The Dead Priest

by K A Bledsoe

  “And trust them unless they show they can’t be trusted for some reason,” Diarmin added with a pointed look at Lenore.

  Her mother nodded, but it seemed a little reluctant. Allison finally chimed in.

  “Well, we can’t read their minds, but they are where they’re supposed to be.”

  “You didn’t spy on them, did you?” asked Quinn.

  “Of course not. I just ran a general scan of the ship.” She slid in her chair to the side so everyone could see her screen. “See?” She pointed at the relevant section. “Four blips on the bridge, one in the lounge and one in Bondle’s quarters. Six blips, six people where they are supposed to be.”

  Her father had stood and approached while she was recounting her actions. He laughed and ruffled her hair.

  “Trust our clever daughter to be the practical one. Good job, Alli.”

  Allison looked at her mother and brother. The small smiles of approval were all she needed.

  ***

  “Transition complete,” said Quinn.

  Diarmin tapped a few more keys then locked the board. “Good job. Another one in eighteen hours. Maybe I should let you handle it?” He smiled as Quinn threw him an eager look from his seat at navigation. Allison and Lenore had gone back to the cabin to continue decoding.

  “If you think I am ready,” he said.

  “I believe you are, but,” he held up a hand briefly as Quinn’s eyes lit up. “Let’s wait until we have no passengers or fragile cargo, deal?”

  “Okay, Dad.” Quinn turned back to his board. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked, not looking up.

  “Sure.” Diarmin braced himself. Every time his kids were hesitant to ask something, it meant they wanted to know something that he might not want to tell. He knew the kids might start asking about his past but wasn’t sure if he was ready to discuss it at all, much less the details.

  “When we were all talking about trusting the passengers, you and Mom were exchanging some significant looks.” Now he locked down his own board and looked at Diarmin. “Can I ask what those were all about?”

  Diarmin breathed an inner sigh of relief. He knew that someday soon he would have to tell them, but it wasn’t this moment and that was good enough for now.

  “It’s complicated but I suppose I can tell you. Your mother and I have been worried that you and Alli are learning to be overly suspicious of people.” Diarmin held his hands out. “Not that you haven’t had good cause lately, but we don’t want you both to become mistrusting of everyone. There are a lot of very good people out there in the galaxy, despite recent experiences telling you otherwise.”

  “So that’s why she went from trying to convince you that Bondle is up to something to saying we should trust until there is reason not to.”

  “Yes.” He shook a finger at Quinn. “You are getting entirely too good at reading us, young man.”

  “I have learned from the best,” he replied with another grin.

  “That is true.” Diarmin pushed the board away and stood. “It is nearly time for Bondle to make his nightly check on the cargo. I should be there.”

  “You could set the ship’s chronometer to him,” said Quinn.

  “That’s a scientist for you, very methodical. Can you watch the bridge until he is done?” He headed for the ladder.

  “Of course. And if you want, I will take first watch. I’m not tired at all and I wanted to practice some more course charting.”

  Diarmin paused at the ladder and glanced at Quinn as he took the command seat and swung the control board in front of him. “Since I am a little sleepy, I will take you up on that. Have a good night and wake me if anything happens.”

  Quinn gave an absent half salute and Diarmin descended to the hall, then headed toward the cargo bay. He is growing up fast and ready for more adult responsibilities. In fact, his sixteenth birthday is next month. Diarmin shook his head. It seems he was just a toddler last year. Such is a parent’s life I suppose.

  He descended the ladder and a glance at the timepiece on the wall showed he was a few minutes early for Bondle’s inspection. He wandered over to his workbench, trying not to feel melancholy at the passage of time. He barely had time to scan his work to decide on which project to work on when he heard steps on the ladder. He recovered the table with the cloth, thinking he would start tomorrow, and turned to face Bondle.

  “Hello, Mr. Bondle. Come for the nightly inspection?”

  Bondle started then gave a weak chuckle. “Don’t know why I jumped. You have been here for every inspection in the last three days.”

  “Sometimes being introspective can make a person unaware of their surroundings and so are startled easily,” said Diarmin, realizing that even though Bondle gave the impression of an absent-minded old professor, he really was quite young. If his story was accurate, he would be in his mid-to-late-twenties.

  “Introspective?”

  “You did tell the story about your past at dinner,” said Diarmin. “I know I tend to have my thoughts inward when reflecting on my life.”

  Bondle stared at Diarmin. “Huh. That’s probably it. To be honest, I have been too focused on my work to give my past any thought. In fact, these last few days are the first I can remember with having time on my hands. My life up to this point has been in pursuit of this.” He lightly patted the nearest six-all. “I only hope it is worth it.”

  “You have these elaborate cargo containers. Are you sure the cargo isn’t dangerous?” Even as he said it, Diarmin winced inwardly. He didn’t want to suspect Bondle, but Lenore’s suspicions hovered in his forebrain.

