Read Online Children of Hope by David Feintuch - Free Book Online

proud of it.
    If only I could ask Anthony what he’d have me do. But I didn’t dare use the caller or post a netnote. Not only might he trace me and, worse, force me home, but his answer would close off options he might want preserved.
    Kevin caught his breath. “Holy shit, look!”
    I swung round, a chill lancing my spine. If Anth had—
    “Kevin!”
    “Dad, they’ve—”
    “Kevin!” Mr Dakko’s holovid tumbled to the floor.
    “What did—oops. Sorry, sir.”
    “Turn that off.”
    “I didn’t mean to talk—”
    He was out of his chair. “Switch it off. To your room.”
    “Yessir.” Kev’s holovid went dark. To me, a helpless shrug. He padded toward his room.
    “Just a moment.” His father’s tone was firm. “Do you recall the last time you used foul language?”
    “Yes, sir.” Kev’s voice was small.
    “What did I do?”
    A glance of dismay. “Dad, Randy’s here.”
    “What did I do?”
    “You washed out my mouth.” Kevin’s face was crimson.
    “Shall we do it again?”
    “No, sir, I’ll watch myself. Honest.”
    “Very well.”
    Kevin disappeared.
    The atmosphere was like ice. My closest friend had been humiliated before me, and I doubted I’d forgive.
    After a time, Mr Dakko cleared his throat. “Believe me, I heard worse in the Navy.”
    Politely, I smiled, hoping I wasn’t betraying Kev.
    “And I used worse.” He bent to retrieve his holovid. “I told you I was on Challenger and Hibernia ?”
    “You didn’t mention the ships.” What had Kevin found that excited him so? I’d slip into his room and ask, before bed. Mr Dakko hadn’t forbidden it. And if it concerned me, I needed to know.
    “With my father. I thought I was grown, and tried to act it.” A pause. “Like Kevin.”
    I stared at the fabric of my chair.
    “Walter—my father—didn’t do much to take me in hand, though Lord God knew I needed it. Slowly, in the derelict ship, civilization collapsed around us. Then Walter showed a steel I didn’t know was in him.”
    What was he trying to tell me?
    “I won’t make Kev wait that long. So I’m strict. Not unduly so.”
    “That’s a matter of opinion.” I couldn’t help myself.
    “Yours differs?” His tone was dry.
    “It’s not like he meant to be rude. He was excited.”
    “About what?”
    “Who knows? You wouldn’t let him tell you.”
    “Language counts, you know.”
    “Yes, but …” I sighed. “It’s kinda dumb, my having an opinion. Look what my language started.”
    A chuckle.
    After a long silence, “Ask him to rejoin us, Randy. Tell him you successfully pleaded his case.”
    Moments later, Kev cautiously seated himself near his father. It was the elder Dakko who got up, enveloped his son in a fierce embrace.
    “So, then.” Mr Dakko rearranged himself on his sofa. “What was it you found?”
    “A ship’s coming in!” Kevin’s eyes sparkled.
    “Whoa.” Mr Dakko’s face relaxed into a grin. “When?”
    “It’ll dock late tonight. Pa, can we go up and watch?”
    “I doubt there’ll be room on the shuttle.” Of course there’d be one lifting off, crowded with customs and immigration officials, Naval brass and curious dignitaries anxious for a first look.
    “You always say that. If you called Thurmon Branstead …”
    “No, sorry.” A pause. “I have valuable connections, Kev. I don’t like using them for personal favors. When you run the business you’ll understand.”
    “Yes, sir.” Kevin’s disappointment was evident. So was mine. Ships came in so seldom—rarely more than two a year. The ore and grain barges didn’t count.
    “Its likely I can arrange a tour, though. After all, we’re chandlers to the Navy. Would you like that?”
    “Megazark!”
    “Did you notice what ship?”
    “The new one. Olympiad. ”
    “Ahh.” Mr Dakko’s fingers drummed. “Good business there. She’s colossal. Three thousand passengers, eight hundred crew.”
    I shook my head, trying to imagine a vessel that vast. “Could we go