Read Online Drifter's Run by William C. Dietz - Free Book Online

Willer, the entire bridge crew was killed. The ensuing investigation took two years, the trial took months, but they never found the wreck.
    "That was thirty years ago, and most people figure she's been pounded into a billion pieces by now, but not Cap. No, he thinks she's a drifter, a ghost ship waiting for his return.
    "It takes him a while to get drunk, and if you catch him at just the right point, he'll tell you all about it. For that matter he'll tell the entire bar about it. How she's out there, a drifter worth millions in salvage, just waiting for someone to claim her."
    Lando remembered Jord Willer, and his promise to be there when Cap found the Star. The cyborg wanted more than revenge, he wanted millions in salvage as well.
    Cy chuckled. "Yeah, Cap wants her all right, but it's more than money he wants. It's his honor. He left it aboard that ship… and he wants it back."
    "What's Daddy want?" Melissa said, putting a coffee flask next to Lando's elbow.
    "The Star of Empire, "Cy replied.
    "Oh, that," Melissa said, instantly bored. "That's a waste of time… but Mommy said to humor him."
    Lando poured a cup of coffee and held it up in a salute. "And we shall. First I'll have a cup of this excellent coffee… and then we're off. Ghost hunters extraordinaire."
    Melissa laughed and the conversation turned mundane.
    But outside, beyond the strength of Junk 'shull, the asteroids continued to whirl and dance. A dance as vast as the solar system itself, as precise as the laws that governed it, and as relentless as time. A dance of secrets kept.

5
    Lando wrinkled his nose. The air smelled of ozone, peat smoke, and animal droppings. Not a pleasant mix, but a real one, and preferable to the recycled stuff aboard ship.
    Stepping onto a new planet never failed to excite him. New sights, new sounds, and, yes, new smells no matter how pungent. All were a part of the newness. All were welcome. A light breeze touched Lando's cheek and he smiled.
    Dista was close to Earth normal, with only a slightly longer day and a touch more gravity. As a result humans felt quite comfortable and, lured by Imperial land grants, were still arriving. That accounted for the fact that the planet boasted three new spaceports.
    This one, a largely prefab affair located just outside Dista's largest city, looked just like many others all over the empire. A large repulsor-blackened expanse of duracrete, a scattering of grounded ships, and a utilitarian control-maintenance facility. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.
    But when visitors stepped out through the spaceport's gates, they took a step backward in time. The effect was so startling that many paused to look around. Lando was no exception. The view was amazing.
    At the same time that high-flying shuttles left streaks across the upper atmosphere, Dib-drawn carts creaked down rutted roads, and peat fires pointed smoky fingers toward the sky.
    "Hey, Pik! Come on! We haven't got all day!"
    The voice belonged to Cap. He and Melissa were a hundred feet up ahead, skillfully sidestepping the dome-shaped piles of Dib dung, and motioning for Lando to hurry.
    Cy was still aboard ship, but both of the Sorensons were dirtside, and eager to reach town. Cap had some business to transact and Melissa wanted to play. Lando waved in response and hurried to catch up.
    It was market day, and that meant a constant stream of foot traffic, Dib-drawn carts, and crawlers moving into town. They carried everything from produce to freshly cut peat. As the vehicles moved they stirred the mud with Dib droppings and sprayed the resulting mixture over everything in sight.
    At first Lando tried to stay clean, but it was a hopeless task, and he soon gave up. By the time Lando caught up with the others he was as muddy and messy as they were.
    A cart squeaked by and sprayed guck on his pants leg. Melissa laughed, Cap looked impatient, and the three of them headed for town.
    Looking around, Lando saw that the settlers wore