“This is where I hanged Mr. Tuak and Mr. Rogoff. And the rebels who tried to take over the ship. It’s been a rough voyage and we’re on the way back to Miningcamp, where we were attacked once before. Hiberniais in an emergency zone, Mr, Crossburn, and war rules apply. I tell you now, if you refuse to obey an order, I will hang you. Be silent and think about it.”
I gave him ten minutes. Then I released him. “Go to the launch berth.”
Shaken, he complied. “Aye aye, sir.” Then he added angrily, “You can be sure my uncle will hear of this!”
“Two months pay, Mr. Crossburn, for insolence and insubordination. Anything else?”
“No, sir!” He fled.
I looked at the Chief, let out my breath.
He asked, “What if he’d refused, sir?”
“I’d have had to proceed.” A sudden thought. “Would you have let me?”
“By the regs, I couldn’t stop you.”
“That was no answer.” I decided not to press. I’d made enemies of them all, abovedecks. Why alienate the Chief as well? Several days later I shared a watch with Philip Tyre. He looked pale and shaken. I said nothing.
Vax chose to keep me informed. “Alexi’s all over him, sir. Demerits for attitude, for sloppiness, for inattention.
Twice he’s sent him to the barrel outright, in addition to the demerits.”
“I know. I can read the Log.”
“Yes, sir. Philip is going to have an interesting cruise.”
He would indeed. Alexi was slow to anger and I doubted he would be faster to forgive. I shrugged. Tyre had made his bed.”When are you going to let him off, sir?”
“I’m not.”
Vax looked awed.”All the way home? Eighteen months?”
“Seventeen and a half.” I wondered how soon I could start counting the days.
The Olympians had taken over Level 2, jogging endlessly in the circumference corridor, swinging from the bars in the exercise room, doing push-ups on the mats. From time to time Philip Tyre joined them, sweating profusely in strenuous effort, supervised by a stern and watchful lieutenant.
Soon we would Defuse for a navigation check. Then a few more days to Hope Nation, and our mooring. We’d remain there only two days, just enough to take on passengers for the trip home. Somewhere below me would be Amanda, but I wouldn’t see her again.
Dr. Uburu came to the bridge to speak to me. “Captain, Lieutenant Crossburn has been questioning your sanity. He wants me to join him in removing you.”
“Is he correct?”
She looked at me thoughtfully. “I don’t think so. You might be vindictive, but not insane.”
“Thanks so much.”
She smiled. “Captain, do you recall when the Chief, the Pilot, and I met to find a way to stop your taking command?” “Yes.”
“I can’t believe how wrong we were. This is a jinxed voyage, Captain. Hiberniawill go down in Navy legends.
There’s nothing that hasn’t gone wrong for us. And you’ve coped with it all. You’ve done better than anyone had a right to expect.”
I looked at her to see if she was serious, angry at her blind stupidity. “Leave the bridge at once, Doctor. That’s an order!”
“Aye aye, sir.” She saluted and left, unfazed by my anger.
She thought well of me, perhaps, like the foolish seamen in the Hope Nation bar. But I knew better. I had Philip Tyre and Ardwell Crossburn to add to my long list of failures.
Days later, Lieutenant Chantir told me Philip had been sent to him again. Lars was obviously unhappy.
“I don’t need daily reports, Lieutenant. Just do your duty.”
“I will, sir. It’s not a pleasurable one.”
“Even with Mr. Tyre?”
“Even with him, whether he earned it or not.”
“It’s the first lieutenant’s job, Mr. Chantir.” I brightened.
“However, if your arm bothers you I will excuse you for medical reasons.”
He considered it. “My arm is troubling me somewhat, Captain. Not enough to see the Doctor, but it’s noticeable.”
“Very well.” I summoned Alexi. “Mr. Tamarov, the first lieutenant has a sore arm. Move the barrel to your cabin. That duty is yours until further notice.” Ruefully, Mr. Chantir shook his head. Alexi, expressionless, saluted and left.
