Owner's Share (Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper) (15 page)

Ms. Kingsley looked back and forth between us. “You didn’t tell her already?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t think it was something we wanted spread around.”

She looked at Gwen. “Will it make a difference to your taking command here if we say we can’t tell you?”

Gwen smiled. “Goodness, no. I’m just dying to find out what impossible task you’ve picked for this poor man next.”

That made us both laugh.

Ms. Kingsley nodded. “Fair enough. We want him to train our new CEO.”

Gwen’s eyes bugged out and her head swiveled from Ms. Kingsley to me and back. “What do you think Ishmael can teach him?”

“Her,” Ms. Kingsley corrected, “And we don’t know.”

“Her?” Gwen looked confused. “The new CEO is a woman?”

“Christine Maloney. Geoff left the majority share in DST to his daughter. That gives her, traditionally, the title of CEO.”

Gwen focused on me. “You knew about this?”

I shrugged. “Of course, and I still have no idea about how we’re going to do it, but yes.”

She shook her head in amazement. “You’re either the bravest man I’ve ever met, or the dumbest.”

“Those aren’t mutually exclusive,” I said.

“So?” Ms. Kingsley refocused our attention. “Captain Thomas? You’ll take the
Agamemnon
?”

“Of course, Ms. Kingsley.”

“Any questions?”

“Can I get the cabin painted?”

Ms. Kingsley struggled to put some meaning to the question, but it was all I could do to stifle a laugh.

“Painted, Captain?”

She nodded. “I understand it’s traditional at DST that the company paints the cabin for any new captain.”

Ms. Kingsley looked at me.

I shrugged. “Geoff started it. Ask Captain Delman about it next time you see him.”

She looked bewildered by the idea, but acquiesced. “All right, sure. Just let us know what color you want.”

“Thank you, Ms. Kingsley. I’ll think on it and let you know later today.” She settled back into her seat a satisfied smile on her face.

“Anything else?” Ms. Kingsley looked back and forth between us a couple of times.

I shook my head. “Nothing here.”

Gwen shrugged. “Me, either.”

“Well, then let’s get this thing taken care of and I’ll let you get on with that delicious smelling meal.”

“You’re invited if you like, Ms. Kingsley,” Gwen told her.

That startled her. “Really?”

“Why not?” I asked. “Plenty of room at the table, and if I know Avery, enough food to feed half the dock.”

She looked like she was thinking about it, but shook her head. “First things first, let’s get this change over done.”

We left the cabin and headed for the bridge. W we got to bridge, we found most of the crew already there. I heard footfalls on the ladder behind me and turned to find Mr. Wyatt following Ms. Arellone up the steep steps, rounding out our company.

Mr. Pall grinned at Gwen. “Crew present or accounted for, sar.”

“Thank you, Mr. Pall.” She turned to me. “Captain, Second Mate reports all hands present or accounted for.”

“Thank you, Ms. Thomas.” I turned to Ms. Kingsley. “You’re on.”

She flipped up a document on her tablet and looked around at the assembled company before reading. “My name is Kirsten Kingsley and I represent the authority of Diurnia Salvage and Transport, legal owner of this vessel named
Agamemnon
. I hereby give notice to all assembled that at noon on this date, command of
Agamemnon
will pass from Captain Ishmael Horatio Wang to Captain Gwendolyn Murray Thomas, along with all rights, privileges, appurtenances, and responsibilities. I would take this opportunity before this company to thank Captain Wang for his service as commander of this vessel and her crew. I would further congratulate Captain Thomas on this occasion of her first command and wish her a long and prosperous career. Thank you.”

Mr. Pall spoke from the back of the bridge. “Logged at 1200 hours December 20, 2372.”

For a small crowd they made a lot of noise, but Mr. Wyatt’s voice rose above the hubbub. “Can I suggest that we save the speeches for the mess deck? Lunch mess is ready to be served.”

I turned to Gwen. “Captain, I believe the honor falls to you, now.”

