Barnacle Passage, page 19
Twelve minutes later, they hovered in the bridge's airlock. DualE closed the outer door once Pious was inside. When the 'safe' light flashed, they both unsealed hoods.
"Before we go in, grant me a few moments, brother?"
Pious eyed her warily.
She moved away from the inside door to allow him access anytime he desired. "Please?"
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's you and me. Something switched on in your attitude toward me when we were in the cryo chamber. You've lost trust in me and I'd like to know why. The challenge going forward won't be easier if there is mistrust."
"I feel vulnerable at this moment, DualE."
"You can say no and go in if you wish." She leaned against the wall and bent her knees so their eyes were level. "I am in nominal command here, not because I think I'm the smartest but because I think I'm the most focused and capable of organizing the others and the brothers into getting us to Bohr. Safe. I thought you were on our side when Zofie convinced you and Cardinal to accompany us." DualE turned her head in Tokal and Heffeis's direction. "But you changed your attitude."
"It was Tokal."
"You did know him."
Pious shook his head. "No. The mark on his face. Not from whatever torture he endured within the cryo coffin before he died."
It clicked. "You're very observant. The one out-of-place wound. My knuckle, his cheek." She slipped her fist from her sleeve. "You're right. I hit him. Once. On Argosy Station." No need to share why she'd hit him. "I could not have been more surprised when Ellick revealed Tokal's corpse aboard Pollux."
"Maybe so but you also were involved in the astrogator's death. You provided the tool to take his own life, did you not?" Pious's nervousness had not dissipated.
"I take responsibility. That isn't the same as locking Heffeis in the head and putting the pharms in his mouth. He did that." She lowered further. "I understand your doubt, Brother Pious. I should not have taken you through the distortion zone. It brings up counter-intuitive emotions and counter-innate reactions."
His fear blinked off for a moment. He got the connection. Whether he believed it was up to him.
"Can you grant me a truce for the time being? Place yourself where you feel least vulnerable and able to watch me. Protect Cardinal as well, if you suspect me."
He edged to the control panel and activated the inner door. He didn't answer.
CARVER HEARD THE 'LOCK open. How long had the pair been gone? Time slipped by. He and Cardinal huddled over the nav station.
He glanced over his shoulder. Zofie aided Pious out of his suit and offered a thermos and an energy wafer. The brother looked wary, his focus on DualE rather than Zofie. DualE looked pissed and shrugged from her own suit, avoiding Ellick's attention. Good move, he thought, Zofie didn't need her competition for his favors.
"The tea's gone, all we have left is hot water."
"Most acceptable. Thank you, Zofie." Pious walked to the pair of plotters. "Progress?"
DualE accepted a drink from Zofie and they all formed a semi-circle behind the two seated men.
Carver spun his chair. "It's as I suspected and Brother Cardinal has confirmed."
DualE fixed her eyes upon him. "Then you know where?"
"Oh yeah." He thought he'd enjoy being one up on her for a change but Carver took no pleasure in his knowledge.
"On to Bohr Confluence one or two jumps?" she asked.
"There's a complication." Carver looked to the brother beside him. "Cardinal is the expert."
Cardinal spoke without facing DualE or Pious. "I'm not an expert but I appreciate Carver's confidence. The jump initiated by the late astrogator took Pollux in the wrong direction. We are closer to departure point than we are to Bohr."
"We're back in Argosy?" asked Pious.
"Sorry my brother. Not near Argosy Station but in the greater Realm. We are near enough Schoenfeld Eddy to track a bit of the space traffic and monitor old broadcast signals."
"We send out an SOS and wait for aid? Revive the crew and begin again."
Carver shook his head. "Not so simple. This area is not friendly to...intruders."
"A call for help would not be our best strategy," said DualE.
"No. Nor would accelerating Pollux in pre-jump mode. If hostile ships are close, they'd be on us before we could jump."
"Hostile?" said Ellick. "How do we know that? Unless you've declared war all on your own, Denz."
"Who or whatever hit Sympat didn't originate in Bohr but in the Realm. I didn't declare war, the Realm did." Carver returned Ellick's glare.
"Thought you said pirates." Ellick wasn't giving up.
"Pirates, privateers, names for disguising military craft," said DualE.
Carver nodded. "Thank you. We've been lucky thus far we haven't attracted attention. The proximity alarms are quiet."
"What do we do? Give up?" DualE's expression turned from anger to resignation.
Cardinal exhaled and looked to Pious for direction. Pious tilted his head a fraction. "Proceed, Brother Cardinal."
"For now, we drift on our current course away from the Eddy. During that time, Carver and I will search for a dust cloud, asteroid cluster or gravity anomaly suitable to mask our departure."
DualE looked to Carver. "Any sign our pursuers know where we are?"
"Not yet." Could he say 'unlikely'? Unlikely. He stood and walked to stretch his legs. "I reset the proximity alarms and they're silent for now."
She followed him to the far side of the bridge. "This is straight?" she whispered. "Cardinal's plan?"
"Yes. He agrees we can't afford to be detected. They want to arrive in Bohr as much as we do."
"I wonder if Pious agrees. He might welcome any diversion separating him and me."
