John Maddox Roberts - Space Angel (24 page)

"I don't know if you caught my name at the introductions," the bearded man said. "Captain Probert of the
Black Comet.
I've just bought the ship at an auction, and I'm putting together a crew."

He spoke casually and his relaxed manner immediately put Kelly at ease. "Independent freighter?" asked Kelly.

"What other kind is there?" Probert grinned. "You 'prenticed for the quartermaster this trip out, didn't you?"

"That's right, but, I cross-trained in most of the other ship's duties."

"I can always use a good hand. Pay's not like the Satsuma, we work for shares. Hours are long, but I've already got a good cook. Keep me in mind."

"Thanks. I'll do that."

When Probert had gone, Kelly trudged back to his cabin and stripped off his rented dress uniform. He climbed back into his familiar coverall and boots and looked at himself in the mirror. The outfit, which had sagged when he first put it on, now fit perfectly. The boots, which had once felt so heavy, now felt like old slippers. He grinned self
_T
deprecatingly at his reflection and went to join the others. He found most of them around the mess table.

After a few moments, the skipper arrived. She seemed a trifle put out, and signaled for general attention. "Now that we're all here, we can come down off our cloud. We may be interplanetary celebrities, and we've brought back the most valuable treasures this planet's ever seen—not to mention our cargo of diamond crystal—but we're broke."

"Broke?" Kelly asked, "how's that possible?"

"The government can't quite decide what to do with all this unprecedented stuff, so they've just impounded everything, including the crystal, and they're going to sit on it until they think of something. In addition, the assets of Minsk Mineral have been impounded. We can institute lawsuits, and we will probably get everything we are owed, but be prepared for a long wait. Court actions such as this can last years. That means we've got to find another contract if we're to stay in business."

This was his moment. Kelly cleared his throat and spoke. "I'm afraid I won't be with you."

"What do you mean?" It was plain from the skipper's expression that she knew what he was going to say.

"Well, I want you all to know that this ship has been a home to me, and you've been like a family and I never had either before. But you can't stay at home forever. I signed on as ship's boy. You can't hold that position forever. I've outgrown it on this voyage."

The skipper looked to her quartermaster. "Torwald?"

"He has nothing more to learn from me. He could ship as quartermaster in any independent freighter and he pilots an AC like a champ."

"Look, Kelly," Nancy said, "you could sign on for another voyage as my assistant. There's a lot you don't know yet about Commo." To Kelly's astonishment, her look and voice were almost pleading.

"Thanks, Nancy, "but, I've got a chance to strike out on my own, and it's important to me to take it. I can't be carried on somebody's kindness forever."

"You have a ship in mind?" The skipper's voice was brusque. "Not a line vessel, I hope."

"Captain Probert's offered me a berth in the
Black Comet.
I think I may take it."

"Probert's a good man." The skipper held out her hand. "Give me your bracelet. I'll bring it up to date." She took the bracelet and left the room. As she walked down the companionway, the others could hear her honking into a handkerchief.

Sergei looked up from a sheet of printout he'd been examining. He smiled at Kelly, then said, "Minsk will set up a bank account for the
Space Angel,
into which we'll pay her share of the crystal's value, whenever it's released. If you like, I'll have a separate account set up for you."

"It'll be a pretty hefty sum," said Torwald, "when and if it arrives. It could be enough for you to buy into a partnership on the
Black Comet
or some other ship. Not bad for an ex-ship's boy just off his first voyage."

"That'd suit me," said Kelly. The skipper returned a few minutes later and handed back his bracelet. As he clipped it on, Kelly noticed the tiny silver star embossed on it.

"But, this is a Spacer First Class bracelet," he protested. "I should only be eligible for Able Spacer."

"As you pointed out, you only signed on as ship's boy for a routine voyage. It lasted a little longer, and you got some experience that most don't get. Going to the center of the galaxy and diving into a star might be considered above and beyond the call of duty. You've earned the promotion."

Kelly stuffed the last of his belongings into his spacebag. He had accumulated quite a bit—souvenirs from the worlds and alien vessels the
Angel
had visited, and gifts from his fellows. Lafayette, somewhat shamefaced, had visited Kelly's cabin and handed him a cube of glassite within which was imbedded a tiny sphere—it was the jungle planet, as seen from space. "I used Achmed's holography gear and the ship's computer to make it," Lafayette explained. "Under microscopic projection, the detail is perfect down to the plants and the ruins." Awkwardly, the redhead stuck out his hand. "Thanks for saving my neck. Sorry you ended up having to paint the hold."

The skipper had presented him with a box of cigars and Achmed a prayer rug—"in case you should come around to the true faith." Bert had given him a full set of cargo master's manuals, and K'Stin an efficient-looking sword.

Kelly made the ritual last-minute check around the cabin, the first room he had ever had to himself, ran his hand over the bunk and the shelves, then shrugged. Home was a spacebag now. He had his gear and his trade. What more did a spacer need?

The crew assembled at the hatch to see him off. There were handshakes and hugs all around. Tears in her eyes, Nancy threw her arms around Kelly, kissed him violently, and said she would miss him.

"I wish you'd mentioned something like that before."

"You weren't leaving before," she replied logically.

Homer scuttled up to him. From somewhere within his shell, he produced a recording disk. "This is a crude form of my epic,
Core Star
, in which you figure prominently. You may not be able to understand it, but rest assured that your immortality is guaranteed."

Torwald handed him a package. "Just a little something I whipped together in the shop." Kelly unwrapped it. It was a perfect model of the
Space Angel,
accurate down to the empty rocket-mounts. Kelly's fingers closed around it and he turned swiftly so the others couldn't see his face as he stuffed it into his spacebag.

"Maintain eternal vigilance, small squishy thing—"

K'Stin enveloped Kelly's hand in his huge talons— "and kill anything that threatens."

"And remember about the boots, kid," Torwald said. "Fame is a passing thing, but a good pair of boots will see you through some tough situations."

Finally nothing remained to be said. With a wave, Kelly turned and hoisted the bag to his shoulder, then trudged down the ramp. A thin drizzle was falling, and the top-heavy figure blended with the mist, swaying slightly, a man unused to walking in the gravity of old Earth.

"Kid looks like a spacer." Torwald wiped away a tear.

They watched Kelly's receding figure until the skipper broke the spell. "Torwald, go to the terminal and look around. See if you can find us a new ship's boy."