The Risks of Dead Reckoning Felicia Watson (books for 9th graders .TXT) 📖

an adrenaline junkie?” She sighed heavily beforeadmitting, “Or maybe I’m really just looking for a distractionfrom…whatever the hell’s happening on Jileesa.”

The only answer for amoment was the lapping sound of water around them, then Kennedysaid, “All of those reasons could be true at the same time, youknow. Didn’t you have Captain Crozier for Ethics at The Rock?” Decktrusted that this was going somewhere relevant and agreed that shehad. “Then you should remember what he said about human motivesnever being absolutely ‘pure.’ Cut yourself some slack – this was agreat idea and if we succeed, we’ll have done a wonderful thing forthe Tolutay. And if we don’t succeed – at least we tried.” Shenodded and Con asked, “Did you get any sleep last night or did youpace your quarters worrying about the Lovelace?”

“I got some sleep.” Deckavoided his gaze but could still feel Con’s eyes boring into her,waiting for the whole truth. Her conscience nagged her that hisgenuine concern deserved that much – so she gave it. “I did wake upat 0200 hours, and I couldn’t go back to sleep because I wasthinking….”

“Thinkingwhat?”

With great effort she gavevoice to the fear which haunted her. “That they could already bedead and I wouldn’t even know it.”

Kennedy leaned towards herand in an urgent tone protested, “I don’t think so – I bet ifthey were dead,you would have sensed it by now.” When Naiche shook her head indisagreement, Con insisted, “It’s true. When my mom contacted me totell me that my dad had died, I immediately knew something waswrong. Long before she said anything.”

“I used to think that way.When my grandfather first told me that my mother had died, Irefused to believe it. I said that I would have felt it if she wasreally gone. And then, when the UDC didn’t find her body, I wasmore convinced than ever that she was still alive out there –somewhere.”

“When did you finallybelieve she was dead?”

“At her memorial service,when Ricci gave me her locket.” Deck patted the moonstone necklacethat, as always, was under her uniform jacket. “She hardly evertook it off, and she never let it out of her sight. When he put itaround my neck…I knew. And I learned that the people you love can slip out of thisworld without you ever feeling it.”

“Okay – but that doesn’tmean you’re right about Ricci and Tal being dead.”

“I know. Lindstrom eventold me that he has more faith in Ricci than any other captain he’sserved under. I guess, the least I can do is try to have as muchfaith as he does.”

“Coming from Lindstrom –that’s saying a lot. He’s not a man who hands out praise lightly – or evenreadily.” Kennedy’s tone grew reassuring. “I bet anything, when weget back from this mission, it’ll be to some good news fromthe Lovelace.” Hesat up straighter, peering into the darkness ahead. “Step one,though, is getting back from this mission.”

“You bet. First switch-offcoming up.”

***

The second float-way wasmuch narrower than the first and the water in it far moreturbulent. Decker concentrated on piloting the skiff while Kennedymanned the scanner looking for veil-worms. After an hour she’dbegun to hope there weren’t any worms in this float-way but thescanner and Kay soon let her know her wish was a vainone.

“Two up head,” Conannounced. “Right in our path.”

Deck checked her ownscanner and tried to steer away from them, but her goal provedimpossible. “It looks like they’re actively tracking the boat. Ithink they’re intending for us to go right over them.”

“Probably want to try andtip us over. I’ll get ‘em.” Con fired repeatedly into the water.“Slow down,” he yelled, “one’s still alive.” Decker throttled theskiff into lowest power and watched as Kennedy endeavored to killthe second worm, but it was nimbly evading every shot. When hestretched a hand back towards her, Deck knew instinctively what Conwanted. She pulled out a particle rifle and handed itover.

One blast was enough toexterminate the stubborn creature – but it also displaced enoughwater to nearly tip the skiff over. Decker barely managed tomaintain control of the boat and steer through the wave. Soppingwet, she heaved a sigh of relief and watched as Kayatennae shookoff – splashing his excess water onto the two humans. Con laughedand said, “Thanks, Kay, I wasn’t quite wet enough.” He looked atNaiche. “I sure hope we don’t have to do that again. They’re abitch to kill in the water.”

“Just think how much worseit would be if we couldn’t detect them.”

“If it’s all the same toyou, I’d really rather notthink about that.”

After three moretreacherous encounters with veil-worms in that float-way, Naicheand Con were both soaked to the skin and thoroughly drained –physically and mentally. When Kennedy suggested breaking for a latelunch and a rest, Deck eagerly agreed. She steered the skiff overto the platform and docked it securely. They both climbed wearilyup on the platform with Kay following in one gracefulleap.

Decker got out two mealbars while Con took the opportunity to contact first Lindstrom,then Lateef on his comm-link. His report was honest but shaded abit to the optimistic side – especially with Aqila. When they’dboth rested long enough to face the prospect of tackling moreveil-worms, Decker checked their progress on the scanner map.“Looks like we’re about half-way through – but we’re gonna reachthe end a lot later than I’d anticipated.”

Kennedy climbed back intothe skiff, saying, “I sure hope that was the worst half of this trip.”

Silently agreeing with thatwish, Decker followed him into the boat. Once Kay had jumped in andsettled at her feet, Deck started the motor and steered into thestream. They weren’t bothered by any more veil-worms in theremainder of that float-way, so Naiche was hoping the rest of theirjourney was destined to be trouble-free. She steered into the nextsection which was wider and had the swiftest current they’d seenyet.

A short while into that legof the journey, Kay stared down into the water and let out a low,menacing growl. “What is it?” Con asked.

“I don’t know,” Deckanswered, checking her scanner. “Nothing’s coming up on thesensors. Maybe he thought he saw—” Before she could finish