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vessel and our way of life.”
    “You mean attacking people and kidnapping them? That way of life?”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of, Mr. Alden. Your anger. I can hear it in your voice, see it on your face, that you want to kill me and my crew for what we did.” She clucked. “That kind of vitriol can last generations. It could lead to a culture of warfare on New Earth. Remember the Middle East on Old Earth? I don’t want something like that to be my legacy.”
    “You should have thought of that before you attacked us.”
    “I had just cause.” Her calm veneer dropped to show a core of rage underneath. “You’re Captain now; you have access to the ship’s records. Find out for yourself how we were sabotaged and provoked. I’m sure Waverly Marshall told you—”
    “I’m not going to play games with you,” he said. He felt nauseous even talking to her. “Release our parents and you won’t have to deal with a violent confrontation.”
    “I can’t do that until we settle our differences. We need a treaty.”
    “You want to call the shots.”
    “I want assurance that my crew and our descendants will be safe once we reach New Earth.”
    “Fine. You have my word. We won’t attack you.”
    “Not good enough. I want the truth to come out about Captain Jones and the past. Only then will you understand why we had to do what we did.” Her tone was plaintive, friendly, even, but her expression was flat. “I want you to do some research, Mr. Alden.”
    “You’re giving me homework ?”
    “When you and I can have a frank, honest discussion about the past, then we can begin to discuss the transfer of hostages.”
    “Or I could simply catch up to your ship, board you, and take them by force.”
    The slight smile in her eyes flickered out, replaced by hardened steel. “If you think a bunch of kids can overcome a seasoned adult crew, you’re deluding yourself.”
    “It’s only to my advantage if you think I’m insane,” Kieran said, and severed the com link.
    But a text message came through on this computer with a video attachment:
    These are records of communications between myself and Captain Jones, from the years when both ships struggled with infertility. You can verify their authenticity by comparing them to your own files and video logs. When you’ve watched them, hail my ship, and we can resume negotiations. Until then, I’ll receive no communication from you.
    Kieran stared at the file name: Sabotage.
    Lies.
    He stored the files on a data-dot and put it in the bottom of his desk drawer. He would not watch them. He refused to be manipulated by that woman.
    He heard a beep and picked up the walkie-talkie he kept on his belt.
    “Hi, Kieran!” Philip’s little boy voice called. He sounded excited and happy. Kieran knew that this assignment had done wonders for the boy’s outlook. There was no better therapy than being useful.
    “Hi, Philip, buddy. What have you turned up?”
    “Waverly spent all night alone in her quarters. She didn’t even go visit Sarah this time. She looks really tired. Today she was working on a tractor engine in the cornfield. She changed a tire with some help from a couple guys. She hurt her hand with the wrench.…”
    “Less detail is okay, Philip. Did she go anywhere unusual? Talk to anyone? Mention anything about Seth Ardvale maybe?”
    “I can’t always hear her. Mostly she talks to other mechanics about work. The rest of the time she’s quiet and alone. She seems sad.”
    Kieran’s heart hurt, and for a moment he thought of her as the old Waverly, the girl he loved.
    “Okay, Philip. Keep on her. You holding up okay?”
    “It’s easy.”
    “And you’re sure she hasn’t seen you?”
    “She doesn’t notice hardly anything. Like she’s always thinking hard about something and not looking around.”
    “Okay, that’s good. You’re doing a great job. I think I’m going to promote you to deck officer when this assignment is through.”
    “That would be