Carver raised an eyebrow. "No shit? What's the story?"
"I'll explain later. If pursuit's inevitable we need to prepare. Pollux has some defense systems. With help I could get them operationally effective."
He spoke close to her ear. "Not enough. There's a bloody armada somewhere out there. I know, I saw it when I came to the Eddy." The relief overcame the reluctance to tell her. Tell someone. His instinct told him to trust her. He would not take his intel to any grave alone.
Tendons in DualE's neck strained. "You traveled to the Eddy to prospect," she asserted.
"To prospect and to look for other activity."
"You risk much telling me this. I guessed something of the sort but didn't know how...big?"
"Big is right," said Carver. "Bohr Confluence has to be warned. I'm telling you this because I don't think you're on the side of the Realm. If I've misjudged and you are, then kill me now. Scatter me in the void like Sympat and its crew and cargo. I am tired of the whole deal and not being able to trust anyone."
"I'll keep your trust for now."
"I need one more thing."
"What?" she asked.
"Reaction and truth. Follow my lead." He jumped away from her. "You knew before everyone else what happened to Pollux. You've sought control ever since the rest of us woke up. Tell me you had nothing to do with our situation." He pointed at Ellick. "The promoter was right, you could be the target."
"I'm seeking control because you're losing yours." DualE's anger infused the right amount of indignation and edginess. "Carver Denz can't handle adversity, can you?"
"I can handle anything but lies.' He held up thumb a forefinger a whisper apart. "You're this close to tipping into spook-space DT's yourself." He glanced at Ellick again. "Ellick, I apologize for attacking you. I should have focused on our post-military operative. She never made it off Argosy Station because she didn't have to. Kondradt's minions in the Eddy didn't need another agent."
Zofie responded first. "Carver, you're crazy, Kondradt would never trust ex-navy."
"Her word against yours, Zofie? Not a confidence builder. How about you, brother Pious? Who do you trust?"
"You all show signs of unbearable stress. I suggest you calm down and focus on the next task."
Carver swung his gaze across the bridge. He hung his head and sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. DualE, I was wrong. You are the right person to be in charge. None of the rest of us can match your ability and strength." He stepped toward her. "Not my finest moment. It won't happen again, I promise."
PIOUS'S HAND SIGNAL to Cardinal told the brother to remain silent. This was a battle he suspected had been brewing since the four barnacles had discovered their situation and abandonment. Without faith to guide them, they lost purpose so easy. He wouldn't interfere. Not now. If blows were exchanged then he and Cardinal would act.
He studied the main combatants. Carver's and DualE's eyes wandered. Was it a minute betrayal of true purpose or nerves? He too observed the other couple's reactions. The girl seemed distraught by the confrontation, her partner less so. Ellick appeared to enjoy the rancor. Perhaps he was so used to being on the receiving end of accusation and anger, it refreshed him to know he wasn’t alone.
Carver ran out of steam and Pious judged it prudent to speak. "...focus on the next task." Get them safe. The issue of the bargain demanded by the brothers to accomplish that goal must be addressed. Pious did not relish negotiating with such an unpredictable personality.
DUALE ALLOWED HER EMOTIONS to run free under Carver's false attack. Relief in the chance to vent felt good. Was that part of his intent? He was a better psychologist than the rest if so. If not, what motivated his outburst? Did he need to vent as well? Despite his accusations, he was in control, carefully managing body with verbal language to elicit response from everyone present.
She studied the rest while she and Carver argued. Zofie looked the most dismayed, Ellick smirked and the brothers remained stoical. If Carver wanted one or more of them to reveal hidden plans, she'd missed it.
Pious's words diffused Carver's temper and she let him get close during his apology.
"See anything I missed?" he whispered.
"No. I think your scheme was ill-advised."
"Maybe, maybe not. A lack of intense response says as much as the opposite." He opened his fists. A surrender. "Now to deal with the brothers. Cardinal the astrogator and his leader."
"Pious will want your remaining fortune to get us to Bohr."
"I was never greedy when I didn't have the means to be and now that I can, it loses importance under the circumstances. My so-called lucky circumstances got knocked on their ass by this turn-about. What's left of the fortune loses importance with every hour we're adrift. We negotiate. He believes he can manipulate me so you will be my agent."
"Why? You think he'll believe what we just did?"
"Probably not but he's more afraid of you than me. Deal? We won't shake hands in front of them." He glanced at the four others on the bridge.
"Deal." DualE considered the consequences of accepting his proposal. It wouldn't technically contravene her orders but she ran the risk of discipline, demotion and even prison. A skewed interpretation by some civilian authority would be worse. No one to protect her in that court. At this moment reciprocating Carver's trust was more important than eventual consequences with her masters. She'd worked her way out of tougher spots.
She couldn't forget Pious and his suspicions. He'd watched them while carrying on his own conversation with Cardinal. Ellick too had taken interest while Zofie fussed with heating more water.
DualE approached Pious. "Brother, I'm a direct sort of person."
He nodded. "I am aware of your strength and weakness."
"You are right. My curse. Carver and I were discussing arming Pollux if we have to fight our way to Bohr."
