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Dock A


It was an elder pilot who exited Spiral Dance, lean and dangerous, never minding the greying red hair. He nodded when he spied Jen Sin waiting at the end of the ramp, and continued, unchecked and unhurried, until he reached the proper distance to offer a bow of introduction.

It was quite a credible bow, proper in mode and in tempo. After he had straightened, he introduced himself in perfectly intelligible Liaden in the mode of lesser to greater, which was reaching high, indeed.

“Clarence O’Berin, first class pilot, executive officer, Bechimo, under Captain Theo Waitley.”

Jen Sin inclined, accepting the courtesy and the information from the giddy height of his melant’i as an administrator.

“Jen Sin yos’Phelium, light keeper,” he murmured. “Pilot. We are well met.”

“Is there a service I might be honored to perform for you?” inquired Clarence O’Berin.

Jen Sin looked up, considering the properly bland face, and the bold blue eyes. He had not received files on Cousin Theo’s crew beyond the sparse list of personnel the ship had itself provided. It was plain for all to see that Clarence O’Berin was Terran. Where he had come by his precise manners was, perhaps, a question for another hour. He had others before it.

“You might, if it is possible, descend somewhat from the highest branches. I have been long away from proper society, and even with daily practice was never considered more than passingly apt.”

Clarence O’Berin’s lips twitched; his blue eyes gleamed.

“May a comrade offer assistance?” he asked, again in proper mode. Jen Sin felt his shoulders relax, even as his breath caught. It had been…a very long time since he had been addressed as anyone’s comrade.

“Perhaps you may,” he said, in the same mode. He used his chin to point at the ship behind Clarence’s shoulder.

“That is a ship out of legend. The clan’s own records show that it was lost, many years ago.”

“The same was said of you,” said Clarence O’Berin. “Records are not always accurate.”

“That is very true. I only wonder how she happened to come into Bechimo’s hold.”

The pilot half-turned on the ramp, and looked up at Spiral Dance, consideringly.

“Just this last time,” he said, “she brought us absent crew. The first time—was a stretch of probability, but that’s what it is, to fly with Captain Theo.”

Jen Sin tipped his head.

“Captain Theo is prone to unlikely events?”

“More so than some,” Clarence said. “Her father was a bit of a caution, and his children outstrip him.”

“I wonder you remain at such a chancy berth,” Jen Sin said, not quite in jest.

Clarence turned, a full Terran grin on his face.

“I’d be bored anywhere else,” he said.

Jen Sin smiled. “I understand, I think. May I ask for a tour of Spiral Dance?”

“Surely you might, but I’m not the one to grant permission.”

“Of course. I will petition the captain,” Jen Sin said, startled at how sharp his disappointment was.

“You might ask her now, if you’ve a mind to it,” Clarence said, ambling the rest of the way down the ramp. “Come aboard Bechimo, if you are at liberty. I baked cookies last shift, there’s tea—and Captain Theo, who, if I recall it correctly, had something she wanted to discuss with you.”

He hit the dock, and turned toward Bechimo.

It was entirely civilized—tea and cookies. But, tea and cookies had no place in a universe where a man was murdered at whim, dozens of times, brought back to life—no! Copied and set loose, thinking himself the original, repaired and reawakened.

He took a hard breath, unaware that he stood rooted to the dock until Clarence O’Berin turned to look back at him.

“Are ye well then, laddie?” His voice was softer in Terran, the words lilting.

Jen Sin blinked his eyes clear of a sudden mist, and made himself move, to walk down the dock to the taller pilot’s side.

“I am well, thank you,” he said in his much less pleasing Terran. “Only, it has been—a long shift.”

Sharp blue eyes considered him, even as another easy grin appeared. “So it has, now that you say it!” Clarence exclaimed, returning to Comrade mode. “Come aboard and rest while I put that snack together.”


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