couldn’t figure out I had made such a big mistake. You’re a hell of a woman and all, but you’re crew. It’s not something I’d do. But if he was right and I can’t really think straight around you…I might not know. I had to allow for the possibility that I’m wrong.”
Brill sat in her chair with the most incredulous expression on her face. Then she stood up and that got our attention. “Okay, who finds this hysterically funny?” She raised her hand and focused on me. I raised my hand and we both looked at Diane. She raised her hand partway.
“Not hysterically, but it has its humorous side,” Diane admitted grudgingly.
“Now, other than poor Ishmael studying for spec one—which he could probably pass—what permanent harm has been done?”
I looked from Diane to Brill and back again. “Well, as long as we’ve established my idiocy is not related to my lack of emotional control, I’m okay.”
Brill turned to Diane. “Do you have any problems that we need to address as a group?”
Diane thought about it for a moment. “Well, since you put it that way. No.”
“In that case, go clear the ASIC!” she said with a grin.
Diane scrambled out to the watch station and acknowledged the beeping system integrity message.
Brill turned back to me. “Ish, you are, without a doubt, one of the most serious, well-meaning, intelligent and sensitive people I’ve ever met, but if you ever let something this stupid get this far again, I will personally strap you into a precipitation tank and let it fill up.”
“Would you consider doing that anyway?”
She chuckled. “Don’t tempt me. Now, let’s see how far away from spec one you really are.”
“What?”
She held up my tablet. “If you have even half this material after a month, we can have you at spec one by the time testing rolls around. Can you think of a more fitting comeuppance for our devious Mr. Gartner?”
“But—” I started to say.
“Sit down, Wang. That’s an order!” she said, but her expression betrayed her amusement.
Chapter 14
DUNSANY ROADS SYSTEM
2352-APRIL-03
We had about two stans before Francis came back for the afternoon watch, so we had to work fast to come up with a strategy. Brill and I thrashed through the materials for about twenty ticks while Diane stewed at her station.
“You’ve done remarkably well, Ish,” Brill told me. “But you really don’t have the math skills for this yet, do you?”
“No, I don’t. I recognize it when I see it, but I’d be lying if I said I understood it.”
“Okay, let’s go for Plan B. Would you be happy with spec two?”
“I’d be happy with spec three. The
“Ish, do you know you talk about the ship like she’s a person?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, just as long as you’re aware of it.” She glanced at the chrono. “We need to either get a plan or wait until he has the watch and go form a plan.” She headed out into the section and nodded for me to follow.
“Diane?” Brill said.
Diane stuck her head out from behind the number two scrubber. “I’m here. Just checking the matrix we put in last week.”
“We need a plan or at least a plan for a plan.”
Diane slammed the scrubber’s case closed and came over to us. “I’m in.”
“Simple is better,” Brill said. “First question, can we all pretend that we don’t know he did it?”
“I probably can,” I said.
“I don’t know if I’m up to that,” Diane said. “Under the circumstances, I can’t really fault him for resetting the bookmark. But I don’t like that he was riding Ish. That ain’t right.”
“Well,” Brill said, “if we take the short approach, Diane will only need to keep it together long enough for a quick gotcha. We’ll be done with him by noon. Is that doable?”
Diane started to smile. “Depends on whatcha have in mind, but yeah, I think I can.”
“Okay, here’s what we are going to do.”
***
Francis was prompt. When he walked through the hatch to environmental he was met with a well scripted tableau.
“Very well, Mr. Wang, since you cannot be trusted, I accept your resignation effective immediately,” Brill said authoritatively. “We’ll find a replacement at Dunsany Roads, and since there are no other openings on the
“Yes, Chief. Thank you, Chief,” I said. “I can’t allow my feelings for Ms. Ardele to endanger the ship any longer.”
Diane’s face crumpled up and she had to turn away so we could not see her tears. Frankly, I suspected it was laughter she was hiding.
“Hi?” Francis said uncertainly. “What’s going on?”
“Ah, Francis, good you’re here.” Brill turned to him. “I understand we owe you some thanks for uncovering Mr. Wang’s weakness for Diane.”
“Wha—?” he said.
“Last night, Francis,” I said to him. “You were right. I was so distracted by Diane I didn’t even know what chapter I’d bookmarked in my tablet. It’s true. Whenever I’m around her, I just can’t think of anything else.” I hung my head in shame, and also so he wouldn’t see the corner of my lips twitching as a fought a grin.
“But—” he began.
“Ishmael has explained the situation, Francis. Thank you for being so diligent and spotting the problem. The safety of the ship is, of course, our first concern. We’ll be putting him ashore at Dunsany, and in the meantime, he’s going back to help out in the galley where he can’t do any serious damage.”
“But—” he tried again.
“That leaves us short-handed. I’ve spoken to Mr. Kelley and he’s doesn’t have anyone to spare, so you’re going to have to cover his watches until then.” Brill was a bulldozer. She just kept pushing and pushing.
“But—” he tried a third time.
“I’m sorry, Diane,” I broke in. “I never meant to hurt you.” I had no idea what I was saying. I was just trying to keep the play going.
“Mr. Wang, I think we’ve had just about enough from you,” Brill said coldly. “You’re dismissed.”
I headed for the hatch and I could see Francis’s face out of the corner of my eye. He was just about primed.
“Wait!” he shouted.
