Zared shrugged. Adena thought he'd matured since coming aboard. His nervousness had quite disappeared, evident in the way he stood straight and looked her in the eye. "It's what my uncle requires, and I need hardly remind you he is paying you quite well for this voyage."
"Of course. If this is what Erasmus wants, it's what he'll get." She pointed to the doorway to the flight deck. "My navigator is layin’ the course right now."
"Thank you. I shall retire to my cabin until lunch."
He gave her a full bow and departed. Adena shook her head and walked through to the flight deck. Hsu-Li Oliphant occupied the navigation booth at the rear, her head lowered over the drift scope that peered down at the desert. A chart of the area laid spread on the small navigation table beside her. Adena rapped on the flimsy screen separating the booth from the rest of the flight deck.
"Hsu-Li, we have the coordinates." She handed the young Asian woman the paper. "Lay in a course, please."
Hsu-Li looked at the coordinates and raised her eyebrows. "This location won't be easy to get to, Skipper. It's House Caronel territory. Those Pure Bloods have all kinds of nasty stuff in the area."
"I know. Ours is not to reason why, ours is just to do the job and get the heck back home to collect our pay."
She clapped her on the shoulder and went to the helm. Standing with her hands behind her back, Adena stared out at the scenery passing below. Wide beds of rough gravel alternated with crumbling rocky outcrops and patches of pale sand. Away off to her left higher outcrops rose to form a unified chain of rugged mountains. It all looked familiar from previous runs to the City of Night. For a few moments Adena thought about Oculus Nightingale's destination, the problems they would face getting into — and out of — the City of Night.
But we'll cross that chasm when we get to it. Do I allow Greg to slip the leash, to go find his friend? I rather like him. He seems like an educated guy. He'd be an asset to the crew once he's recovered and got some meat on his bones. Troubled, she shifted her stance. I fear his friend may be dead — or as good as — already, and I'd sure hate to see him killed in a futile rescue attempt.
His duty discharged, Zared returned to his cabin and turned out the lamp. He opened the shutter over the single window and gazed down at the desert. The blue-silver starlight and pools of deep shadow between the dunes and rocks entranced him. His mind felt hot and alive with possibility.
Leaning away from the window long enough to fetch his pistol, he sat and commenced stripping and cleaning the weapon. He did so without conscious thought, paying the task little attention as he gazed out at the perpetual night.
With everything in hand, I can finish my uncle's business, then begin my own. The City of Night holds no terrors for me now.
He picked up the pistol and sighted down the barrel at his reflection in the window pane. His reflected smile looked colder than the night outside.
Chapter 6
Late on the last full day before reaching the City of Night, Greg ventured out of his cabin for the first time since coming aboard. Conner had given him directions to the lounge, and Greg headed there, using a cane Conner had provided for him. He found Captain Nightingale sitting on a padded seat below the window, reading a book. She looked up and smiled as he entered.
"Greg! I'm pleased to see you up and about."
He gave her a sheepish smile. "I couldn't stay in my cabin any longer, Captain. I don't make a good invalid, I go crazy after a day or so."
"I know what you mean." Adena pointed at his feet. "Are those recovering?"
"They are." Greg sat on one of the folding chairs around the table. "Up to now they couldn't take more use than the short trip to the head and back. Conner salved them with some form of medicine, and they feel fine — or at least they feel much better than they look."
"He's a good man, one of my best crew members. He feeds you well?" Adena looked at him with an appraising eye. "You do look more fleshed out."
Greg gave her an easy grin. "He's a good cook too, Captain, and I like my vittles."
She smiled back. "Call me Adena. You're not in my crew, and we can be informal. Come." She patted the seat next to her. "Sit down and let's talk." Her expression turned serious. "There are a few things we need to discuss before we reach the City."
"That sounds ominous." Greg moved over. "Although I guess you need to know what I intend to do."
Adena gave him a direct look. "I know what you intend, Greg. What I need to know now is how you propose to go about it."
He grimaced. "I want to find Cathy, rescue her if I can. If you can help I'd appreciate it. If not, I'd like to borrow a weapon or two and go after her alone if need be."
Adena rubbed her thumb over her eyebrow. "Well, it so happens we'll be landing our goods in a part of the city not far from House Caronel territory."
Greg flashed a hopeful look at Adena. She held up a hand.
"It won't be easy getting there, Greg, and if you stir up trouble, it'll be a lot more difficult to leave. We'll wait for you, but bear in mind we can only tarry so long in the City before the Pure Bloods take notice. Then we will leave, with or without you."
She leaned closer and looked him in the eye. He noticed her perfume again, mingled with the scent of her skin.
"What I will do is give you directions and the names of
