Page 31 of Full Speed to a Crash Landing

External download: 78%

Stabilizers: Neutral

Air gauge: 64%

Jetpack: Standby

“Nope, they’re offline,” I say. “I think when I finally get back up, you need to tell Captain Ursula that I deserve quadruple portions of the meal today.”

“You can eat everything in the supplies that you want,” Rian laughs. “Plus, there’s a special meal for tonight.”

“Special? Hell, you should have started with that. Is there going to be cheese? Because I’d scale a cliff for cheese.”

“I’m not sure, actually. I just know we have some celebratory—”

“How can you not be sure aboutcheese?!”

Rian laughs, as if this were a laughing matter. “I promise it’ll be worth the effort.”

“I’m going to need that in writing.”

“You have my word.”

I sigh. Time to get moving again. Before I can talk my jelly legs into working, I use my sight-line tracker to estimate the distance I have left until I reach the top. At the rate I’m going, another hour or two at least.

I force my body up. “Do you think First will give me a massage when I get back on theHalifax?”

“Maybe. But there’s also a dry-heat pulser, if you want.”

I whistle. Damn, theHalifaxis a nice ship. “Remind me to scavenge that when you guys crash.”

Rian laughs. “Crashing’s not in the plans.”

“Okay, butifit does, I’m calling looter’s rights now.”

“Noted.”

There’s some crackly silence as I heft up, starting the climb up the wall again. I’m slower now, the strain of the day wearing on me.

I’m so close,I think.Not much longer . . .

“Tell me about your worst job.” Rian’s voice almost comes as a surprise, and it spurs me on to find another grab, pull my body up a little more, keep going.

“Worst job?” I snort. “You mean other than this?”

“Other than this.” He pauses. “Or something. I just thought it may help take your mind off...all of this.”

“Yeah, okay,” I say. “It’s an easy question, anyway.” I don’t answer as I climb a little farther up. I miss my ledge. It wasn’t the comfiest spot I’ve ever sat on, but I liked not moving for a while. Not-moving is a pastime of mine I’m particularly fond of.

“So, this was maybe two years ago,” I say. “Got word of a ghost ship. Easy pickings, out in the middle of nowhere. I think the people on board were trying to relocate or something; I don’t know.”

I said it was an easy question, but the answer isn’t easy. Rian lets silence stretch as I focus on the climb, my mind back on the ghost ship.

I don’t want to think about this. Ihatethis memory. But recounting it between climbs, filling my long breaks with words...it was Rian’s idea, but it’s a good one.

A distraction isexactlywhat I need right now.

My eyes sting, my vision blurs. Which sucks, because it’s not like I can take my helmet off and wipe my face. I let out a deep breath. I should have lied about the whole damn thing, made up a story, not let myself remember this.

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