Free Starhawk by Jack McDevitt Page B

voice.
“Hope everything is going okay at your end. We’ve been worried. Appreciate everything you guys have been doing.”
    â€œThat’s Frank Irasco,” said Jake. Irasco was the assistant director for WSA at Union.
    â€œWe were glad you were in the area,”
Irasco continued.
“Keep us informed.”
    That was it. Jake sat down beside her but said nothing. The air being dispersed by the vents had already begun to feel breathable again. Priscilla switched on the mike. “Girls,” she said, “the flight to the home system will take three days and about six hours. Then it’ll be probably another couple of days to get back to Earth. We’ll be moving out in five minutes, so you should take care of any last-minute business and get belted down.” She switched off and turned to Jake. “I’ve never been more happy in my life to get away from a place.”
    Â * * * 
    THE SOMBER REACTION that had taken hold of the girls when they learned of Captain Miller’s death subsided. They played games, watched holos, laughed about boys. They especially enjoyed the space-adventure series
Deep Skies
. They had an Arabic version. Priscilla watched an episode with them, and was fascinated by the visuals and the show’s distinctive score, suggestive of intergalactic space and cosmic mystery. She tried it in English, got hooked, and became a fan on the way home. She was especially taken with Ryan Fletcher, who played the daredevil skipper of the
Excelsior
, Captain William L. Brandywine.
    Ishraq often joined her on the bridge. “I’d love to do this when I grow up,” she said.
    â€œKeep going the way you are, Ishraq, and I suspect you’ll be able to do anything you please.”
    â€œIt’s very nice of you to say that.”
    â€œYou’ve already done pretty well. You’ve won a science prize. You’ve been off-world.”
    â€œThat’s not exactly the same as operating an interstellar.” She squeezed her hands together. “I’m just not sure—”
    â€œYou can do it. All you have to do is make it happen.”
    â€œYou really think so?”
    â€œOf course.”
    The hatch opened behind them. Ishraq turned to see who had come in. It was Jake. Escorted by Tawny. “Hello, Captain Loomis,” she said.
    â€œHello, Ishraq. You keeping Priscilla out of trouble?”
    She smiled. “Oh, yes.” Then back to Priscilla: “You know the ship I’d really like to have?”
    â€œNo. What?”
    â€œThe
Excelsior
.” She got out of the chair to make room for Jake.
    â€œFrom
Deep Skies
?” Jake said.
    â€œYou watch it, too?” Her eyes shone.
    â€œI’ve always been a big fan.” That was hard to buy.
    Ishraq turned back to Priscilla. “May I ask a favor?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œIn a few years, when I start training, would you be willing to teach me?”
    â€œOf course. I’d love to. By the way, that’s what Captain Loomis has been doing for me.”
    Ishraq gave Jake a shy smile but continued speaking to Priscilla: “I think you’re very lucky.”
    â€œI’m the one who got lucky,” said Jake.
    Ishraq’s smile widened. “Yes,” she said. “She is very pretty.”
    Â * * * 
    PRISCILLA HAD NOT known Jake before the qualification flight. But when you spend three weeks alone with someone, especially when the nearest other human being is light-years away, you get to know him pretty well. Jake had been easygoing, patient, amiable, a guy who did not take himself seriously, and who seemed able to adjust readily to setbacks. But the experience with the
Gremlin
had changed him.
    It wasn’t that he’d become angry, or that he spent a lot of time staring at bulkheads. He didn’t retire to his cabin and remain there. In fact, he spent as much time on the bridge and in the passenger cabin as he ever