  “Even if the container was damaged or breached accidentally, which is only about, maybe…” He drifted off in thought for a couple moments. “About only a point-five percent chance per layer so very slim. However, if that did happen, the anti-viral agents would not pose a threat to us. Each is also self-contained, but the real danger is outside contamination of the specimens. If any toxins or bacteria or foreign substance is introduced, it will activate the enzymes and purpose the drug for something unknown.” Bondle gave a tug of his lab coat. “That is why I believe this medicine will work against the plague. It is designed to go after whatever virus is mixed with it. It won’t matter if the plague mutates thereafter, the medicine will too.”

  “That sounds like a breakthrough for any planet that may go through something similar.” Diarmin admitted he felt a bit of awe if this medicine did what Bondle said.

  “I hope so. Once our planet is rid of the plague, we will continue to manufacture this medication so no other has to suffer through such a nightmare.” He turned thoughtful again and Diarmin left him to the inspection of the containers, retreating back to his worktable under the ladder to do some of his own reflecting.

  I believe Bondle is exactly what he says he is. I don’t know why Lenore is suspicious. Maybe it’s because I recognize a kindred spirit, so focused on work that the past gets buried.

  “Good night,” said Bondle as he went back up the ladder. Diarmin returned the slight wave and followed after a few moments, figuring he’d better get some sleep since he would take over for Quinn at mid-shift. And sleep would put off having to face the fact that maybe it might be time to stop burying his past.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Quinn was glad that his father had let him work the first shift. He did want to practice charting courses, but he also wanted some time alone to think. He saw his father tense up when he wanted to ask a question and he knew it was because he didn’t want to discuss his past. Allison didn’t seem to care that they knew very little about their parents. But Quinn had sensed the underlying threat in the voice of the man who stopped his mother back on the planet of the rich guy. He regretted closing the link when his father told him to. He might have found out something important about his mother’s past. Maybe Allison didn’t want to know, but it was becoming an obsession with him.

  What was so bad about the Xa’ti’al that his mother had left? Why were ther
e always ships chasing them? What did his father do in his previous life before Quinn was born, and why did he tense up whenever he thought about it? Not just tense but wired so tight, like he was afraid he would let something slip. His parents always told him and Allison that honesty was the best policy within the family. Well, it’s time they live up to that assertion.

  Quinn pushed the command board away irritably, then stood and began to pace. They wouldn’t tell him anything if he asked directly, he was sure of it. Slowly and with continuing the story of when they first met would be the best. He noticed how his mother let slip a few details. A few well thought out questions would divulge more.

  The bridge wasn’t big enough to allow him to walk off his frustrations, so he locked down the bridge and climbed down the ladder. He strode down the hall but before he turned into the lounge, he thought he heard a noise coming from the cargo bay. He knew Bondle wouldn’t change his inspection schedule if his life depended on it so he figured it must be his father. Now might be a good time for some harmless questions. Quinn climbed down the ladder, debating which subject to ask about and nearly ran into Kurla.

  They both bounced back from each other and said “Oh” at the same time. Kurla giggled at the simultaneous exchange and Quinn grinned, feeling his face heat up.

  “I’m sorry,” she said as her face colored prettily. “I wasn’t watching where my feet were taking me.” She ducked her head and looked back at him through her lashes. Quinn felt a little bit taller and older so he thought perhaps he should behave so.

  “You’re really not supposed to be down here, Ms., um Kurla.”

  She looked around as if she hadn’t realized where she was. “Oh, I am sorry. When I get in these moods, I usually don’t pay enough attention to my surroundings. The High Priest often said it was my biggest failing.”

  Quinn stood away from the ladder and motioned for her to climb. She started up the ladder as he asked, “What mood is that?”

  At the top, she let him come alongside her and walked down the hall slowly.

  “I know I always wanted to travel, and I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I can’t get used to spaceships, especially one this small. I needed to stretch my legs.”

  “We have a treadmill in the third bedroom. You can get a lot of exercising on that.”

  She smiled at him and his breath caught in his throat. “Thanks, but that’s not quite what I mean. I grew up on a farm, lots of land to run around on and open skies overhead.” She held her hands up. “Don’t get me wrong, this is a very nice ship, but I guess I am feeling a little confined.”

  “I understand. I was feeling something similar which was why I was wandering too.”

  “What planet did you grow up on?”

  “Oh, um, well, I didn’t. I grew up on... um... on a ship.” Quinn was flustered and he wasn’t sure why.

  “Really? I don’t think I have ever met anyone who was raised on a ship.” They were in the lounge now and she turned to him, wide-eyed. “What was that like?”

  “I don’t know, good I guess.” How could he explain when he didn’t know what growing up on a planet was like?

  “I expect it would be lonely. I always liked going to school, hanging out with my friends. I still talk to them once in a while, see how they are doing.” She sighed. “I hope after the High Priest is returned that I can go visit. Would be nice to see my home again.”

  “I did go to schools on a few different planets,” he said, not mentioning the fact that he had gone only for missions, a week or two at the most. But their conversation was raising a lot of questions in his mind. Was his upbringing that different? He had never really thought about it. Living on the ship was simply how life was. He fell silent as they walked the corridor outside her cabin.

