Free Island in a Sea of Stars by Kevin J. Anderson Page A

couldn’t guess. He mildly said, “Look, your mother brought you lunch. She’ll take care of you.” He glanced at the clock as if it marked the hour of his execution. “I need to go. The clan gathering is scheduled soon, and I don’t want to be late for the voting.”
    *   *   *
    Lee Iswander entered the speaking chamber, arriving exactly on time, on purpose. He didn’t want to have to stand there as a specimen any longer than was absolutely necessary. Low conversation hummed from the filled seats, and he heard a distinct change in tone as he showed himself. No, he would not get a sympathy vote.
    He wore his best business suit and a veneer of all the pride he could manage, but it did not run deep. He reminded himself that he was one of the greatest Roamer industrialists in recent history, but he felt very small. 1,543 .
    Because he and Sam Ricks were the two candidates for Speaker, by tradition they would stand at the heart of the assembly area while the audience voted. It made Iswander feel naked to have so many eyes turned toward him, but it gave him a well-defined place to be, rather than sitting among the clan representatives. He wouldn’t have to risk an awkward moment when others got up and changed seats rather than be near him.
    I will get through this. He made a point of recalling his earlier accomplishments that any Roamer would applaud. But those were eclipsed by one incident. He silently wished Elisa Reeves were there at his side, but she was gone too.
    I will get through this.
    His rival, Sam Ricks, chatted with several companions, walking along the lowest row of seats, waving to clan members. He seemed energetic and confident, much more alive than he’d been in their prior debate. And why not? Iswander felt a distinct chill in the room, and it was directed toward him.
    Speaker Isha Seward took her place at the elevated podium and decided it was time to get down to business, regardless of what the clock said. “We’re all here. Let’s wrap up this election so I can retire.” At any other time attendees would have chuckled, but now there was too much tension in the air. “The candidates have agreed not to make any final statements. Or have you changed your mind, Mr. Iswander?”
    She glanced at him. He had thought long and hard on it, but gave a quick shake of his head.
    For the sake of formality, she called upon Sam Ricks to cast the first vote, for himself, of course. Then she turned to Iswander, who cast his vote, and the chamber was filled with an immensity of silence before Speaker Seward called upon all the other clan heads.
    His was the only vote he received.
    Iswander stood listening to one member after another say the name of Sam Ricks, most of them with little enthusiasm. He endured. In his heavy chest, though, this disgrace felt as spectacular as the disaster on Sheol.

14
    ELISA REEVES
    When her damaged ship finally limped back to Sheol, Elisa found that her entire world had collapsed—for the second time in as many weeks.
    She had spent four days alone in space at the site of the exploded bloaters, working on her ship, rerouting the damaged systems to bypass any that were not absolutely vital. And she did it herself.
    Garrison had always been arrogantly proud of Roamer ingenuity; he bragged about how his people could take the most unlikely hodgepodge of components and make them work like magic.
    Lee Iswander was also a Roamer, but instead of relying on his pilots being able to make duct-tape-and-twine repairs, Iswander Industries simply provided adequate spare parts in each ship, in case anything should fail. Elisa had swapped out life-support modules, navigation circuits, and damaged engine controls. Eventually, her ship was ready to fly again.…
    During the flight, she pondered and rehearsed exactly how she was going to report what had happened. Her mission had not turned out the way she’d expected, but at