Chapter Twenty

 

 

When Royd returned to the Nostra he saw Thanis waiting impatiently at the door to the intermix compartment. Royd smiled in grim satisfaction. It was about time he’d been able to do a little payback.

“You are not supposed to leave me,” Thanis said angrily.

“I only went to the Treachen.”

“What did you do there?”

“Well, it seems that the ship you said only had to make it to the colony planet might not.”

Thanis shrugged. “That’s no concern of mine.”

“Well, it’s a big concern of mine. It’s slowing us down.”

“So leave it.”

Royd had thought about that but knew he couldn’t. They were still too far away from the colony planet and Captain Nicc had no authorization to purchase fuel and supplies on the trading planets.

“Can’t do that,” Royd said heading down the corridor.

Thanis kept up. “I’m going to have to report your breach to Zudo when we land on Pidleon.”

Royd shrugged. Now was not the time to tell him that he’d decided there would be no leave given to anyone when they reached the planets. They were too far behind schedule to allow that.

 

* * *

 

Mat brought four men to their cell. Syl was barely conscious but Rebe and Mari pulled her off her bunk and shoved her against the wall by the bathroom.

“Bring her here,” Gwin said.

“Get her yourself,” Rebe said.

Gwin half-carried, half-dragged Syl to her bunk and laid her down as gently as possible. Her arm was swollen, she was hot to the touch, and her breathing was erratic. The smell from her hand was terrible. Syl opened her eyes and half smiled but Gwin wasn’t sure if it was in recognition or just a reflex.

“Gwin?” she whispered.

“Yes, Syl?”

Gwin could barely hear her reply. “I’m really thirsty. Could I have some water?”

Gwin picked up Syl’s plate and filled it in the washroom. She carefully carried it back. She placed it on the bed while she lifted Syl’s head. It was tough but she got some of the water down Syl’s throat.

After the men had gone, Gwin got Syl back to her bunk.

“She needs a doctor,” Gwin told Conni. “Or she will die.”

Conni shrugged. “It won’t be much of a loss.”

 

* * *

 

Royd spent two days in the command room waiting for the planet Lodigan to show up on their screen and then watching it slowly grow larger. They should have been there a week ago but the sluggish pace of the Treachen had continued to slow the fleet to the point where he’d been tempted to fly ahead and leave it to arrive on its own time. But just when he’d made up his mind to do that, Captain Nicc had informed him that the Treachen only had enough fuel for one more day’s flight.

He’d had two choices. He could leave the ship to hang in space, only using fuel to keep the necessary generators running while the rest carried on to Lodigan. He could assign one of the transports to guard it against space pirates and once at Lodigan he could send out a refuelling ship. But the thought of the extra cost made him ask the captains of the ships to measure the fuel in their tanks and the Wenelyn, which had used the least amount, made a fuel transfer to the Treachen.

While the other ships refuelled at the place Zudo had specified, he had Captain Robi signal to the tower who they were, where they were going and what their mission was. As was standard procedure, all the information about them had been sent to the Lodigan Space Organization by their own space association long before the fleet had left and confirmation had been received back. Very rarely was a spaceship refused refuelling and restocking by any planet. Within a few minutes they’d received acknowledgment from the tower.

Royd asked permission to land the clipper then turned to the communication officer. “Put me on the ship-to-ship interline.”

When all the captains had checked in, Royd spoke into the intercom. “Because of the delay in reaching Lodigan there will be no leave time on this planet. We will fuel the ships, replenish our provisions and be on our way.”

He’d left this announcement until the last minute to limit the amount of time he would have to listen to the protests. And they came immediately.

“We were promised three days’ leave on each planet when we signed up.”

“It’s been a long trip so far and our people have been looking forward to some free time.”

“It’s not our fault the Treachen can’t keep up. Why do we have to suffer?”

Royd waited until they’d all had their say and there was silence on the system. “As the person in charge of this flight, I have the authority to make a decision like this. You and your people will have the opportunity to go on planet during the trip back.”

There was more grumbling but Royd interrupted. “Provision ships will be out shortly to restock your ships. Prepare for them.” He signalled the communication officer to cut the interline transmission. He left the control room and headed for the clipper compartment. He had to get onto Lodigan as quickly as possible. When last they’d spoken, Zudo had promised to have the fuel arranged for and all the necessary provisions waiting to be loaded upon their arrival at both Lodigan and Pidleon. Zudo would also be on Lodigan to meet him. Royd hoped their delay hadn’t caused any problems.