She grinned and, head high, sailed off the bridge and down the two ladders to the mess deck with the crew, in order of rank following. I held Ms. Kingsley on my arm and followed up the rear. She looked at me in question. “Some forms need to be observed,” I told her. When we got to the main deck, I turned to her again. “Will you join us for lunch?”

She looked at the throng gathered on the mess deck and back at me. “I’d love to, but I need to get back to the office. We’re still on for dinner tonight?”

“I’ve got nothing on my calendar.”

She snorted a small laugh. “Okay, then Marcel’s at 2000? There should be a few people you’ll find interesting.”

“Marcel’s at 2000. Got it.”

Captain Thomas saw us with our heads together in the passage and came to join us. “Thank you, Ms. Kingsley,” she said. “Can you stay for lunch?”

Kirsten smiled and shook her head. “Duty calls, I’m afraid.”

Gwen smiled and nodded. “We know that song and dance, by the numbers.” She turned and looked into the mess deck. “Ms. Arellone, would you log our guest ashore?”

Ms. Arellone looked up from her conversation with the other two ratings and scampered over. “Of course, Captain. My pleasure. This way, Ms. Kingsley?”

With a flip of her hand Ms. Kingsley followed Stacy down the passage toward the lock, and Gwen and I stepped onto the mess deck to the applause of the assembled crew.

I caught Gwen’s eye and nodded to the mess line. “They’re waiting on you, Captain.”

Chapter Twelve
Diurnia Orbital:
2372-December-20

Between lunch mess and the details of helping Gwen get established in the
Agamemnon’s
systems as captain, then helping her verify that my codes were inactive, followed by an extended good bye chat with Gwen and Avery on the mess deck with requisite coffee, it was nearly 1500 before I was ready to leave the ship. I should have realized that something was going on because Gwen kept looking over my shoulder at the passageway outside. Eventually she saw what she was looking for and I heard a soft whump, like a duffle bag hitting the deck behind me.

I turned to see Ms. Arellone standing in the door of the mess deck, her duffle on the deck beside her, and a look that was part challenge, part plea.

Avery chuckled softly. I turned to find Gwen and Avery both grinning at me.

Gwen murmured, “You’re not the only one with surprises today, Ishmael.”

“What’s this, then?”

“Your new crew.”

I blinked, trying to process it.

Avery nodded in the direction of the passage and Ms. Arellone. “You might want to go speak to that spacer, Ishmael.”

Curiosity furrowing my brow, I placed my half empty mug on the table and unfolded myself from the bench. As I crossed the mess deck toward Ms. Arellone, she backed into the passageway and out of the line of sight from the table.

I stopped just outside the door and looked at her. “Ms. Arellone?”

“Please hear me out, Captain.” She looked up at me with some expression in her eyes that I couldn’t quite fathom.

“You’ve got my attention, Ms. Arellone.”

“Will you take me with you, sar?”

“Take you with me?” I felt almost like a parrot. “I’m going onto the beach, Ms. Arellone.”

She gave me an impatient toss of her cropped head and an equally impatient look. “That’s temporary, Skipper, and you need me now.”

“I need you, Ms. Arellone?” I tried to keep the humor from my voice because this woman didn’t see anything funny about her statement. I knew I better not either.

“Sar, in about a week, maybe less if the newsies catch on, you’re going to need a bodyguard.”

The astonishment rendered me speechless for a moment. I turned to look at where Gwen and Avery still watched me from the galley table. The gentle amusement on their faces did nothing to help my comprehension.

“A bodyguard, Ms. Arellone? Why would I need a bodyguard?”

“Because, sar, you will become the richest bachelor in Diurnia. The story will make the rounds, and you’re going to be hounded by newsies, mongers, and gold diggers.”

“Aren’t you being a little premature, Ms. Arellone?”

To her credit, she thought before answering. “Maybe, but if you wait until you realize you need me, I’ll be gone. The
Agamemnon
will have sailed. Worse, you’ll already be buried and digging you out will be more difficult. This way we have the foundations built before we need to actually construct the fort.” I saw a tiny wince flash across her face at that, like she’d said something she hadn’t meant to.

