it.” No one would loan us the money for a ship, not after this mess. If we weren’t arrested before it was over.
“You’ve got a ship,” Jasyn pointed out.
“Technically it isn’t mine. It’s Belliff’s.”
“But if you did have a ship, would you consider going into partnership with me?” She stirred her pot, her hair hiding her face.
My dream was to own my own ship, to fly wherever the stars took me, since I was old enough to understand what stars were. My own ship, my own life, going where I wanted and doing it the way I wanted. I wondered if Jasyn knew how badly I wanted it. I wondered if she knew what she offered.
“Maybe it’s too soon.” She hesitated. “It’s just the thought of traveling with someone who understands, who won’t, you know.”
“Do you have any spare blankets?” Jerimon poked his head into the kitchen.
“In the back of the closet.” She pointed. “Would you stir this while I help him?”
I nodded, crossing the shabby kitchen to the stove.
Jerimon crowded behind me, sniffing. “What is it?”
“Chicken noodle,” Jasyn answered as she handed me the spoon. She missed my grimace.
Jerimon grinned behind his sister’s back, following her into the other room.
I poked the spoon at the simmering pot. The freeze-dried chicken noodle on the ship was vile, horrid stuff not fit for human consumption. I sniffed gingerly. Her soup didn’t smell too bad. Recognizable chunks of various vegetables floated in the golden broth. Even the noodles didn’t look too soggy. I could always make myself eat it, just to keep from offending Jasyn, if necessary.
Had she been serious about being partners? I’d glimpsed hope in her eyes right before Jerimon interrupted, hope like I used to see in my own every time I looked in a mirror. I shoved the spoon through the soup. What good would it do if she were serious? How could I ever possibly get my hands on my own ship again?
They came back to the kitchen, laughing together. The resemblance was striking. Jerimon’s smile stiffened as he caught my eye. Jasyn took the spoon away and directed us in finding dishes to set the table.
Jasyn dished her chicken noodle soup. We crowded around her small table. Jerimon watched me with a malicious glint in his eye. I glared at Jerimon.
Jasyn clapped a spoon onto the table. “What now?”
“Nothing.” I picked up the spoon.
“Dace hates chicken noodle
.” Jerimon smiled, watching me finger the spoon.
“How big was this ship’s cabin?” Jasyn rubbed her forehead.
“Half the size of your bedroom,” Jerimon answered, “if you include the cargo bay and the cockpit.”
“The two of you are going to have to call a truce before I’ll set foot on that ship.”
“There’s nothing to call a truce over,” I protested. “You’re acting like a spoiled brat, Jerimon.”
“Who’s the one picking fights in bars with strangers?”
“Luagin is, unfortunately, not a stranger. Strange, yes.”
Jasyn rolled her eyes.
“You should learn to keep to yourself, Dace.”
“You’re the one that got me into this mess in the first place.”
“You haven’t let me forget it for an instant.”
“I was ready to let it go until you started acting like a jerk.”
He had the audacity to look hurt. “I was the one who spent a night in jail, because of you.”
“Stop it, now!” Jasyn slammed her hand on the table. “Or I’m throwing you both out into the blizzard.” She grinned suddenly. “Or I can lock you both in the closet for the night. Together.”
Jerimon and I locked glares across the table. I was beginning to believe all men were egotistical, selfish pigs. Every one I’d ever spent time with was that way, including Tayvis, to some degree. I shoved the memories of Tayvis and Dadilan away. They were too dangerous.
“You’d better eat your soup before it gets cold,” Jerimon said. I didn’t miss the spark in his eye. I took a bite to spite him. I was totally unprepared for what I tasted. It was good, very good.
“I thought you said she didn’t like chicken noodle,” Jasyn said as they watched me eat. I dropped my spoon into the almost empty bowl. “There’s more if you want it, Dace,” Jasyn offered.
“I think I’ve had enough, thank you,” I said, stiffly polite. “That wasn’t chicken noodle,” I added to Jerimon.
“Yes, it was.”
“You are not going to start arguing again.” Jasyn waggled her finger at her brother. He visibly shrank in his chair.
“It was chicken noodle, made fresh.”
“Can you cook like that on a ship?” I asked, curious. The Twinkle wasn’t equipped for it, but if I knew she could, there was no reason not to add a full galley to the list of equipment I wanted on my ship. If I ever got one.
“If you give me the right tools and a steady supply of fresh foods.”
“Then we’re definitely partners.” Nothing would ever come of it, but I could still dream.
“What’s this about partners?” Jerimon dropped his spoon into his bowl.
“We really do need two pilots,” Jasyn said.
“He doesn’t have to be a full partner, does he?”
“It’s only fair. He is my brother.”
I stood, needing some advantage over Jerimon. “Some day, if we ever manage to shake the Sessimoniss, Jasyn and I are going to buy a trading ship. If we can find a banker delirious enough to sign a loan. And if we can find someone stupid enough to let us buy their ship.” The more I thought about it, the more convinced I was that it would never happen.
“I know a place we can get both,” Jasyn announced. “I’ve got close to fifteen-thousand credits saved up. What am I going to spend it on here? On Nevira?
“You’re serious?”
“You don’t know anything about her, Jasyn,” Jerimon warned.
“Butt out, Jerimon.” I could almost taste hope.
“Why shouldn’t I trust her, Jerimon? You did.”
“I took a chance and look where it got me.”
“The Sessimoniss were your fault,” I said.
“She works for the Patrol, even though she denies it. You don’t want to get involved with them.”
“I’m a big girl, Jerimon. I can handle myself.”
