Read Online Starhawk by Jack McDevitt - Free Book Online

close behind. “I’ve never felt anything like this,” she said, sounding almost giddy.
    They floated across, talking about how they’d hoped to hear from the
Thompson
before they left, and how impressed everybody was that the kids had done this without any problems, and how breathless a world was from this angle. Joshua spotted the monument, then lost it as he closed on the
Copperhead
. The air-lock door was open, and they floated smoothly inside. When they stepped into the passenger cabin, the girls clapped their hands, everybody said hello and how good it was to be together again, and Jake couldn’t help enjoying the moment. Now, if the
Thompson
would just show up.
    The air had already gotten thick. “Listen, everybody,” said Priscilla from the bridge, “please belt down or hold on. We need to do a little acceleration. Just for a few minutes.”
    Jake was pleased. She continued to show good sense. He grabbed hold of one of the safety grips that lined the bulkheads.
    Â * * * 
    WHEN THEY RESET for cruise, he led Shahlah and Joshua below to the cargo deck. They climbed into the lander, closed the hatches, and settled into the seats. It felt good to get back to decent ventilation. But they looked at one another while everybody came to the same realization. Jake shook his head. Shahlah and Joshua both nodded. Do it.
    He touched the commlink. “We need to rethink this, Priscilla.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWell, the air’s better in here than it is in the ship. Bring three of the girls down, and we’ll change places.”
    â€œOkay, Jake. Be there in a minute.”
    Shahlah glanced around the interior of the lander. “Why are the windows blocked?” she asked.
    â€œBecause,” said Josh, “it gets used sometimes in areas of heavy radiation.”
    She shook her head. “This is depressing.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Jake. He explained about the flare star.
    â€œI’d like to see that,” she said. “But
live
. Through a window. Not on a display.”
    â€œSorry,” said Jake. “Windows won’t work.”
    â€œNice interior, though,” she said. The seats were imitation leather, the lighting was soft, and the controls were padded. The vehicle was designed to accommodate five, plus the pilot.
    â€œBut we need to conserve the air,” said Josh. “No idle chitchat.” So they sat quietly, waiting for Priscilla. Shahlah found a book,
FutureTalk
, in which experts predicted what the next century was likely to bring. Joshua simply closed his eyes. Jake stared at the back of his hand, thinking how nice it would be to be on a mountaintop somewhere, with unlimited fresh air.
    Priscilla arrived with Nadia, Layla, and Sakeena. “We’re going to rotate the girls through every four hours,” she said.
    They took over the lander, and Joshua showed them how to access the library. “Same rules here as elsewhere. Breathe normally. Don’t talk, okay? And keep the hatch shut except when you’re going in or out. Washroom is down at the far end of the bay.” Shahlah translated.
    They closed the hatch and started back topside. It was 1311 Greenwich time. They had until about noon tomorrow to get some people on board the
Thompson
.
    â€œBy the way,” said Priscilla, “you timed your exit from the
Gremlin
pretty closely.”
    â€œIt’s going down?” said Joshua.
    â€œA few minutes ago.”
    Â * * * 
    JOHARA WAS ASLEEP in the passenger cabin. The others were reading. “I’ve never seen that happen before,” said Joshua. “Usually, they spend their time playing games.”
    Ishraq looked up from her screen. “Priscilla asked us not to.”
    â€œOf course,” he said. “Game-playing gets people excited, and you use more air.”
    â€œI guess,” she said.
    Jake and Joshua took seats while Priscilla and