"A last resort, right?"
"But a possibility. Would you have your mission end here?"
"Not by my choice but there are times when one's choice comes from outside."
"Yeah, His will be done. This won't be your God acting, it will be evil men. And women. They're not on a mission for any God I know." She watched his eyes for acceptance.
"You spoke of something else?"
She nodded. "We did. Carver's willing to negotiate a settlement on the subject of Nev Mox, whether your ties to the failed prospector are legitimate or not. To be affirmed when we reach Bohr. Intact."
"Then I shall speak with Mr. Denz."
"You may or you can talk to me. I'm his negotiator. You'll have to accept my role." She held out her hand.
Pious hesitated. She wondered if greed was the sin he despised most?
At last he gripped her hand. "We'd best trust Cardinal's gift is up to the task," he said.
Amen, she thought.
Chapter 33
Carver's conversations with Brother Cardinal during Pious and DualE's absence led him to believe the navigator missionary had no qualms about aiding Pollux and her barnacles to reach their goal. Pious was the one shackled to God's will, according to Zofie. God's will until your check clears. The leader of the four was either a literal believer in his teachings or a situational ethicist. It was up to the four heathens to convince the other four that fate could be changed with effort.
Carver dug through the detritus on the comm console looking for an energy biscuit. His hand froze for a second and moved on. He did not betray the shock of what he saw under the rubbish. Someone had activated the SOS switch. Recently. He covered the switch and moved away, keeping nonchalant. Let someone else discover the crime. His silence would serve as an advantage to eliminate at least one other suspect beside himself.
The circuit junction in his pocket weighed heavier than its few grams of actual mass. He'd removed it when the women were EVA and Ellick was in the head. The SOS would not function without the missing component but whomever turned the switch would not know the signal was silent.
One of the barnacles or two brothers wanted to be found by their pursuers or the Realm's growing armada. Pollux needed to jump and soon. He returned to the nav station.
"Well, any hope?" He offered Cardinal half of the biscuit.
"We want to be outside the safety margin. You and I together don't make one jumpship-rated astrogator."
"Preaching to the choir, brother. No offense."
Cardinal beckoned Pious close. "We can jump in less than a day if we can locate suitable camouflage between our location and where Carver tells me potential enemies could be present."
"Where they were when I last checked," amended Carver.
"We are obligated to accept your assessment," said Pious. "It appears Brother Cardinal's expertise will get you to your destination."
"And yours," reminded Carver.
"Our destination is where we are needed or where we are sent. Our mission has no itinerary which cannot be altered due to circumstance beyond our control or ken. We are as at home in this frontier as in the Confluence. I doubt you are."
Carver digested the words. Whether or not Pious truly believed them did not matter. What mattered was Carver reaching Bohr and passing on his intelligence regarding the Eddy. "What would convince you and your brothers that your interests and the remaining barnacles align?" He wanted to hear the man say it. DualE joined them. Carver pushed his point home. "The Eddy will be a difficult place for your mission in the immediate future. I recommend you follow your plan and re-organize in Bohr before you return here."
Pious clenched and unclenched his fists. "Ours is a difficult burden. Ms. DualE has seen inside our ship. We do not take pleasure in material comforts. Difficulty, as you put it, is not a hardship."
You should see the inside of my barnacle. In places you can almost see through to the outside. Carver let Pious's self-righteous statement pass. One-upmanship wouldn't promote harmony.
"However, funds to carry on our mission are necessary," Pious continued. "The generosity of patrons and adherents are God's life blood to us. Your recent good fortune is irrevocably linked to our mission."
Carver nodded. "The unfortunate Nev Mox. You referred to him in your message. Convenient you had a patron who isn't around to confirm your thirty-year old association." He held up his hand. "I'm not denying the possibility but you are a practical man as well as a man of faith. Imagine how my faith is tested when every individual and agency within light-years of Schoenfeld Eddy knows about me and claims a right to a fortune far less than their imaginations would like to believe. Yours isn't the only petition begging to share my wealth based on a tenuous relationship."
Pious pressed his hands together in front of his face as if in prayer. "Your decision is one only you can make, Carver. Without funds to carry on our mission from Bohr to return to Argosy and the Eddy, we may as well remain here. Penance can disengage from Pollux and find our way to the nearest outpost. The influx of new prospectors and related entrepreneurs may fund us for some time."
The assessment of human migration was the problem, Carver thought. The Realm's armada would not remain secret forever with the ever-increasing number of new arrivals to the Eddy and subsequent ore hunt. "I'm a reasonable man, Pious. If you show the same moderation, I'm confident we can both leave here winners."
"Then we shall begin, away from Brother Cardinal. He doesn't need our distraction."
Carver tilted his head to DualE. "My agent."
Pious paled before forcing a smile. "Yes, she told me. Are you sure? You and I already understand one another."
"Understanding's not an issue for me, I charge her with consummating an agreement. My expertise, such as it is, will be more help to Brother Cardinal. Jumpspace is our mutual goal. My contribution is with him." And it will test our resident mercenary or whatever the hell she is. Did she want to get to Bohr or was she the saboteur who had tried to send an SOS?
