TideBreakers: One For The Bull

by Duncan Stockwell

As the water drained past Fiorenza Hisakawa's shoulders, Celadon's voice came over her speakers. "We… didn't get any cargo?" she asked tentatively.

  Fiorenza didn't answer for a short time. She hung by one arm from a ceiling strap and sullenly watched the water-level as it continued to drop in front of her. "No."

  "You're going to have to talk to Guerin."

  "Yes," she said coolly, "I am."

  The water level now at her shins, she waded over to the plastic chairs at the side of the chamber, pulled one down and sat with a heavy sigh. Unfastening the spring-clips at her left wrist, she tugged off her glove. She closed her right hand about her wedding ring and pulled it from her finger. For a moment, she held it up and looked at it, rolling it gently between her thumb and forefinger. With a dejected exhale, she threw it into the corner of the chamber.

  A large scrap of paper floated past her feet – she could just about read the words 'It won't stop for your loved ones…'