Free Planetfall by Emma Newman Page A

important. “You let me help you choose who comes on board. I’ll make sure that none of the crazies get anywhere near this.”
    Suh didn’t even hesitate. “Agreed. And remember: no religious talk. We focus on the science and downplay anything else I might have said when I wasn’t being careful.”
    â€œSo you don’t think you’re building a ship to find God anymore?”
    â€œI didn’t say that,” she replied, glancing at me. “I just don’t want that to be the only thing people are thinking about when they’re considering joining the project.”
    We argued that night. I couldn’t understand why she trustedMack and she couldn’t understand why I was so upset. I couldn’t articulate the reasons back then because I couldn’t admit my feelings about her. She got her way, of course. And her instincts were correct about him, though it took me several years longer to admit that.
    He did an excellent job of screening candidates, but there was always a risk of zealotry in some of the people accepted onto the ship. Carmen’s profile certainly showed leanings toward it, but we engineered our way of life to try to keep it in check. I wonder if this is the beginning of destabilization, the start of the allergic response to the new social pathogen.
    No, I shouldn’t think of Sung-Soo like that.
    â€œI think that interpreting events as signs from God is a slippery slope,” I begin but she cuts me off before I can finish.
    â€œBut that’s what the Pathfinder did! You followed her—we all did. How can you do that and live at the foot of God’s city and reject this sign?”
    â€œDon’t you remember what happened the last time people said stuff like that?” It’s a low blow, but I want her to think about what she’s doing.
    â€œOf course I do. But this is completely different.”
    I stand up. I can see there’s no reasoning with her and that she’s built up enough steam in her own head to start something off. Mack needs to know and I can’t warn him while I’m here. “I should fix that casing.”
    â€œRenata.” She stands too, taking care to calm her voice after a glance at the child starting to fidget herself awake. “Please at least think about this. I’m not the only one who sees it this way.”
    â€œWhat about Marco? He’s been preparing himself for the last six months. Do you think it’s okay to tell him it’s all for nothing?”
    Marco was living apart from us, a mile away on the otherside of God’s city, cut off from the cloud and our network, with only a medical app monitoring his health, programmed to alert the doctors if there is anything outside of normal parameters. He is living as pure a life as he can, as agreed upon in the year after the first message seed was “found.”
    â€œHe would understand.”
    â€œI don’t think he would, nor his group, nor the people who thought he was the best candidate. Look, Carmen, none of this is up to me. I’m sure the council will consider this.” I put some space between us by going over to the printer.
    â€œOh, they will. I’ve already notified my group leader and there’s a stream debating it right now.”
    Shit. This isn’t going to go away. “Can you give me temporary privileges?” I point at the printer and in seconds I receive a ping to that effect. It’s only a hairline crack in the plasglass and takes less than five minutes to fix. She watches me the whole time, occasionally taking a breath to say something but then deciding not to. The baby settles again and I head toward the door.
    â€œWill you at least consider her grandson as a candidate?” she asks and I stop.
    â€œNext year,” I reply. “But not before the next ceremony.”
    â€œIf God wanted him to have the seed next year, he wouldn’t have guided him to us in