Turn 60

    Emmett keeps an eye on Val's back until he's well inside the enclave, then departs, heading back to the docks that hold the _Lazy Cat_. It should only take a few minutes to track Inez down, he thinks, and in fact a few quick inquiries serve to point him in the direction of her inn.
    "Inez," he says when she opens her door to his knock. "Hi."
    "Hi!" She jumps up to give him a quick hug. "Was starting to wonder if I was going to see you before you left."
    "OK, I'm sure you've heard about what's been happening with the Distraction." He gives her a moment to interrupt if she wishes to, then continues "We're leaving tomorrow, for parts unknown. It looks like Victor isn't going to do anything against us, and that means I've wasted a week spending all my time with the wrong person..."
    "Anyway, we're leaving. Right now We is me and Val and the rest. I was wondering if you wanted We to include you too? I've been keeping a space open for you if you want it. No obligation. No pressure. It's a bit of a risky cruise, but the pay's good, and I hope you like the company..."
    Inez looks a little bit taken aback. "Really? You mean it?" She's clearly conflicted. "I guess I wasn't really expecting this. I don't know. I mean, I like you guys... five years is a long time. Do you even know where you're going?"
    "We've picked a sphere out and Val has the pilots doing some research.Looks like a good trading opportunity..." Emmett answers, not looking her straight in the eye. "Oh, I almost forgot."
    The half-man pulls a bundle out from under once of his belts. "I picked this up for you. I thought it matched your eyes..."
    He hands her the package of brown cloth, tied with twine. Inside is a skirt and blouse of the same cut as she wore on the _Cat_ during the parties and dances on board, but made from fine, durable Silverstream silks.
    "I meant to give this too you before I asked about the _Distraction._ This isn't a bribe to get you to come along, it's a gift."
    "It's beautiful! Thank you." She admires the present for a moment, then looks at him uncertainly. Her thoughts are not difficult to guess; it's been a fun time, and she's not immune to the lure of potential rewards, but this is something of a risky commitment.
    Then again, she's not one to spend overlong pondering before making a decision. "Sounds like it's not the middle of nowhere, at least? Tell me about it while I pack...."
    Emmett takes a seat, knowing to stay out of her way while she stows her gear. He's glad to have her along, not wanting to give up the pleasurable relationship the two have shared. Inez is nice, competent and...uncomplicated. Having her along will make the trip much more enjoyable, and make it easier to tolerate seeing Nyala with ibn Fadil.
    "Well, it's off the beaten track, but not middle of nowhere. From what was said, there's stuff there worth trading for, and right now only one company even knows its there to trade with. This is a little run-jumping, but if it works, we'll have a friendly port to work from for investigating a whole new sector of wildspace." Emmett considers not telling her everything, but then pushes forward.
    "It's Ginevra's homeworld," he states, wondering if this will change her decision.
    She turns to stare at him for a second, sees that he's not joking. "I don't *believe* you. Val still moping over that silly bit?" She rolls her eyes with a groan. "Well, from all I hear, Victor's come to his senses, so maybe it's not *that* bad an idea. And there must be money there, if V&S is in it...."
    "It wasn't Val's idea. It was mine." Emmett looks around the room, seeing how much she'd managed to pack already "I figured like you did - if V&S are making runs there there must be something. Plus, he was so irritating about lording it over her, now that she left him no one would go there, that I felt compelled to move in and seize the opportunity."
    "Ibn Fadil wonders why I want to keep tweaking Victor, but there is profit there." He shrugs. "and I just don't like bullies. But I did want to let you know that this may end up with another mark in the little twits black book."
    "If it does, I'm telling him it was your idea," she grumbles. "You know me - I'm a decent sailor, but I leave rough stuff to the professionals."
    Emmett stands up and takes her in his harms. Looking up at her, he says, "I don't expect any rough stuff - at least no more than what any crew faces. Besides, Hiro and I will be on board, so you have your professionals close at hand.
    "I'm serious about this. It's a good job on a voyage with the higher than average amount of risk, but a much higher than average amount of pay. Volant was talking about our buying the _Distraction_ eventually, and that's a lot.
    "You're a great sailor and you deserve this chance to get in before the machine starts up. But if the risk is too much, you don't have to take it. I'd like you along, but not if you aren't comfortable with the job."
    "For that kind of payout, I'll risk a throw," she grins at him. "Hasn't hurt yet."
    "That's the spirit." Emmett moves his head to glance out the window. "I figure our esteemed captain's going to be safely locked in that meeting for a little while yet. Got any plans for the next hour or so?" he asks with a wink.