“Why are you objecting, Jerimon? Is it because I wouldn’t let you kiss me?” I had the immense satisfaction of watching his face turn beet red. Jasyn smothered a laugh.
“She’s trouble, Jasyn,” he said.
“So are you, little brother.”
“We’ll let you sign on as pilot.” I guessed at the real reason for his objections. He was afraid I would take his sister away and leave him behind.
“You like her, don’t you?” Jasyn teased. “Because she actually said no to you.”
“But you didn’t, Dace.” Jerimon said. “You just didn’t say yes.” Jerimon pushed away from the table, leaving the kitchen. A flush crept up my cheeks. Jasyn shook her head.
“You let him kiss you?”
“No,” I lied.
“You know, he can hear every word you say in here. The apartment isn’t that big.”
“He heard everything we said earlier?”
“He won’t let on if you don’t.” Jasyn gathered the dishes. She lowered her voice. “Don’t encourage him, Dace. He isn’t ready for you.”
I kept mine barely above whisper. “I’m not encouraging him. I’ve done everything I can to keep our relationship professional, nothing more. He’s the one that tried to make it personal.”
Jerimon’s footsteps approached the kitchen, deliberately loud.
“Have you ever tried shebash nut cream?” Jasyn placed a bowl of pale tan foam on the table. “I think you’d enjoy it.”
“I think you’re enjoying this,” I muttered. She did not deny it as she handed me a dish of her concoction. One bite convinced me that somehow, some way, I was going to stay close to Jasyn.
Someone who could cook like she did, on short notice, was worth any price I could pay. Even if she turned out to be a lousy navigator her cooking more than made up for it. I helped her wash the dishes after we finished. Jerimon settled in the other room with a book.
The lights dimmed about the time we finished. I looked up, startled. The howling of the wind had increased without my noticing. Jasyn shrugged. “Sometimes the storms take the power station out for a while. Especially when it gets really cold.”
“Do you want me to start a fire?” Jerimon called from the other room.
I dried my hands, wondering just how often he’d run to his sister for help. And just how long Jasyn had been slinging drinks in that bar.
“Sure,” Jasyn answered her brother.
I walked into the room just in time to catch the smell of woodsmoke as Jerimon lit the fire. Yellow flames danced in the plascrete fireplace that dominated one section of wall. I swallowed hard to keep myself from running screaming out of the building. The flames danced higher, licking eagerly at the dry wood. The smell of smoke was overpowering. I sucked in air, trying to breathe as the light of the fire billowed higher and higher. The heat of it beat against me. I tried to look away, tried telling myself that the fire was not around my feet, but it didn’t help. I was caught fast in a waking nightmare.
Chapter Ten
Jerimon slammed a door shut on the fireplace, closing off my view of the flames.
I closed my eyes and tried to banish thoughts of fires. My hands shook.
“Something wrong, Dace?”
I blinked away the nightmares. They were my private, horrible memories of Dadilan. I shook my head. “I’m fine, just keep that fire away from me.”
Jerimon gave me a strange look, his hand brushing my arm.
I balled my fists, wanting more space. He didn’t move back and I couldn’t slide away; the room was too small.
“You’re sure you’re all right? You look a bit pale.”
“Go away, Jerimon.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“Why do you care?” I stared into his face.
He wouldn’t quite meet my eyes. “I just want to help.”
“Why?”
“It might be important.”
“What if the Sessimoniss build a big bonfire and I panic? How likely is that?” I sincerely hoped it wasn’t very likely, but with my luck it probably was. I sigh
ed and ran my hand through my hair. “It has to do with the reason my file is blank. I got stranded on a planet named Dadilan, mixed up in some deep Patrol business. I was almost burned at the stake.”
“You’re lying,” he said incredulously.
“They were quite serious about it. They brought their children to watch.” That had been the worst part, feeling the heat of the flames licking at my legs, smelling my clothes scorching, and seeing the little children laughing and pointing. I shoved the memories away. “It took me weeks to quit having nightmares about that planet. If I really worked for the Patrol, do you think they’d leave my file wide open? I’d have a cover story so tight you could carry water in it. They didn’t want anyone digging into what happened on Dadilan. I’m supposed to keep my mouth shut.”
I pushed him away, stumbling into the little washroom tucked next to the bedroom. I shut the door, flipping the lock. Cold water splashed on my face did little to stop the shaking.
Jasyn’s apartment was small, just the four rooms, but it was a lot bigger than the ship’s cabin. I still wanted the ship. There were no fires on it, no reminders of the time I’d been stranded on the primitive planet of Dadilan. I’d walked away from it only a few months previously and now I was in more trouble. How did I manage to attract it so quickly? Maybe I should have taken Commander Lowell’s offer. But that would have meant giving up every dream I’d ever had. Why couldn’t life be simple?
I didn’t have any answers. I washed my face again then opened the door.
The lights went out completely, but Jasyn was ready with a couple of battery-powered lights. The smell of smoke faded to a level I could ignore.
Jasyn was the perfect hostess. She loaned me some of her clothes. They were too long, and I didn’t fill them out nearly as nicely as she did, but nobody mentioned it. We made the best of the situation and went to sleep soon after sorting out blankets.
I didn’t sleep well. I kept waking up, staring around at the unfamiliar shadows and listening to the wind howling. Gusts rattled the windows, throwing snow like pellets of lead at the walls. I peeked out the window at one point and saw nothing but swirling darkness.
The power was still off the next morning. We ate cold bread from Jasyn’s cupboard. Jasyn found a deck of cards and we spent a while sitting at her table playing. Jasyn was a sharp player. We were evenly matched. Her strategies intrigued me; she often played in directions I would never have considered. We called it a draw at noon when the power finally came back on.
