Heirs of the New Earth (34 page)

Edmund Swan arrived with a bottle of Saguaro wine that Carlos the plumber from the resistance back at Southern Arizona had given him as a thank you present for his help. “How's your friend Tim Gibbs doing?” asked Kirsten as Edmund poured her a glass of wine.

"Improving,” he answered. “He's suffering a hefty dose of guilt for helping the Cluster and a hefty dose of depression that his dream of the perfect memory core will never be built. His old supervisor, Jerry Lawrence, checked him into the psychiatric ward at St. Mary's Hospital down in the Bisbee Sector. It's really quiet and peaceful down in that part of Southern Arizona. He's got a tough road ahead, but I think he'll recover."

"It's a good thing he had a friend like you,” said Kirsten, lifting the glass of electric-red wine.

Noticing that Mark was sitting alone on the couch with his head lowered, Fire sat down beside him and put her arm around his shoulder. “What's the matter?” she asked.

"I suppose I'm feeling a little like Timothy Gibbs,” he said. “After all, it was because of me that the Cluster came to Earth in the first place."

Ellison Firebrandt, admiring the rack of pipes on the mantle overheard and turned. “You can't blame yourself, Mark. The Cluster was attracted to humans.” He strode over, tugged on his pant legs and knelt down next to Mark's chair. “Feeling guilty because the Cluster found your thoughts and emotions interesting is like saying you're feeling guilty because you're human.” The old privateer captain smiled. “And you know something? I think you're about the most human person I know."

Mark snorted. “Once I brought the Cluster here, I couldn't get rid of them."

Firebrandt looked up into his grandson's eyes. “What counts is that you tried. No one person—or ship for that matter—could do it alone."

"G'Liat did,” said Ellis, bitterly.

"G'Liat did not solve the problem,” said Fire clasping her son's hand. “He merely changed it. Who knows what the Cluster's up to now."

Kirsten sat down next to Fire and took a sip of her wine. “I shudder any time I think about it. The Cluster is now a symbiont with a creature whose mantra is ‘the hunt is the art.’”

"Why do you suppose he did it?” asked Mark, perking up a bit. “Why did he introduce the whales and the Cluster? Somehow I think there was more to it than simply stopping the destruction of the galaxy."

"Undoubtedly,” came a singsong voice from the door. Everyone looked up to see Arepno, holding a bowl of something that looked like purple gruel. He set the bowl down on the coffee table. When everyone stared at it blankly, he explained, “It's a Rd'dyggian specialty called ruas'ordah.” When the group continued to stare at the big bowl with blank expressions, Arepno stepped over to the kitchen table, retrieved a tortilla chip and dipped it in, then popped it into his mouth.

Dubiously, Manuel picked up a tortilla chip and hesitated a moment. Then he stepped over and dipped it into the ruas'ordah, then nodded. “Not bad,” he said. “It even has a little spice to it."

Firebrandt stood and bowed to his old friend. “Arepno, what do you think G'Liat was up to?"

"G'Liat has connections on my world and beyond,” said Arepno as he stuck one of his fingers into the purple gruel. “He, like many of my people, fears one thing above all—the eventual human domination of the galaxy.” The Rd'dyggian lifted his hand to his mouth and the purple mustache-like growth began shoveling the gruel in.

Mark's brow furrowed. “There's one thing I don't understand, then,” he said. “If you knew G'Liat was so dangerous, why did you take me to him?"

"Because you asked me to,” said Arepno simply.

Firebrandt turned and looked at the pipes on the mantel again to hide a snicker. After a moment, he looked down at Mark. “Do you have any tobacco for those pipes?"

"I do indeed,” Mark answered, brightening. Then his face fell, momentarily. “It was some Navy Flake tobacco that Old Man Coffin gave me."

"That seems only fitting,” said Firebrandt, somberly. “We shall smoke to his memory."

"Well,” said Kirsten, getting to her feet somewhat unsteadily and sloshing just a bit of the Saguaro wine. “If you're going to smoke to his memory, do it outside. The food in here smells too good."

Grandfather and grandson each selected a pipe from the rack and took them outside just as Eva Cooper came down the stairs. She smiled at the sight of so many people in the house. Kirsten stepped up to her and took her by the elbow and introduced her to Edmund Swan, Arepno, and Roberts. A short time later, Simon Yermakov, Laura Peters and Natalie Papadraxis arrived from the
Sanson.