I went to the launch berth every day at random hours. I always found Lieutenant Crossburn at work.
I shared a watch with Philip Tyre. He walked carefully onto the bridge and eased himself into his chair. “Good morning, sir.” His tone was meek, his eyes riveted on his console.
“Good morning. I’d like you to run docking drill today, Mr. Tyre.”
“Aye aye, sir.” I called up the exercise and he began his calculations. Halfway through, he stopped and looked up. “It isn’t fair, sir.”
“What isn’t?”
“What he’s doing to me. I can’t stand it. Please.”
“What are you talking about, Mr. Tyre?”
“Mr. Tamarov. He’s after me all the time!”
“Are you complaining about your superior, Philip?”
He didn’t have the sense to deny it. “Not exactly complaining, sir. I’m just telling you.”
“Oh, no, Mr. Tyre. That won’t do. My compliments to Mr. Tamarov. Please tell him I’m annoyed with your conduct.
Right now.”“
“I’ve just been there,” he wailed. “He’ll cane me again! Please, sir. Please!”
I raised my voice a notch. “And six demerits for disobedience, Mr. Tyre. Another word and it’s six more.” He fled the bridge to meet his fate. Never again did I hear a word of complaint from Philip. On the few occasions that I saw him he appeared miserable. It bothered me not at all.
At last it was time for our nav check, before a final jump to Hope Nation.”Bridge to engine room, prepare to Defuse.” “Prepare to Defuse, aye aye, sir.”
I waited.
“Engine room ready for Defuse, sir. Control passed to bridge.” The Chief’s familiar voice came steady over the caller.
“Passed to bridge, aye aye.” I set my finger at the top of the drive screen while Derek watched. “Let’s see where we are.” I traced a line from “Full” to “Off’.
“Confirm clear of encroachments, Derek.” A normal check, hardly necessary but part of the routine. He checked his instruments.
“Hey! An encroachment, sir, course two hundred ten, distance fifty-two thousand kilometers!”
I gaped. “What?”
“Encroachment, sir. There’s something out there.”
“It can’t be. We’re interstellar.” I puzzled. “A stray asteroid, perhaps. How big is it?”
“I read two hundred sixteen meters, sir.” Darla.
“Small for a planetoid. What’s it made of?”
“Metal,” Darla said. “Too far away to see, but it’s radiating on the metallic bands.”
I thumbed the caller. “Mr. Haynes to the bridge. And Mr.
Chantir.” No, Lars Chantir had a fever and was in sickbay.
“Belay that summons, Mr. Chantir. Mr. Holser to the bridge.”
Vax came bounding in. He stopped to take in the situation.
A few moments later Mr. Haynes arrived, breathing hard.
The Pilot slipped into his customary seat. “Morning, sir.”
He glanced at the sensors. “Want to go take a look?”
“Good morning, Pilot. I think so.”
Vax nodded. “If we’re this close, we might as well check it out.” I hadn’t asked his opinion, but he didn’t seem to notice. “It’s probably just a hunk of ore skewing Darla’s calculations.”
“Button it, joey!” Darla flared. “I remember the last time you insulted me!”
“Cool it, Darla. He meant no harm. Pilot, put us on an intersecting course.”
“Aye aye, sir. Just a moment.” Pilot Haynes was carefully affable. I felt a twinge of guilt. He thumbed his caller. “Engine room, auxiliary power.”
“Auxiliary power on standby.”
“On standby, aye aye. All ahead one-half. Steer two ten, declination twenty degrees.”
“All ahead one-half, aye aye. Two ten at twenty degrees.”
After two hours, the Pilot at last began braking maneuvers.
I cleared my throat. “Mr. Holser, start calculating Fusion coordinates for our jump, please. No need to waste time.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” Vax reluctantly tore his eyes from the simulscreen and tapped figures into his console.