I ran a hand over my head and down the back of my neck. “You’re talking like you think I’m going to be in actual, physical danger.”

She gave half a shrug. “That, too, Skipper, but I didn’t expect I could convince you of that.”

“I’m going to be unemployed. How can I afford you?”

She shrugged. “You’re not without assets, Captain, and in a week you’re going to be independently wealthy.”

I considered her for a moment before taking a new tack. “What about the ship? Have you talked to Captain Thomas about it?” Even as I asked it, I knew the answer.

“Of course, sar. I talked to her first. The ship can find any number of qualified ratings to take my place. There’s a waiting list at home office. By the time a new first mate is in place, Captain Thomas can have three replacements for me.”

“You’ve given this a lot more thought than I’ve had time to consider, Ms. Arellone.”

“Yes, Captain, and one more reason why I think you need me.”

I crossed my arms and frowned at her in concentration. “All right, Ms. Arellone, you’ve tried hard to convince me that I need you, why do you want to do this job? I’ve got no job, a future dependent on the outcome of an auction that hasn’t even been completed yet, and the very real feeling that I’m stepping into the abyss in terms of my career. Why do you want to come along?”

“Two reasons, sar. First, you’re a winner. Whatever you do, you do okay. It’s not always the top, and it’s almost never what you think, but you always come out ahead, if only a little bit. Always.”

“But I don’t even know what I’m going to be doing tomorrow, let alone next week. How can you tie yourself to that?”

“That’s the second reason, sar. I believe in you.”

“You believe in me, Ms. Arellone?”

She nodded. “You took a chance on me, sar. It wasn’t that long ago, if you’ll remember.”

“I remember, Ms. Arellone.”

“Nobody ever took that kind of risk for me before, Captain. Nobody.”

“So, this is some kind of gratitude thing...?”

She shook her head. “No, sar. This is a very selfish thing. You’re going to go a long way, and you need somebody to watch your back. I want to be that somebody because then I get to go along for the ride.” She grinned, and for the first time, she looked more like the Arellone that I knew. “I expect it’s gonna be one heck of a ride, too, Skipper.”

“Assuming I agree—” I held my hand in the face of blossoming hope, “—and I haven’t yet. If I do, what do you want?”

“Want, Skipper?”

“Pay, Ms. Arellone. Fiscal remuneration. How much will your services set me back?”

She took a deep breath, and I feared what she’d say.

“Quarter share salary until you get a ship again, Skipper. When we can set sail, I’d like a full share berth and to continue with you.”

“What if I don’t get a settlement from the
Chernyakova
? What if I can’t get ship?”

She scratched her head. “Well, the settlement is a done deal, except for just how rich you’re going to be. You’re going to get another ship. Either as an indie, or by signing on with somebody. I can’t see you sitting around burning oxygen when you could be out there, Skipper.” She tossed a nod in the direction of the Deep Dark. “Tell ya what. Give me a month? If you’re not happy with the arrangement after a month, I walk away. You owe me nothing and you never hear from me again.”

“Are you that certain, Ms. Arellone?”

She nodded solemnly. “Yes, Captain. I am.”

“Would you let me chat with Captain Thomas and Mr. Wyatt a moment?”

She blinked at the sudden shift in direction. “Of course, Captain.”

I walked back to the table and took my seat. “You two knew about this?”

Gwen grinned. “Of course, why do you think it took so long for you to get away?”

I coughed a sharp laugh. “You were stalling me?”

Avery nodded smugly. “’Fraid so, Captain.”

“You seem to approve of this little drama. Can I ask why?”

Gwen nodded and leaned in on her elbows. “She spoke to me this morning. She’s right. You need a bodyguard, or you will soon. You’ll need a personal assistant at least. Somebody to keep the world at arm’s length until you can get back out into the Deep Dark.”

“Everybody keeps saying that,” I muttered.

“Maybe it’s time you started listening.”

I looked back and forth between them. They both seemed utterly convinced. “What’ll this do to the
Agamemon
?”