Free Rising Tide by Rajan Khanna Page A

from the rear of the gondola with a good view of the ship’s surroundings through the windows that ring it. It’s mostly gray metal, with a few reinforced panels bolted onto it. Chang sits in front of the controls closer to the front of the gondola. Some kind of personal object—a bit of netting with some crystals or jewelry attached to it—hangs from the right arm of his seat. I think about asking him what it is but then don’t. I’d probably get another “fuck you” or “fuck off” or “die, you fuck.”
    â€œDid Mal tell you all to hate my guts?” I ask.
    â€œNo,” Whistler said, “we did that all on our own.”
    I don’t get as much lip from Chase and Orkney, the other two members of the crew, but that’s mostly because they’re off manning the large guns, one on each side of the Raven ’s shell.
    I had entertained brief thoughts of overpowering the crew. Taking control of the ship and forming a plan to rescue Miranda, but I would only chance it if I knew I could succeed. And even though there are only two people here with me, one of whom is flying the Raven , I still can’t chance it. Miranda’s life is at stake.
    So I wait.
    â€œYou said it’s a library,” Whistler says.
    â€œYes,” I say. “That’s a place where they used to keep books.”
    The stare that Whistler gives me deserves its own caliber.
    â€œSo this woman has access to all of these books.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen why do people need her at all? Why not take the library and the books as well?”
    I sigh. “It’s not about the books. Even if you can read, do you know where to find what you’re looking for? Do you want to read through book after book to find it?”
    Whistler’s face contorts into a sour expression.
    â€œThat’s what Lord Tess offers. She will get you the information. Sometimes by checking a book. Sometimes by trading information someone traded her. I think she even has some working computers in the place. But what she offers isn’t the books. It’s the service.”
    â€œAnd you’re sure she can get us those pumps?”
    â€œYes,” I lie. I don’t know for certain. This might be something Tess can’t do, but I’ve risked it all on this one shot. And unlike Mal and me, or Mal and Tess, Tess and I have good history. I think she’ll do what she can to help.
    â€œYou better hope you’re right,” Whistler says. Chang nods, silently.
    I’ve been thinking the same thing.
    â€œSo . . . Hawaii,” I say.
    Whistler glares at me in response.
    â€œYou going to become, what, farmers? Live off the land?”
    No response.
    â€œSorry, but you guys don’t seem like the type.”
    â€œMal said he wasn’t very smart,” Whistler says. I get the feeling it’s directed at Chang.
    â€œSorry,” I say. “But we’re zeps. Are you really going to be happy down on the ground like a plod? Giving up the sky?”
    Whistler turns to face me. “The sky ain’t what it used to be.” One hand clenches into a fist. “Do you know what the lifespan is for the average zep? All of us are past it. Living on borrowed time. Flying from one dangerous situation to another. Risking our lives again and again. What Malik has given us is a better chance. A chance to find our own place. In a paradise with good weather and the chance to grow our own food and maybe die of old age instead of in a firefight, or getting clipped by a Feral or because the ship loses an engine.”
    I can only swallow in response.
    â€œI’m not naive enough to think that it’s going to be easy,” Whistler says. “But I am willing to give it a chance. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    That shuts me up for a while.

    The San Francisco Public Library is a pretty boxy building. I’m sure it looked nice back in the Clean, but