Divergence

“Of course it can,” she lied. “Tell me, what is it you want taken to Earth?”

“Some crates,” said Ben.

“What’s in them?”

“Active suits.”

“Active suits? Aren’t they dangerous?”

“These ones are perfectly safe,” said Ben.

“So you say. I hear they walk around on their own, looking for trouble.”

“Only if they’re activated. These ones are currently set to dormant.”

“But isn’t it true that they can rouse themselves in times of danger?”

Ben waved dismissively. “I told you, they’re perfectly safe. The FE software issued a digital certificate confirming this.”

“Okay.” But Saskia didn’t look as if it was okay. “Well, if they’re that safe, why don’t you take them to Earth?”

Ben spoke to someone standing outside the viewing field. Maurice strained to hear what was said. The boy nodded his head and then replied to her.

“Earth is too unstable. We dare not go there.”

Saskia gave a tired groan. Maurice realized that Judy was watching him watching Saskia in the console. She wore that impassive expression of hers. What was she thinking? He dismissed the thought and turned back to the job at hand.

“What are we going to do, Saskia?” he asked.

“We might as well take the suits with us,” said Saskia irritably. “We’re going to Earth anyway. You sort it all out, Maurice. I’m going back to sleep.”

She reached out, and the viewing field from which she spoke shrank to nothing, leaving Maurice alone in the little hold with Judy and the image of Ben. He realized everyone was looking at him. Fine. Maurice stared at the space where she had just been. Just fine. As soon as the heat is on, you dodge the decisions.

“What do you think we should do, Judy?” Maurice asked, turning to her.

“I’m just a passenger,” said Judy. “But, as you’re asking me, I say make it easy on yourself. I told you, someone is planning my life for me. If they want us to take those crates with us, then you’ll be wasting your time trying to resist them.”

Maurice rubbed his hands together thoughtfully.

“Okay, Ben, we’ll trade.”

“Good,” said Ben. “I’ll get my dad to start the FE process.”

The boy glanced out of the range of the viewing field again, as if listening to someone nearby. Maurice noted the decor on the other ship: a tropical collection of bamboo and woven grass. Did they have the heating turned up on board there to complement the decor? Did they spend their evenings drinking long cool drinks in sand-covered leisure rooms?

Ben was nodding his head. “Oh, yes,” he was saying, “good idea.”

He turned back to Maurice. “Listen, Eva Rye, don’t bother plotting an intercept course. We’ll launch the cargo into space. Your course will intersect with it in just over four hours. You can pick it up as you pass.”

Maurice bit his lip as he reached for his console. Somebody had all this planned out in advance. What were the chances of two ships flying on such similar courses in the vastness of space?

He activated the FE software. “I’m handshaking now.”

“Good, we’ll speak to you soon.”