Royd watched for Thanis as he walked the corridors to the clipper. For days now, Thanis had been by his side, wondering when they were going to arrive at Lodigan. Royd had kept telling him that he didn’t know for certain because the Treachen was flying slower every day. He’d kept repeating that he would let Thanis know when they were approaching Lodigan and finally Thanis had tired of following him around.

Since he wanted to speak with Zudo alone, there was no way he was going to keep his word to Thanis. At the compartment, Royd climbed into the clipper, moved it to the intermix chamber and waited for the air exchanger to work. He then flew out onto the high route and headed for the parking lot. He took the shuttle to the eatery where Zudo had said to meet him. He had to wait while the waiter sent word to Zudo that he had arrived.

“You’re late,” Zudo stated when he walked into the eatery, “Where’s Thanis?”

“I know I’m late, “Royd said ignoring the question. “One of the ships is old and slow and we had to wait for it.”

“Not my problem. You were in charge of the purchases.”

“I know,” Royd said irritably. “Are the provisions ready to be loaded?”

“They have been for days. I was very close to sending them back.”

“Can your loading ships start now?”

“What’s your hurry? I thought the crews had three days’ leave.”

“I’ve cancelled all leave. We’ll be heading out as soon as the provisions are on board.”

“I’ll send out word.”

Royd waited for Zudo to make his calls and set up the loading schedule.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s happened to Thanis?”

“Nothing,” Royd said. “He’s quite comfortable on the Nostra, although by now he is probably very angry.”

“One of my orders was that he go with you at all times,” Zudo said, sternly. “Why didn’t you bring him?”

“I got tired of him looking over my shoulder and besides, no one was allowed leave, including him.”

“That’s not funny.”

“There is nothing for him to report. We’re behind schedule and you know that. We will also be behind schedule in reaching Pidleon, if you could inform them.”

“How many days?”

Royd shrugged. “It depends on the Treachen.”

“You don’t sound too concerned.”

Royd wasn’t about to tell him about the past week when he had been constantly worried about whether all the ships would reach Lodigan and if the Treachen would run out of fuel. And if it did, how long it would take to send out a refuelling ship? And he’d worried about the cost of that ship, which he knew would come out of his share of the profits.

“Let’s go to the bank and get my account set up while the ships are being loaded,” Royd said.

“Sure,” Zudo agreed. “We’ll take my private shuttle.”

It took only a short time for them to shuttle to the bank where Zudo dealt and open Royd’s account. When the profits from the purchases on Pidleon and Lodigan were figured out, Royd’s share would be deposited. And his portion of any future purchases for the colony planet would automatically be added. As he flew back to the Nostra he was glad that this was the final time he would have contact with Zudo.

In spite of the complaining he knew would take place, the fleet was also going to make a quick stop at Pidleon and then head to the colony planet.

 

* * *

 

Gwin watched as Mat came up to the bars while making his rounds. He glanced at Syl who lay pale and still on her bunk. “What’s the matter with her?”

“She’s got infection in her hand,” Mari said.

“Why didn’t someone send for a doctor?” Mat summoned a guard to stand by the door as he opened it and entered the cell. He touched Syl’s cheek.

“Conni wouldn’t let us. Will you get a doctor for her?”

“It’s too late. She’s dead.”

“She’s dead?” Gwin gasped. “She can’t be. I just checked her a while ago and she was still breathing.”

A third guard was called to help Mat lift Syl’s body. He put his hands under her arms.

“Where are you taking her?” Iren asked.

“She’s going to the discharge port.”

“You’re shooting her out in space?”

Mat nodded as he picked up Syl’s legs.

“Why?”

“Those are our orders.”

“Shouldn’t she be taken to the planet for burial?” Gwin asked. That was common space procedure.

“We don’t have the room to keep all of them until then.”

“What do you mean, all of them?” Shela asked.

“I mean the hundred or so who have died since we left home.”

When they’d carried the body out the doorway, the second guard locked the door. The three of them walked out of sight with Syl’s body.

Gwin laid back on her bunk. She couldn’t believe that Syl was gone. She’d tried her best to look after her, helping her eat, guiding her to the washroom, checking her hand. She wondered if there hadn’t been something more she could have done to help her. Maybe, if she’d insisted on a doctor….