A few moments later Ellison Firebrandt stepped back inside. “I thought you went outside to pollute the clean island air with that pipe of yours,” said Kirsten.

Firebrandt smiled. “Mark's doing a fine job all by himself.” He made his way into the kitchen, grabbed two bowls, filled one with chips and scooped up some of Arepno's purple ruas'ordah into the other. “I'm not about to let all of you hoard the food."

Before the captain could get back outside, Mark Ellis stepped through the door. “It turns out we have a surprise guest tonight,” he said before Kirsten could protest. He stepped aside and Senator Herbert Firebrandt stepped through the door.

Ellison Firebrandt quickly sat down the two bowls he was juggling and took a step toward his half brother.

Herbert Firebrandt looked around at the crowded room open-mouthed, then looked down at his own somber, gray trousers and jacket. “If I'd known that I was coming to a party, I would have dressed for the occasion.” He looked up and his eyes met Ellison's. “What you did...” He shook his head. “That will go down in the history books."

"I think our mother would have been rather astonished,” said Ellison.

"She would have also been very, very proud,” said Herbert. He stepped forward and clasped his brother's hand, then said very quietly, “She really did love you very much.” Ellison grabbed Herbert in a tight embrace.

"Thank you,” said Ellison as they parted.

"So,” asked Mark stepping up to the half-brothers, “what brings you to Nantucket?"

"Actually,” said Herbert, catching sight of Eva Cooper, “I came to speak to the Surgeon General of the Gaean Alliance.” He looked down at his feet in the way that reminded Fire so much of her father. “The Earth—hell, the whole galaxy—is in an upheaval. People are calling for Jenna Walker's resignation after she helped the Cluster. The problem is that the Cluster affected almost everyone. There are real questions about whether she was responsible for her actions or not."

Mark looked to his mother, who looked to Manuel—all three remembered their own experience with the Cluster. “To be honest,” said Fire, who had just poured herself a glass of Edmund Swan's Saguaro wine, “she seems far less responsible than the Titans who sat on their furry asses all through this. What's going to happen to them?"

"The Alpha Centaurans, Zahari, and Tzrn all calling for a change of leadership,” explained the Senator. “As for the humans—I think the first order of business is to get our own affairs back in order and possibly even discuss the reunification of Earth and her colonies.” He looked over at Eva. “I'd like you to help me. Rebuilding the government of Earth is going to be a tough job."

Eva nodded. “Yes, sir. I'll do whatever I can."

The Senator then turned to Mark. “I also came to offer you something.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a silver star. “I think you've earned this."

John Mark Ellis took the star from the Senator and held it in his palm. It was the captain's insignia of the Alpha Coma fleet. He closed his fingers around it and felt a lump in his throat. He then looked up and saw Kirsten across the room. He pushed his way through the people gathered to stand by her side. He showed her the star and she gasped. “It's what you've always wanted,” she said.

Simon Yermakov, who was standing behind Kirsten, looked at the star and smiled. “Congratulations, sir,” he said.

"I don't...” said Mark, shaking his head. “I don't know if I deserve this,” he stammered at last.

The Senator stepped through the room to Mark. “You deserve it,” he said firmly. “Also, we need your expertise. You know the whales better than most. We need someone who can speak to them and speak to the Clusters that have joined with whales."

John Mark looked down at the star in his hand, his brow furrowed. He'd looked for Richard the day after the Cluster departed Earth. There was no sign of the bull, and other whales had gone missing as well. Unlike humans, their bodies apparently weren't left behind. What had happened was a mystery. “I'd like to help, if I can,” said Mark.

"At the very least, consider a reserve appointment,” urged the Senator. “You don't have to give me your answer tonight."

"That's a good thing,” said Roberts from the kitchen, “because dinner is ready."

"Unless you'd rather stand around talking all night,” added Manuel.

Laughter erupted from around the room and people began to shuffle toward the kitchen to fill their plates from the pots on the stove and the bowls on the kitchen counter.

As the dinner drew to a close, Senator Herbert Firebrandt stepped up to his brother and shook his hand. “It was good to meet you at last,” he said.

"Likewise,” said Ellison Firebrandt. “When you get some time, that invitation to come to Sufiro is still open."