* * *

    As Val and Pham leave the Enclave, Emmett is running back to the door as best he can, looking a little rumpled and out of breath. "Val, good, I got..er...caught up in time." He nods at the cleric. "Pham. How'd it go? Are we on?"
    "Mr. Volant would prefer that we, umm... let his security services earn their own keep. We are NOT on. But he seemed very interested in my report and promised to investigate. I have to say, it feels strange to let somebody in authority actually do their job for once. It never seems to work out that way normally."
    Emmett nods again. "OK, then. And Pham, it happens that way some times. You did what you wanted - you convinced someone in authority to look into it. Ya done good.
    "Oh, Captain, I wanted to let you know I extend the offer of that berth to Inez, and she said she's in. I trust that's all right?"
    Val cannot help but smile as he claps Emmett on the shoulder. "Of course it is," he says, grateful that Inez would actually be coming with them.
    "Glad to hear it. She's a good, reliable sailor," Emmett says, knowing full well that this is merely a polite cover that doesn't include all of his reasoning. "Plus, I already told her she was in.
    "It does look like Victor isn't going to bother us. We'll be gone tomorrow, so as long as we all stay on our toes tonight, we're primed." Emmett frowns, "Of course, this means we *really* have to be on our toes tonight. Pham, you want to stick around with us, or stay out of the line of fire?"
    "I think I'll stick with you. I have this feeling that if I don't, the ship will end up leaving without at least one of us tomorrow morning."
    "You've got that feeling too, huh? After that bit with the booger, I'm trying to trust them more often."

* * *

    Ibn Fadil finds Nyala lounging boredly in their room; he grins and presents her with the little velvet-wrapped package with a flourish. "A small gift for you, my love."
    She accepts it, curiosity alight in her eyes, and unwraps it very slowly, prolonging the moment of discovery. She holds the silver bracelet with its alien script to the window's light, then looks at him with a smile more beautiful and eloquent than any words.

* * *

    Sidney glances around the table at his fellows, noting the empty chairs. Greywing of course is not there, out chasing pirates and having a lousy time of it, he hopes. The Arcane, Ormyx, is another expected absence; no one has seen him in months. The rastipede known as Five by those without mandibles is chatting with McFadden. Sam Victor stalks into the room, takes his seat, and appears to sink into contemplation; Volant keeps an eye on him, somewhat discomfited by the man's slightly vacant stare. Since apprised of the events on Janik he has been keeping a closer eye than usual on the man--watching one another is often all there is to do on the Rock. These past few days it seems his lingering rage has died or found other outlet, for he has been unusually quiet, even well-behaved, but Sidney is disinclined to trust this. Evantha drifts in as if on a breeze carrying some subtle perfume. Unusually, Brightring is not puppying along after her.
    In fact, he never does appear that afternoon, while Sidney tells his fellows what he has learned. "We've confirmed that there is some sort of undead presence in that part of the Rock," he tells them. He'd never seen the old gnome so serious. "What precisely it is, and where, remains to be seen, but I don't think we can afford to wait long before taking care of the problem--it can only grow worse."
    "Absolutely not," Farley agrees with a shudder, and, "Hear, hear," Victor mutters amiably.
    Gratified by their lack of opposition, he continues, "If we are in agreement, I think it would be well to summon the duty captain at once and plan for the search, and how best we may counter whatever danger it presents."

