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they’d coast over Kronos’ north pole and see the whole ring
system. While the tourists pressed their noses to the window she intended to go
get a nap. Keeping them entertained had been more work than she expected even
with Billy organizing the free-fall soccer and other games. For now the
groundhogs still slept in their tents. She hoped Malachi would let them keep
those tents–space rated ones were valuable in the Disconnect. Overkill for this
job but the captain had squeezed Jones for every key he could get.
    She walked over to the one
family-size tent. After the first morning she’d decided to let the teenagers
have first turn at the facilities while the others slept. The chaperone stuck
his head out of his tent as she approached. “Wake up call,” Bing reassured him.
He nodded but kept watching her. The girls woke more cheerfully today. Bobbie
was as eager as she must have been for Christmas mornings.
    Once the girls were mostly
through their routines Bing crossed the hold to wake the next. Mr. Mussa had
fallen asleep holding his dumb-reader again. The accountant had been more or
less adopted by the university group as another student. “Good morning, everyone!
We’ll be arriving at Kronos within the hour. Billy is cooking breakfast so get
ready fast.” Mussa got up. The rest stirred and grumbled. Astronomy departments
didn’t attract morning people.
    The captain came down the
forward ladder. Billy passed him baskets of food and dishes. Soon the tourists
were all eating, cabin fever dispelled by bacon and eggs. “That worked well,”
the captain said to Bing.
    “Thanks. Nothing like saving
the best meal for when they’re crankiest.”
    Mitchie’s voice came over the
PA. “All hands, end acceleration in five minutes. Secure for free falling.” The
officers pitched in to help Billy gather up the dishes. The passengers belted
themselves into their usual seats.
    “All hands, free falling in
ten seconds. Five seconds. End acceleration. Stand by for maneuver.” The window
had been facing away from Kronos on the last boost. Now Mitchie flipped the
ship. The window filled with the shining rings. Gasps came from the tourists. Even
the crew were transfixed by the sight. “All hands, secure for free falling.”
    Chatter started up again. Professor
Tsugawa hung over his students’ shoulders as they collected data. Billy joined
the officers in the back. “They look happy,” he said.
    “Mostly,” said Bing as she
stifled a yawn.
    “Why don’t you go get that
nap,” said the captain. “I can keep an eye on them for this shift.”
    “Okay. Make sure you keep an
eye on ‘Uncle John.’ There’s something wrong about him.”
    “Oh, not this again,” groaned
Billy. “He’s fine. Hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s been the least trouble of
any of them.”
    “He’s not her uncle. He
doesn’t look a thing like her.”
    “So he’s an in-law. This is
exactly the kind of thing you’d stick an unemployed son-in-law with.”
    “Keep it down,” muttered the
captain.
    “He doesn’t act unemployed,”
said Bing. “Too alert. Look at him now. He’s not staring at the rings. He’s
looking all around.”
    “Including at us. So don’t
stare at him.” Schwartzenberger shifted to put his back to the tourists.
    Billy turned away as well. “I
think you’re just being paranoid. The guy hasn’t been any trouble at all.”
    WHANG WHANG WHANG WHANG
WHANG. Everyone started as the hull rang with impacts. “A bit of space junk,
folks,” announced Captain Schwartzenberger. “Happens all the time. That’s why
the hull’s so thick. Nothing to worry about.” He kept an ear cocked for the
whistle of escaping air–nothing. He was still uneasy. The impacts had been
regularly spaced, not the usual random distribution. He wasn’t sure where
they’d been hit but it felt like the impacts were on the lee side. His comm
chirped. “Yes?” Bing and Billy leaned in to hear.
    Mitchie reported, “Sir, I’ve
got a