Galaxy's End: Book One LeRoy Clary (dark books to read TXT) 📖

effective method of keeping unwanted people from entering. A cutting torch or similar tool could slice through it, but that was not the point.

The pin was intact. The shiny surface showed it was standard practice to slip it into place and had been that way for years. Nobody had forced their way inside.

Therefore, they were wasting their time trying to figure out which passenger had killed him. It had been a crewman. Not the Champers. But instead of a perpetrator bribing one crewman, they had bribed two. Bribes, threats, or other inducements; it made no difference. It had to have been one of the crewmembers that did it.

Stone started to order a beverage from a nearby steward and paused. A steward always had access to the bridge, perhaps even stood duty watches there. Some did. The number of crewmen on any ship was limited. Any of a thousand poisons or drugs could kill or incapacitate her if slipped into a drink and if anyone had those intentions for her, a steward was the obvious choice.

Captain Stone decided one of “her” people had to prepare and deliver all food and drink to her four new crewmen until they found the murderer. She said in a friendlier voice, “I have a few moments if any of you want to ask me questions.”

“How much longer is the trip going to be?” The speaker was reptilian, his skin wrinkled and leathery. The words sounded from a voice box on a thong looped around his neck.

Stone considered her answer, then decided to deflect. The timing was not great compared to the threat they faced. “Is there a specific concern?”

“I am a Vector. There is a hatching ceremony on my planet I wish to attend.”

“I see,” Stone said compassionately. Now that she had all but excluded passengers as suspects, she had more flexibility in her response. “I believe less than ten standard days of total delay. Perhaps less.”

“Acceptable,” he growled, then held up one claw and flicked it at her as if it were a compliment or he was appreciative of the direct answer.

An overweight human woman moved aggressively a few steps closer. She was draped in gold chains, many of them encrusted with gems that twinkled in the soft light. “You have no authority, and you are not the real captain of this ship. I insist we go directly to Franklin, as intended.”

Stone held her temper. She said with an exaggerated shrug, “If you insist, I’ll step down and you may do it. Tell the pilot on the bridge he is relieved of the additional duty he is taking on, because he is a passenger, just like you.”

The woman paused just as she was about to make her wealth and power known when Stone refused. The woman was confused. Her eyes narrowed. “You agree with me?”

“I’m sure this ship has lifeboats in good condition. We can put you and your belongings in one and program it to travel directly to Franklin. Normally, that would be a reasonable request,” Captain Stone lied. “However, your choice does surprise me. In my professional opinion, the pirates will certainly destroy the lifeboat as it nears the nexus. It will be identified as from this ship and thus destroyed.”

“No, I want the Dreamer to take me there! Not a lifeboat.”

“They will destroy this ship too. Probably quicker. Within a few microseconds of emerging into normal space, the first missiles will strike. But I’m not the real captain of this ship, so why don’t we take a vote? Who wants to aim for the Franklin nexus and get killed? Please raise your hands, paws, or flippers.”

“Please raise the same if you wish to take command of this ship. I’ll gladly surrender it.”

When there were no votes in her favor, the woman spun and stormed from the galley.

Stone went on, “Any more questions?”

“How sure are you of the pirates doing that? Shooting at us, I mean.” The question came from a meek little man-like creature near the rear of the room.

“Not sure at all, sir. I can only express my opinion. Three ships were chasing us back there, and we were fired on. Also, we’ve proven the Champers who worked in the communications room had taken a bribe from them and was routing us right into their path. It relayed our route to them so they could intercept and board.”

A short being dressed in a flowing gown said, “They were not after me, I assure you.”

Captain Stone smiled. It was a point well made. She said, “I do not know who or what they were after, however, I want you to think about something for a moment. Imagine they had boarded us and either killed or kidnapped whoever they were after. Now comes the hard part. Do you believe they would have allowed any witness—that means you—to survive?”

The short woman gave a firm nod and said, “Point taken. Seen in that light, everyone on this ship owes you their lives. I thank you. Any support you wish from me will be granted.”

Stone couldn’t have paid the woman enough to express those words. The feeling in the room was as if the stale air had bled out and then suddenly reintroduced with spring-fresh air. Passengers were smiling. Their expressions had transformed into ones of support.

A few stepped cautiously closer and shook her hand, patted her shoulder, or made other gestures of thanks. She managed to slip out into the passageway and walked away as if she had just solved a huge problem.

At the door to the bridge, she paused and tried to spin the wheel to open the eight locks that kept it airtight. The wheel turned perhaps an inch before halting. She pushed the entry button and felt certain that someone inside examined the video screen before allowing her to enter. It was that way on