Free Skye Object 3270a by Linda Nagata

No one else could have caught it from me, right?”
    Once again Ord bobbed its head. “Yes, if Liang and Aferra are correct.”
    â€œAnd there’s no one in Silk I could have caught it from.”
    â€œThis plague structure is not known here,” Ord confirmed.
    â€œSo I brought it with me from the great ship. That’s what you’re saying?”
    â€œUnknown, Skye. City library does not say.”
    â€œHow long before this plague becomes active?” she asked again.
    Everyone huddled together, awaiting Ord’s answer. “Liang and Aferra propose seven to ten days,” Ord said.
    Zia made a little moan deep in her throat. “Skye—”
    â€œI don’t think I’m hungry,” Skye said. Her voice had an ugly squeak to it. She started to get up, but she was trapped in the booth by Buyu.
    He stared at her, his eyes glistening with too much moisture. “This is crap, Skye,” he whispered. “It’s unprocessed garbage. Ord doesn’t know what it’s talking about. There’s nothing wrong with you.”
    Skye looked up, startled to see that the hostess of the Subtle Virus had returned to their table. Had she overheard anything? Surely not. Yet she frowned suspiciously at Buyu. “Ah . . . are you all ready for dinner yet?”
    â€œNo,” Devi said. His voice was curt. “Something’s come up. We won’t be having dinner tonight. Thank you. Thank you.” He scooted against Zia, bumping her out of the booth.
    â€œHey—!” she protested as she stumbled to her feet.
    â€œAre you quite certain?” the hostess asked. She looked seriously annoyed. Skye was glad to see it, sure now that she had not overhead any talk of plague. “The special tonight is grilled fungus with synchovy stuffing.”
    â€œAnother time,” Devi growled as he stood up behind Zia.
    Skye watched him anxiously, waiting for him to run away, to alert the monkey house. And why shouldn’t he? I would . Seven to ten days. She suddenly felt terribly small, and horribly alone.
    But Devi didn’t leave. He was standing by the table, glaring at her with a fierce expression. “Come on!” he commanded.
    â€œW-what?” she stammered. “Where?”
    â€œOut of here. Some place private. Where we can talk.”
    She blinked at him, not getting it. “You want to talk to me?”
    Devi rolled his eyes. “Skye? Please?”
    The hostess treated him to a disapproving frown. “If the lady would like to stay—”
    â€œNo,” Buyu said, scooting out from his seat. “She’s coming with us.” He turned, and very deliberately, he held out his hand to her. “Come on, Skye. You’re not as scary as you like to think.”

    Outside, the night sky gleamed faintly white with the light of the nebula. Only a handful of bold stars shone through it. Skye felt herself gliding dreamlike on the gleaming street. Sounds arrived muffled as if by distance and her skin felt numb. Inside though, deep in her core, her sense of self blazed hot and frightened and vitally alive.
    Seven to ten days. Worlds had changed in far less time than that.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be with me,” she said abruptly. She looked around. Devi was just ahead, rushing down the street like a madman, almost breaking into a run on the steeper sections, turning back every few steps to exhort her to “Hurry up!” Jem held onto his shoulder, an awestruck expression on his little fox face as if he had never traveled so quickly before. Zia held onto Skye’s elbow, almost as crazy for speed as Devi. Buyu followed a step behind.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be with me,” Skye repeated, stumbling to a stop in the middle of the street. “At the least, it will mean trouble from city authority when they find out what’s—”
    Zia gave her elbow a little shake. “Shut up. Devi’s got something in mind and