* * *

    In the morning, the final last-minute items are brought on board, including a crate of three clucking chickens--and the crew. Yestin clanks onto the ship, resplendent in his brand-new armor and toting several heavy chests, then trots down the gangplank again to help Alais. The wizard has several bulky but apparently rather light crates, two stamped with J'x'st's glyph and others anonymous, and a heavy sack of books; he stows all of it in his quarters.
    It's the usual controlled chaos on the dock and ship both as everyone gets themselves sorted out, particularly with the last-minute addition of Inez, who shows up promptly on time with a duffel of belongings over her shoulder and a grin for Emmett.
    Theo and Delmar both put in an appearance, shake everyone's hand, and then stand back, amid a crowd of other well-wishes, most of them crew from the _Cat_, some ibn Fadil's friends, Alais' parents, some others perhaps in the pay of other oligarchs, and a few bored giff keeping an eye on everything while their fellows prepare for what will surely be a most uncomfortable hunt.
    As the ship moves once more into wildspace and the watches change for the first days of the journey, a pause for dreaming:
    Hiro dreams of her again that night, the steps he will not hear again tracing familiar rooms, the whisper of silk and of silken hair heard but never seen. He does not wish to continue this; taking command of the dream, he turns to leave the house. There is a woman there. He recognizes her from painting and story as the goddess Ama-No-Uzeme, whose comically obscene dance once enticed the sun from hiding to see what everyone was laughing about. She is laughing now herself, as if at some great joke--laughing at him, he realizes.
    Pham stands on a high hill overlooking a town and harbor, sails scattered across the sea just like the fishing boats he knew at home. He knows what will happen, but he cannot move to warn those below of what is coming as the water leaves the harbor and the blue-to-blue horizon moves, humping itself higher as the wave rushes toward land, scattering the distant ships like toys, hanging ready to smash the entire town to splinters--Then the sun goes out.
    Nyala rides alone through the forest she knew so well, the heavy fall of pine needles silencing her mount's hooves and perfuming the air. Birds sing, undisturbed by her passing, and a clear trail lies before her to be followed... memory of a simpler, more pleasant time.
    Emmett's dreams are of flight and fire and darkness, but soon take a more pleasant turn through a half-waking awareness of pleasant warmth that continues into the dream once again, and a sound... a heartbeat loud in his ears, seeming to echo faintly. The steady boom grows slower and slower until the pause has become infinite.
    Alais flies through the warm and gently glowing phlogiston, skin as alive to its motion and currents as that of a fish is to the water of its home stream, contentedly following a thread of current that will take him somewhere he knows he would like to be.
    Ibn Fadil is lost. He is in a city he does not know, walking down a street he feels he has been treading for days. Around him strange languages ring senselessly on his ears. He was looking for... something? someone? He wanders through street after street, occasionally accosted by people selling items whose names he does not know. An icy wind sweeps through the street. A man steps out in front of him, smiling, saying something as he points to himself, an introduction. When he opens his mouth to reply he finds that he has lost his own name as well.
    Yestin can't sleep, wondering if his letter from Janik has reached his family yet. He cheers himself somewhat with the thought of adventure to come and knowledge of a solid crew to share it with. Eventually he rises from his bunk to move with surprisingly soft tread into the galley, where his candlelight and scratching pen will not disturb others from their sleep. He is having a very difficult time with the events from the _Tear_, and pauses for a distracted moment, wondering where that sad ship now drifts.
    Val can't sleep either, wondering what the journey will bring, and wondering as well despite himself where _she_ might be. How will they proceed on Rigol, assuming they can find the place? From the estimates he and the pilots were able to cobble together, it will be about a nine month journey (assuming the universe doesn't end, of course, as Alais expects). He certainly hadn't expected any of this when he jumped on board a ramshackle galleon a little more than a year ago....
    

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