Read Online Too Close to the Sun (The Sun 1) by Robin T. Popp - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Robin T. Popp
Tags: General Fiction
Ads: Link
why I’m objecting, but why are you? Don’t you think I can help? Or maybe you don’t trust me.”
“I think you know why I’m objecting. Now, you can tell him or I will.”
“Tell me what?” Romanof asked while Angel continued to study Yanur.
Any delay in retrieving Romanof’s body increased the chances of never recovering it. Why would Yanur condemn his friend to eternity as a computer, unwilling to even make the attempt? Romanof obviously had no problem sending her into highly dangerous situation, unless…
A new thought hit her. Maybe Yanur hadn’t yet told Romanof she was a woman. She pinned the older man with her gaze. “You said earlier that I was brave. Don’t you think I can do this?”
“It’s not what I think that’s important here.”
So the objection would be Romanof’s. Interesting, she thought. “He wants me to go.”
“He doesn’t know the truth.”
Did that mean that Romanof would change his mind if he knew she was a woman? He would rather spend eternity as a computer?
It would serve him right, she thought, for being narrow-minded.
Well, she had grown up around men like him - men who thought women were inferior, unequal to men in intellect and skill. In fact, she had left home to get away from men like that and the last eight years were proof enough that she was as capable of surviving the dangers of the universe as any man.
Of course, if she wanted off the ship, then why was she even considering taking on this mission? Was she crazy? All she had to do was tell Romanof the truth and he'd dump her at the nearest safe port.
"Would someone like to tell me what the problem is?" Romanof asked, his tone causing the image of the man from her daydream to flicker to life before she could squelch it.
Was she willing to sentence Romanof to eternity as a computer without even trying to help him? Was she that selfish?
“No problems.” Angel looked pointedly to Yanur. “I’ll do it."
Yanur looked sorry as he shook his head. "I can't let you. You're a wo--"
“Boy?” Angel blurted out. “He thinks I can't do it because I'm young, just a boy. But I'm not as young as you think. I’m twenty-three and I think I’ve already proven I can handle myself under fire.” She directed her next words exclusively to Yanur. "I'm his best shot at getting back his body. Just because I'm not Richardson doesn't mean I can't do this."
The wait, though only seconds, seemed interminably long.
“Perhaps Michels is right,” Yanur finally said.
“Then let’s get started,” Romanof said. “Yanur, show Michels how to operate the transfer unit. When you’re done, we’ll go over my plan.”
“Shall we?” Yanur rose from his chair and gestured to the door. Angel stood and preceded him out. “Perhaps we could stop by the galley,” he added. “I find I could use a drink.”
Chapter 5
After an hour of going over the operation of the transfer disc, Yanur pronounced Angel ready. Romanof had outlined his plan, which seemed simple enough, and then Angel retired to her room to rest until Romanof summoned her hours later.
As soon as they entered the Harvesters' air space they were contacted by Ground Control. Romanof persuaded the authorities they were traders, intent on spending large sums of money. He then followed up the story with a sizable transfer of intergalactic credits into a temporary account to prove they had the funds to transact business.
In return, they were given the coordinates for the landing field and Angel, now piloting the ship, merged into the busy traffic pattern, descending slowly to the surface, to what appeared to be a large tarmac. As soon as they landed, a stasis field enveloped the ship, pinning it to the surface. Stasis fields were not unusual, but were usually pilot-activated. Angel had issued no such command.
“Romanof?”
“Planet-activated insurance policy. Probably to make sure we settle our accounts before we leave,” he deduced. “Black market planets
“I think you know why I’m objecting. Now, you can tell him or I will.”
“Tell me what?” Romanof asked while Angel continued to study Yanur.
Any delay in retrieving Romanof’s body increased the chances of never recovering it. Why would Yanur condemn his friend to eternity as a computer, unwilling to even make the attempt? Romanof obviously had no problem sending her into highly dangerous situation, unless…
A new thought hit her. Maybe Yanur hadn’t yet told Romanof she was a woman. She pinned the older man with her gaze. “You said earlier that I was brave. Don’t you think I can do this?”
“It’s not what I think that’s important here.”
So the objection would be Romanof’s. Interesting, she thought. “He wants me to go.”
“He doesn’t know the truth.”
Did that mean that Romanof would change his mind if he knew she was a woman? He would rather spend eternity as a computer?
It would serve him right, she thought, for being narrow-minded.
Well, she had grown up around men like him - men who thought women were inferior, unequal to men in intellect and skill. In fact, she had left home to get away from men like that and the last eight years were proof enough that she was as capable of surviving the dangers of the universe as any man.
Of course, if she wanted off the ship, then why was she even considering taking on this mission? Was she crazy? All she had to do was tell Romanof the truth and he'd dump her at the nearest safe port.
"Would someone like to tell me what the problem is?" Romanof asked, his tone causing the image of the man from her daydream to flicker to life before she could squelch it.
Was she willing to sentence Romanof to eternity as a computer without even trying to help him? Was she that selfish?
“No problems.” Angel looked pointedly to Yanur. “I’ll do it."
Yanur looked sorry as he shook his head. "I can't let you. You're a wo--"
“Boy?” Angel blurted out. “He thinks I can't do it because I'm young, just a boy. But I'm not as young as you think. I’m twenty-three and I think I’ve already proven I can handle myself under fire.” She directed her next words exclusively to Yanur. "I'm his best shot at getting back his body. Just because I'm not Richardson doesn't mean I can't do this."
The wait, though only seconds, seemed interminably long.
“Perhaps Michels is right,” Yanur finally said.
“Then let’s get started,” Romanof said. “Yanur, show Michels how to operate the transfer unit. When you’re done, we’ll go over my plan.”
“Shall we?” Yanur rose from his chair and gestured to the door. Angel stood and preceded him out. “Perhaps we could stop by the galley,” he added. “I find I could use a drink.”
Chapter 5
After an hour of going over the operation of the transfer disc, Yanur pronounced Angel ready. Romanof had outlined his plan, which seemed simple enough, and then Angel retired to her room to rest until Romanof summoned her hours later.
As soon as they entered the Harvesters' air space they were contacted by Ground Control. Romanof persuaded the authorities they were traders, intent on spending large sums of money. He then followed up the story with a sizable transfer of intergalactic credits into a temporary account to prove they had the funds to transact business.
In return, they were given the coordinates for the landing field and Angel, now piloting the ship, merged into the busy traffic pattern, descending slowly to the surface, to what appeared to be a large tarmac. As soon as they landed, a stasis field enveloped the ship, pinning it to the surface. Stasis fields were not unusual, but were usually pilot-activated. Angel had issued no such command.
“Romanof?”
“Planet-activated insurance policy. Probably to make sure we settle our accounts before we leave,” he deduced. “Black market planets
Similar Books
