Read Online The Rise of Earth by Jason Fry - Free Book Online

aligned with the privateer’s, sealing the two craft together. The lights around the airlock blinked green.
    â€œYou do the talking,” Tycho said to Yana.
    â€œNo way! That’s your job!”
    â€œWhy is it my job?”
    â€œYana, your microphone’s hot,” Diocletia said over their headsets.
    Yana stabbed guiltily at her headset’s controls while Tycho closed his eyes in dismay. They both heard their mother sigh.
    â€œI don’t know why everybody’s getting along like cats in a sack today, but it needs to stop. You two can help by not embarrassing us for the next fifteen minutes. Tycho will greet the minister. Is that clear?”
    â€œIt’s clear, Captain,” Tycho said with a final glower at his sister. “Quarterdeck, we are green to receive our passenger.”
    â€œThat’s better,” Diocletia said. “Vesuvia, open her up.”
    The inner airlock door rose smoothly into the ceiling. Standing in the ferry’s airlock was a little man withclose-cropped white hair and a neatly trimmed beard, his eyes a bright blue. He carried a large canvas valise and wore a neat formal tunic and trousers—not a military uniform, but the garb of a government official.
    â€œMasters Hashoone, my name’s Vass. Nehemiah Vass,” he said in a crisp voice. “Permission to come aboard?”
    â€œGranted, Mr. Vass,” Tycho said. “I’m Tycho Hashoone, and this is my sister, Yana. Welcome aboard the Shadow Comet .”
    Vass extended his hand to Tycho, then bowed to Yana.
    â€œYou can leave your bag, Minister,” Tycho said. “One of our crewers will take it to your cabin.”
    Vass set the large valise down gratefully. As Yana closed the airlock, he peered beyond Tycho into the dim depths of the privateer’s lower deck, where crewers were rushing among the maze of struts and girders. Somewhere aft they heard Grigsby directing a string of impressively awful oaths at a crewer who’d done something to trigger his wrath.
    Vass looked surprised by the paint-peeling torrent.
    â€œYou’ll discover things can be a little . . . informal belowdecks, Mr. Vass,” Tycho said. “Um, our captain’s ordered engines lit at 0930, but we can show you around first if you like.”
    Vass brightened. “I would like that very much, Masters. I’ve never been aboard one of our privateers.”
    â€œThen follow us,” Tycho said. “We’ll show you toyour cabin and then give you a tour of the quarterdeck. The ladderwell is this way.”
    â€œBut what about this level?” Vass asked. “I’d like very much to see it as well. If there’s time, of course.”
    Tycho and Yana looked at each other, surprised. The bells clang-clanged for 0900 and Vass jumped at the sound.
    â€œIt’s been a while since I was aboard a starship,” he said. “I forgot about all the racket.”
    â€œWe hardly notice it by now,” Yana said.
    â€œYou’ll get used to it too,” Tycho said. “So this is the port side of the ship. There are eleven gunports on each side, eight fore of the airlock and three aft. Behind the gunnery ladderwell you’ll find the main hold. And if you’ll come this way, Mr. Vass, we’ll show you the magazines, infirmary, and the mess.”
    Crewers rushed around them in a blur of glowing tattoos and clouds of cheroot smoke, muttering greetings and touching their knuckles to their foreheads. Vass had to dodge a giant crewer with a mohawk who emerged from the head and gaped in horror at the sight of two members of the bridge crew.
    â€œThat ladderwell leads to the quarterdeck,” Tycho said as the big crewer smacked his knuckles to his scalp and fled. “And these are the cabins used by the belowdecks officers.”
    â€œThey’re much smaller than the ones aboard a military vessel,” Vass said. “Are your quarters down here