"I may take you up on that,” said the Senator. “I have a feeling I'll need to rest a while once we've sorted everything out.” After saying the rest of their good-byes, the Senator and Eva Cooper left together for Washington, D.C. to find lodgings and make plans for the coming week.

"We should get going, too,” said Simon to Kirsten and Mark. “I need to see how repairs to the ship are coming."

"Sounds good,” said Kirsten with nod. She still had a bit of a lop-sided grin from the Saguaro wine, but she held her head as though a headache were coming on. “I'll be up tomorrow and we'll check in with TransGalactic—see if anyone's still there.” Her grin dissolved into a frown.

"Captain,” said Simon holding out his hand, “can we expect you back on the ship tomorrow?"

Mark Ellis took Simon's hand and shook it. “I'm not really sure.” He reached into his pocket and took out the silver star. “I need to sleep on it.” He looked at Kirsten, who was watching him intently. “I think we need to spend some time talking."

Simon pursed his lips. “I don't envy you the decision,” he said. He turned and joined Natalie and Laura who were waiting by the door.

Mark turned around and saw Roberts in his hover chair next to the couch, quietly dozing. On the couch was Edmund Swan, his hands folded over his chest, staring at the ceiling. Fire and Manuel stood together at the sink, washing dishes and speaking quietly to one another. Mark looked at the silver star in his palm, then looked up at Kirsten and thought about two possible futures.

Ellison Firebrandt cleared his throat. “I think it's time we got back to the ship ourselves,” he said.

"We've almost got the dishes cleaned,” protested Fire, but her father looked meaningfully at Ellis and she picked up a dishtowel, dried her hands and passed the towel to Manuel.

Firebrandt looked down at Swan, “Care for a ride back to Sufiro."

Swan sat up and smiled. “If you've got room for one more passenger."

"Passenger?” asked Roberts, startling awake. “No passengers on the
Legacy
. You'll have to work for your passage."

"I was afraid you'd say that,” said Swan, struggling to his feet.

Mark hugged his mother and shook Manuel's hand. Firebrandt took his grandson aside. “Fifty years ago, my mother stranded me on Sufiro,” he whispered. “At the time, I hated her for it because I thought it meant the end of my career as a privateer captain. However, as I stand here and look over my family—not just you and Fire, but Edmund, Manuel, Kirsten, Arepno and so many more—I realize that she gave me a far better life than I'd ever dreamed possible."

"Are you saying I should stay with the
Sanson?
That I should stay with Kirsten?” asked Mark.

Firebrandt smiled at his grandson. “All I'm saying is make sure you think about all of your options very carefully. Dreams are tricky things, as you saw when your mind was in the Cluster. You can get caught up in them and lose track of where reality is taking you."

"What are you two conspiring about over there?” called Fire. “Our ride's here."

"Keep your options open, Son, and you'll do fine,” said Ellison Firebrandt patting Mark on the shoulder. He stepped out the door and into a foggy night with Manuel, Fire, Roberts, and Swan. They all piled into a hover van driven by Charlie Rogers.

They rode to the spaceport in silence and listened to the mournful sound of the foghorn bellowing through the dark night. Ellison Firebrandt felt like a lost soul, being called home, being called to his rest.

The captain piloted the launch back up to
Legacy
while most everyone slumbered in the back. Fire crept up into the co-pilot's chair, next to her father.

"I really thought you would stay behind, on Nantucket,” he said to her. “By coming back to Sufiro, you're giving up your job ... your home..."

"It's Mark's home, now,” she said, simply. “The Earth has changed and I'm not sure I belong anymore. I guess I fit in more with the pirates of Sufiro than the heirs of this new Earth."

"The whole galaxy has changed,” said Firebrandt. He looked out at the stars. “I don't think anything is ever going to be the same."

Fire caught sight of the
Legacy
and noticed the new landing rockets that Junior Kimura had installed, folded up against the body of the ship. “Not even the
Legacy
is the same. I gather the homestead is going to need a lot of work."

Firebrandt nodded. “You know, two old men like Roberts and I don't need that much house ... I don't know if I'd rebuild at all if it were just the two of us. We could get on just fine in the ship."

"I don't know if I'd trust you two in a ship that can take off and land,” she said. “You got into enough trouble as it is.” She looked back at the men, sleeping in the back. “Manuel and I could always move in with you ... help you with the homestead."