Frankly, we weren’t even expecting you to still be here. Our original sponsor withdrew just before we lifted, and then we got word about the accident.
We were going to have to go to a contract ambulance to recover Kroddok and Josala when another sponsor came along and picked up the contract.”
“This is all news to me,” the pilot said. “I don’t know why I wasn’t recalled if the NRI pulled out. Who’s sponsoring you now?”
“A private collector—name of Drayson,” said Dr. Eckels. “He hopes to authenticate some Qella artifacts. I think he’s going to be disappointed, and very expensively so. But it helps us, and we’ll do what we can for him. Do you still have a good fix on the bodies?”
“Affirmative, Penga Rift,” said the pilot. “Nothing’s moved down there since the avalanche, unless you want to count the snow that’s fallen on top. You’re in for a cold dig.”
“We’re ready for one.”
“Then tell me how you want the data, so I can light this candle and get out of here,” the pilot said. “Because this is hands down the creepiest duty I’ve pulled in sixteen years, and I have a great need to get myself somewhere warm and crowded—and soon.”
“Understood,” said Eckels. “Ready to receive your coordinate system reference data. We’ll take the next watch here at Maltha Obex.”
II.
Luke
Chapter 5
The skiff Mud Sloth was outbound in realspace from Lucazec at top speed— which, considering it was a Verpine Adventurer, was not enough to satisfy Akanah.
“Luke—can’t you make it go faster?”
“How? Get out and push?”
“Why—yes. Can’t you use the Force to speed us up?”
“You need a lever and a place to stand,” Luke said wryly. “The Force isn’t a magic wand—there are limits.”
“All limits exist in the mind, not the Universe,” Akanah said. “I’m surprised your tutors never taught you that.”
Luke shook his head. “Obi-Wan and Yoda both taught me to see that we limit ourselves by not trying and sabotage ourselves by believing we’ll fail.”
“Then why do you—” “—But even Obi-Wan, in our worst moments, with millions of lives hanging in the balance, couldn’t make the Falcon go any faster.” He gestured at the navigational display. “Besides, it looks like no one’s taken enough interest in our departure to try to follow.”
“They don’t need to, yet,” said Akanah. “We’re days from clearing the Flight Control Zone, aren’t we?”
Luke glanced down at the controls. “Three days, more or less.”
“Then they can just watch us for now, let us think we’re away free and see where we’re going, There aren’t many ships that couldn’t catch us before we reach the jump radius.”
“The agents who ambushed us are dead. No one tried to stop us at the port. The flight controllers gave us clearance without a peep. The skies are empty. What will it take for you to feel safe?”
“I won’t feel safe until we’ve found the Fallanassi,” Akanah said. “I can’t bear the thought of failing. I’ve waited so long—and so have you. If anything should stop us this close to the end—” “How close are we?” Luke asked. “What did the Current writing back there say?”
“I already told you—it pointed the way home.”
“But you didn’t tell me where that is.”
“I was afraid to say anything until we were away from there,” said Akanah. “I couldn’t risk having anyone else hear.”
“We’re alone now,” Luke pointed out.
“But they could have placed a listening device in the ship while we were on the North Plateau. I want to wait until we’re in hyperspace.
Then I know they won’t be able to follow.”
“No one’s been in the ship but us,” Luke said firmly. “And this isn’t going to be much of a partnership if you’re keeping secrets from me.
Don’t you trust me, Akanah?”
“I know you to be a good man,” said Akanah. “But some of what you do and believe makes me uncomfortable.
In the long run, I have never known a warrior or a soldier to be a friend.” saber now only comes to my hand to protect people I care about. Is that a warrior, or a friend?”
Akanah was silent, looking down at her lap. “We have to go to Teyr,” she said at last. “The circle may not have been able to stay there, but that is where they went from Lucazec.”