Read Online ARC: Under Nameless Stars by Christian Schoon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christian Schoon
Tags: Science-Fiction, Young Adult, mars, kidnapped, stowaway, youngadult fiction, Zenn Scarlett, exoveterinarian, finding Father
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antique printed-on-paper-novels involving criminals and those who detect clues in order to apprehend them. I will follow the Skirni surreptitiously to gather information about his activities. I will then make my report to you. Yes! It will be our case together.”
“Our case…” Zenn was a little dubious about the cetacean’s childlike enthusiasm for what, to her, was very serious business.
“Why not? Tailing and reporting the accumulated clues form the basis for almost all successful mysterious adventures of this variety. It seems the best way until we come upon some better solution. Now…” He lifted a bunch of bananas from the fruit bowl, looked underneath, but found no more fish. “I am exceptionally hungry.” His attention had shifted abruptly once more – a trait Zenn thought she should probably get used to. “The food on this ship is quite adequate. And in main dining areas they do not ration the amount one consumes. Are you hungry as well?”
Zenn realized that she was, in fact, famished. Deciding it was best she remain in the cabin, Jules hurried out into the corridor and Zenn found herself alone with the sleeping Katie.
She went into her bedroom amid the sudden silence, which was then broken by a faint chiming tone that sounded from a hidden speaker somewhere in the cabin, followed by a bland female voice.
“Greetings to our recently arrived guests, and welcome aboard the LSA LumiLiner Helen of Troy ,” the voice intoned. “The ship is commencing orbital exit maneuvers. We will soon be departing Mars and Sol Sys space for Sigmund’s Parch, Luveern Transfer Hub, Enchara and Fomalhaut, with connecting services to Mu Arae, the Moons of Altair and the Outer Reaches. Our estimated transit time to the Sol space tunneling coordinates is two standard days, seven hours. Thank you for traveling with LumiLiner, and please have a pleasant voyage.” The message then began to repeat, first in the hissing, sibilant sounds of Alcyoni, then in the low, melodic tones Zenn recognized as the language of the Zeta Reticulans.
So, this was it. She was really leaving. For the first time, she was now truly on her own, beyond the reach or assistance of anyone back on Mars.
She sat on the bunk to think. There was still the problem of letting Otha know where she was. What would he say? What would he do? And Liam. Was he looking for her? Was he even still aboard? A sinking hollowness opened deep inside her. But at the thought of her father, helpless, imprisoned, maybe hurt, she stood up again, her entire body electric with fury and resolve. Yes, she was on her own. And whatever happened from now on was up to her and her alone.
She went to the cabin door, hesitated just long enough to wrap her scarf around her head and lower face, took a deep breath, and stepped up to the door. Looking back to see that Katie was still asleep, she quietly asked the door to open, leaned out into the passageway and checked both directions. No one. When she had followed Jules to his cabin earlier, they’d passed a viewport just down the corridor. Deciding that one last look at Mars didn’t necessarily mean she was already homesick, she hurried down the passage.
The perfect disc of Mars hung suspended in the circular, floor-to-ceiling viewing window, a majestic expanse of browns and rusty reds rotating slowly far below. Gauzy white clouds trailed from the higher volcanoes like ragged pennants. Here and there, thin lines of green zigzagged through the barren wastes – pressurized valleys where the colonists maintained their fragile toehold on the planet. Zenn scanned the surface, trying to get her bearings and locate her home valley and Arsia City.
Something moved into view from one edge of the scene outside – a ferry, dropping away from the starship. Zenn assumed it was the one that had brought her, Katie, Liam and the sandhog up from the surface. Glinting in the stark sunlight, the little craft emitted a silent burst from its thrusters
“Our case…” Zenn was a little dubious about the cetacean’s childlike enthusiasm for what, to her, was very serious business.
“Why not? Tailing and reporting the accumulated clues form the basis for almost all successful mysterious adventures of this variety. It seems the best way until we come upon some better solution. Now…” He lifted a bunch of bananas from the fruit bowl, looked underneath, but found no more fish. “I am exceptionally hungry.” His attention had shifted abruptly once more – a trait Zenn thought she should probably get used to. “The food on this ship is quite adequate. And in main dining areas they do not ration the amount one consumes. Are you hungry as well?”
Zenn realized that she was, in fact, famished. Deciding it was best she remain in the cabin, Jules hurried out into the corridor and Zenn found herself alone with the sleeping Katie.
She went into her bedroom amid the sudden silence, which was then broken by a faint chiming tone that sounded from a hidden speaker somewhere in the cabin, followed by a bland female voice.
“Greetings to our recently arrived guests, and welcome aboard the LSA LumiLiner Helen of Troy ,” the voice intoned. “The ship is commencing orbital exit maneuvers. We will soon be departing Mars and Sol Sys space for Sigmund’s Parch, Luveern Transfer Hub, Enchara and Fomalhaut, with connecting services to Mu Arae, the Moons of Altair and the Outer Reaches. Our estimated transit time to the Sol space tunneling coordinates is two standard days, seven hours. Thank you for traveling with LumiLiner, and please have a pleasant voyage.” The message then began to repeat, first in the hissing, sibilant sounds of Alcyoni, then in the low, melodic tones Zenn recognized as the language of the Zeta Reticulans.
So, this was it. She was really leaving. For the first time, she was now truly on her own, beyond the reach or assistance of anyone back on Mars.
She sat on the bunk to think. There was still the problem of letting Otha know where she was. What would he say? What would he do? And Liam. Was he looking for her? Was he even still aboard? A sinking hollowness opened deep inside her. But at the thought of her father, helpless, imprisoned, maybe hurt, she stood up again, her entire body electric with fury and resolve. Yes, she was on her own. And whatever happened from now on was up to her and her alone.
She went to the cabin door, hesitated just long enough to wrap her scarf around her head and lower face, took a deep breath, and stepped up to the door. Looking back to see that Katie was still asleep, she quietly asked the door to open, leaned out into the passageway and checked both directions. No one. When she had followed Jules to his cabin earlier, they’d passed a viewport just down the corridor. Deciding that one last look at Mars didn’t necessarily mean she was already homesick, she hurried down the passage.
The perfect disc of Mars hung suspended in the circular, floor-to-ceiling viewing window, a majestic expanse of browns and rusty reds rotating slowly far below. Gauzy white clouds trailed from the higher volcanoes like ragged pennants. Here and there, thin lines of green zigzagged through the barren wastes – pressurized valleys where the colonists maintained their fragile toehold on the planet. Zenn scanned the surface, trying to get her bearings and locate her home valley and Arsia City.
Something moved into view from one edge of the scene outside – a ferry, dropping away from the starship. Zenn assumed it was the one that had brought her, Katie, Liam and the sandhog up from the surface. Glinting in the stark sunlight, the little craft emitted a silent burst from its thrusters
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