Tin Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

talk,” he said. “But no, I don’t do that very often.”
    I didn’t feel relieved.
    “You may experience some discomfort. Sorry about that; it’s hard to know how a species will react. I’ve never stung a Human before. I suppose we can be glad it didn’t kill you. Although then I’d have the plant for free. Now, what do you want for this plant?”
    “I want to go home,” I said.
    Heckleck laughed. Or at least he made a noise that I thought could have been a laugh.
    “The plant is not worth that,” Heckleck said. “Besides, it’s not like the old days anymore.”
    “I want to go home,” I said again. Not knowing even where that would be.
    “Don’t you pay attention to the announcements? There’s been a coup. The League of Worlds has been dismantled and now the Major Species have joined together in the Central Systems under the jurisdiction and protection of the Imperium.”
    “What’s the Imperium?” I asked.
    It must have been a trick of the light because I could have sworn that this alien insect creature looked wistful for a moment.
    “I just care about Earth,” I said.
    “Well that’s exactly why the Imperium has seized power; because enough species don’t care.”
    He looked at me and then at the plant. He began to rub his wings, which filled the docking bay with an eerie sound.
    “The plant. What’s it worth?” I asked.
    “If I return it to the constable, he’ll give me a favor.”
    That didn’t make the plant seem as though it was worth much at all.
    “I need help to get off the station,” I said. But even as I clung to that idea, I knew that there were not many ways off of the Yertina Feray, and fewer ways back to Earth, especially when they wouldn’t take me back.
    “I know about you,” Heckleck said. “Everyone does. And you will never get off this station. You are nobody. And worse, you’re a Human. Even if you did get on a ship that would take one of your kind, you’d have nowhere to go but to roam like the others of your kind do. And it would cost you more currency chits than you’d likely make in a hundred years.”
    “There are other colonies that the Children of Earth have built. I’ll go to one of those.”
    But I was not certain that I would be welcomed. The Children of Earth kept to themselves and Brother Blue had shown me that I was not one of them anymore.
    “Didn’t you hear me? Perhaps your nanites are not yet working. Humans roam and wander. They are not settlers. They are a burden to everyone.”
    “We Humans are just starting to settle the stars,” I said. “But we’re out there.”
    I pointed to the window, to indicate the stars and space.
    Quint was still visible, and it had rotated and I could now see a mountain range. I leaned toward it, as though I were a part of it; as though that planet would claim me, even though no one was down there. As I did, the plant fell to its side and some of the soil spilled onto the floor. I began to scoop what I could and put it back into the pot. It felt good to have dirt on my hands.
    “Listen to me carefully,” he said. “You are taking up water and food that the Yertina Feray is already sadly low on. With you dead it will mean more for those with nowhere to go. More scraps for those who have been thrown away.”
    “Then do that why don’t you?” I said. “Sit there and watch me die.”
    He looked as though he were going to move across the cargo bay and do just that. Instead he settled his body down on the floor next to me.
    “Do you know how many species survive in your situation on this station? Almost none. They come in on a ship, in trouble or troubled. They come out here to find work that doesn’t exist, or to disappear to the Outer Rim thinking they’ll find something better, or a new world to settle. But there aren’t that many viable planets to settle. No currency to get there if they do find somewhere. No allies. No friends. No help. Nothing. Do you know how many aliens like you I have watched