  Kurla lightly grasped his forearm as they kept walking. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “You didn’t.” He managed a smile but wondered himself if there was any real emotion in it.

  “And I didn’t mean to wander into the cargo bay.” Now she gave him a teasing grin, and he returned it.

  “That’s okay. At least it wasn’t the bridge. Speaking of which, I need to get back. I am on watch, after all.”

  “Oooh can I come? I haven’t seen the bridge yet.”

  Quinn was quite aware that she was still touching his arm and could hear a little voice inside reminding him of the family’s conversation earlier. But he also remembered that his father let Bondle on the bridge so he went with that memory.

  “Okay, but not for long and you have to stay by the stairs.”

  “Sure, thanks.” And her smile lit her eyes and warmed his heart.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lenore entered the bridge, noticing the frown lines on Diarmin’s face. He appeared to be concentrating but she knew that when he was working, the frown lines were limited to a couple of wrinkles between the eyebrows. These radiated down the sides and even around his mouth and she guessed he was probably clenching his teeth as well.

  “Got a minute?” she asked as softly as she could, but he still looked surprised.

  “Sure,” he said as she sat in the navigator’s seat and spun it to face him. “I wanted to talk to you too.”

  “About what?” she asked.

  “About Quinn.” Diarmin shifted in his seat. “Last night when I left him on the bridge for the first watch, he seemed fine but when I relieved him for second watch, he was very surly. Hardly said two words to me and I think one of those words was just a grunt.”

  “Maybe he was tired.”

  “No, I know him when he is tired, this was more than regular grumpiness. Do you know if there is anything wrong?” His fingers idly flicked at the control board.

  “He’s almost sixteen. Isn’t moodiness normal for teenagers?” Lenore was trying to hide her concern. As far as she could remember, this was the first time Diarmin had ever asked her about one of the kids. He had raised them and was usually the one to explain their behavior to her.

  “I guess, but I can’t be sure. You know neither one of us had a normal childhood or adolescence, so we have no frame of reference, no experience ourselves to draw on.” Diarmin shook his head. “I think there is more to it than simple mood swings.” He looked up from the board. “I just thought maybe you noticed something in the training. That maybe it was still his recent trauma making things difficult.”

  “No, he appears to be putting that behind him. Well, as much as he can.”

  “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

  Lenore blinked at the sudden change in topic but let it go. “How much did you overhear of the conversation with Daviss? And did the kids hear anything?”

  “When I recognized the voice, I told them to close down the line with you and just communicate with me. They protested at first, wanting to help, but I convinced them that this was an emergency and an open line would distract you. They heard nothing from the restaurant.” Now the frown lines were back. “I, however, heard everything. It was not a pleasant meal.”

  “No, it wasn’t, and you and I need to talk about the entire discussion at some point. However, one part stands out.” She took a slow breath, trying to figure the best way to say it but when she looked at her husband, she decided to just start talking. “Daviss knew all the details about our previous mission, and that meeting was well planned. It’s like he knew exactly where we have been for the past year.”

  “How?”

  “I’m not sure but my best guess is he has contacts in the slave organization watching us. Maybe others. The woman with him on the station said that a source told them we would be on Sultra.”

  “I do remember you asking Daviss what his connections to the slavers were. I thought you were reacting to what he said about Beryshie Corporation. Now it sounds like you already suspected it.”

  Lenore licked her lips before responding. “In the information I have been decoding, the stuff I don’t let Alli see, I have found a connection be
tween the Xa’ti’al and the slave organization. I don’t know if Daviss is directly involved with them, but it would be one explanation on how he knew so much of the previous mission.”

  Diarmin crossed his arms. “You have never mentioned that to me.”

  Lenore felt her emotions bubbling again and struggled to identify them so she could control them. Embarrassment? Doubt? She eyed Diarmin and saw him watching her just as closely. Nothing but honesty would do here, so she fought the emotions down.

  “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you.” He snorted and she knew she was beating around the bush. “Okay, not just that but I wanted solid evidence and for you to have deniability and… and, I think I am too used to keeping secrets.”

  He snorted again and this time she knew the emotion was anger.

  “Hey, you are keeping your fair share of secrets as well,” she said, trying hard not to cross her arms like Diarmin. “The bottom line is…I don’t think we can afford to keep secrets anymore. We need to be completely open and honest with each other and the kids.”

  “Between us, yes. But the kids…I don’t think so.” He tightened his crossed arms and looked down.

  “But—”

  “I don’t want them knowing what I was!” Diarmin’s eyes flashed as he glared at her. She didn’t react other than to stare back, trying to project calm. He needed to face his past so he could get beyond those violent feelings the memories were bringing out.

  “Look. If one little thing had gone wrong, I would now be in the hands of the Xa’ti’al and maybe you would too. Where would they be? How would they know what to do? They simply don’t know enough about our past and would probably try to rescue us, ending up caught themselves.”

  Diarmin was silent for several moments and Lenore let him work it through. She’d had plenty of time to think about all this.