I’m sorry for not telling you. Please, forgive me.”

She sighed. “Oh, Nicky. Why does it have to be this way?” She came out onto the tiny porch.

“I’m sorry,” I said dumbly. “I wanted you to be happy.

You made me feel so good.”

Her eyes glistened. “I’ll miss you, Nick. I’ll always think of you.”

“I wish I could stay, but I can’t. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to come back.”

“I know.” She tried to smile and couldn’t. She kissed me gently on the forehead. “Good-bye, Nicky. Good luck, whatever you do. Lord God be with you.”

“I don’t know how I’ll get through this without you.” I felt tears coming. “Lord God be with you always.” I quickly turned away. I left without looking back, afraid if I faced her I could not let her go.

25

In the morning, the sun beat down on the sturdy grasses as I left Admiralty House and crossed the yard to the shuttle pad. I squinted, my head throbbing from the several drinks I’d downed after leaving Amanda. An electrolytic balancer would right me in a hurry, but I wasn’t in the habit of carrying hangover pills and I’d had too much pride to ask for one at Admiralty.

Forbee had mixed news: only one lieutenant had volunteered for Hibernia,but they’d conscripted another from the Bauxite run. Bauxite, the third planet in Hope Nation system, was serviced by intrasteller Naval vessels without fusion drives. We would rendezvous with the officer’s ship to pick him up.

Thus I would sail with three lieutenants including Vax Holser. I also had four midshipmen and cadets, but among them, only Alexi was experienced. If I chose to promote Alexi I’d have to leave Derek senior, and he wasn’t ready to command the wardroom. I ordered Forbee to acquire an experienced midshipman however necessary. And quickly: we were to sail in three days.

As I walked toward the departing shuttle a Hiberniaseaman crossed the tarmac from the shade of the terminal building.

He saluted as I reached the shuttle steps. My nod was curt.

“Seaman Porfirio, sir. Uh, could I talk to you a moment, please?” He licked his lips.

“I suppose. Come aboard.”

“Aye aye, sir.” He didn’t move. “Down here, please? It’s important, sir.” The shuttle pilot waited, ready to close the hatch.

I sighed. “Make it fast, sailor.” 1 Porfirio looked about as if for assistance. “Would you come with me?”

Probably it had to do with a girl. Our petty officers were expected to handle these shoreside problems, but none was in sight. I was the last person the unnerved sailor should ask for advice, but for some reason he had fastened on me. I stepped away from the shuttle hatch. “All right, what is it?”

He backed farther from the shuttle hatch. “This way, Captain. It’ll only take a moment.”

His manner began to remind me of Captain Grone’s. “Get on with it, sailor. No one can hear us.”

“I want to show you something, sir.” He backed away another few steps. “By the terminal.”

Enough was enough. “What is this nonsense, Porfirio?” I stood my ground.

He made shushing gestures. “Please, Captain. There’s someone I want you to meet.” So, it was a girl. If he thought he could get my permission to bring her aboard, he would by Lord God learn otherwise. The fastest way to put a stop to this foolishness was to confront it right now. I stalked after him to the terminal.

To my surprise Porfirio led me through the building and out the other side. In another minute I’d miss my bloody shuttle, and Lord God knew when there’d be another. The sailor scuttled across the service road. I followed as far as the Centraltown welcome sign, but he showed no sign of stopping. I used my coldest voice. “Where do you think you’re taking me, sailor?”

“We’re almost there, sir. Honest.” He pointed past the far curb to a wooded hillside.

“Of all the insolent, insubordinate monkey shines!” I was beside myself. “Is that where you’ve hidden her? In the woods?”

He looked astonished. “You know about her, sir?”

“You think I’m an idiot? How dare you haul me across town for your fun and games?”

His face mirrored his anxiety and confusion. “Please, Captain. You shouldn’t talk about her in the open!” The man was demented. It must be something in the air.

Fuming, I followed him down the street. Just beyond the airport perimeter the undergrowth came almost to the road, completely obscuring the woods behind. Porfirio darted along a narrow path through the brash.

I hesitated. I could be mugged, even killed. No one would ever find my body. I almost turned back, but with a muttered curse I plunged in after him. I might as well see it through.

I’d already missed my shuttle.

By the time I’d gone a hundred feet, the road behind had completely disappeared. We pushed past low-hanging leafy branches under a dense canopy. Porfirio stopped, put his hands to his mouth, and let out a shrill whistle. I whirled, crouching into karate stance, knowing I’d been lured into a trap.

The bushes rustled. Out stepped Alexi, dirty and unkempt.

Behind him came the two cadets, Paula Treadwell and Ricky Fuentes, then- uniforms wrinkled and stained. My fury battled with a sense of relief. I bellowed, “Why in God’s own hell are you skulking in the woods?” I gave Alexi no time to answer. “Leading me on a wild-goose chase, making me miss my shuttle! I’ll have you over the barrel the minute we’re aboard, Mr. Tamarov! Ten demerits! A dozen!”

Alexi held out an appeasing hand. “I had to see you alone, sir. This was the only way.”

I shrieked, “Alone? Have you lost your mind?”

He unfolded a crumpled paper from the pocket of his soiled jacket. “Please, sir. Read it.”

I snatched the paper. “What is this nonsense?”

“A court order, sir. Jared and Irene Treadwell have petitioned for a custody hearing for Cadet Treadwell. They say you enlisted Paula against her will. They say they’ve changed their minds about going on to Detour and want to stay here.

The court issued a temporary order returning her to them until the hearing. It’s set for two weeks from now. Sir.”

I scanned the legal paper Alexi had summarized, while Seaman Porfirio shifted nervously from foot to foot. Ricky watched, fascinated. Paula looked sheepish. Alexi added, “Every shuttle pilot has been served with a copy, sir. So have all our officers groundside.”

“But--it’s--I mean--” I stumbled to a halt.

“Yes, sir. You ordered me to keep an eye on the cadets and to bring them back to the ship unharmed. I was lucky when they handed me the order, sir. Ricky and Paula--I mean, Cadet Fuentes and Cadet Treadwell--were sightseeing in town when I was served at the shuttleport. I rounded them up and hid them here. We’ve slept out every night and I’ve been sneaking into town for food.”

My head was spinning. “And Mr. Porfirio--”

“I’ve had about a dozen of the crew keeping watch for you, sir. They’re all under oath not to say a word.”

I was stunned by Alexi’s good sense and leadership. It wasn’t for him to question his orders; he knew that it was for me to decide whether to release Cadet Treadwell to the court.

His instructions were to guard them.

Once the girl was back in her parents’ custody we’d never see her again; scheduling the hearing ten days after we were to leave made that clear enough.

Alexi had preserved my options admirably.

I turned to our sailor. “You’re commended, Mr. Porfirio.

I’ll consider how to reward you when we’re under weigh.”

I would give him a promotion and a bonus for his courage in decoying his Captain. The seaman grinned at my words.

“Mr. Tamarov, the demerits I spoke of are canceled.

You’ve done a fine job. Outstanding. I’ll mention your exploit in the Log.” He broke into a slow smile of delight. “As for you two... “ With a scowl I rounded on the cadets, who suddenly looked apprehensive. “I’ll deal with you after we get back to the ship!” If they were silly enough to worry about it, that was their problem.