Read Online Interzone #244 Jan - Feb 2013 by Various - Free Book Online Page B

with the steelwork gang. Eight people were killed. They pulled Caldwell out of the rubble two days later.”
    Diego whistled. “No wonder she likes space.”
    Diego and the Gaffer had finished changing. Murray was going slowly; I guessed she wanted to talk.
    “ I need a volunteer to check the oxygen tanks,” I said.
    “ That’ll be you, nearly-nineteen,” said Diego, suddenly out the door, the Gaffer right behind him. I sat down and waited to hear what was on Murray’s mind.
    “ He was nice, that old guy,” she said. “I hadn’t thought about the tourists. What if there’s an accident?”
    “ There won’t be.”
    “ But what if something fails?”
    “ It won’t. Everything’s checked. I wouldn’t let anything past if I wasn’t completely confident.” I was lying, but not much. There’s always the possibility of component failure. My specification changes only increased the chances a little.
    “ He’s probably someone’s granddad.”
    “ He’s perfectly safe,” I snapped. “Talking to tourists is likely to get you in trouble. So is gossiping about Caldwell.”
    She looked guilty at that. I took pity on her.
    “ You can head off,” I said. “I’ll do the tanks.”
    I should have known better than to be soft on an apprentice. She knew I’d be occupied for at least half an hour. She used the time to grass me up to Caldwell.
    Of course, Caldwell came straight to me afterwards.
    “ Whistleblowing!” I said, disappointed. I hardly believed it; Murray had seemed so promising.
    “ How much does she know?” asked Caldwell. I shrugged.
    “ She obviously hasn’t worked out your role.”
    “ Let’s keep it that way. Arrange a safety infraction tomorrow and I’ll fire her on the spot. Once she’s been shipped home in disgrace no-one will believe her.”
    Easy for Caldwell to say; she wasn’t at risk of exposure. I was sure I could come up with a better solution.
    * *
    “ Here, clip in , Murray,” I said, holding out a prepared line.
    Diego sailed through the door. “I’ll take that one. Nearly-nineteen’s not ready yet.”
    He was right; Murray hadn’t fully sealed her suit.
    “ You’re not suited up,” I said, pulling my hand back, “and she’ll only be a moment.”
    “ So get another line ready quickly,” said Diego, taking the line and clipping his suit in before I could think of a reason to stop him. He was finished and waiting to go well before Murray.
    “ Taking your time, nearly-nineteen?” he taunted.
    “ Get lost.”
    “ Enough!” said the Gaffer. “You two are working together today. I need Peggy with me on the central connector point. Diego, no messing around, understand? Peggy, I want a second line for girlie here.”
    The Gaffer’s order was a relief. I’d drawn a blank trying to come up with a reason for Diego and Murray to swap lines. I broke out two extra lines and checked them.
    “ No need for me,” said Diego.
    “ Safety handbook applies to you too,” I said, throwing one his way.
    “ First I’ve heard of it,” he said.
    “ Just clip in.”
    “ Nah, remember what Caldwell said? I’m in no danger so long as nearly-nineteen’s fully restrained.”
    Murray ignored him and clipped in, doubly safe, to my frustration.
    “ Leave it,” said the Gaffer, punching the airlock code. Diego laughed, and lobbed his secondary back to me. I considered calling him back. I could say I’d spotted something wrong with his line. I nearly did it…but I needed to act before Murray was sent Earthside.
    I decided. A warning would do the job. It was a shame; I’d always liked Diego. But, Murray needed to be taught a lesson about telling tales.
    I watched them as best I could from the opposite end of the truss, but I was still looking the other way when the trouble came. The first I knew was Murray shouting for help over the open channel. The Gaffer looked round, swore once, and headed towards them.
    Diego was without a line, moving steadily away from the station. As I