Europa: A Thousand Years of Oil by Joe Jeney

Author:Joe Jeney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Light River Books
Published: 2015-09-04T00:00:00+00:00

WHEN HE ARRIVED AT the agitator, Caldicott heard what he thought was Maximiliano Champollion speaking from Matt’s tablet. The doctor held it to Beyer’s eyes. Meanwhile, Beyer groaned and struggled to move, which was more than Caldicott had seen him do since they left Earth.

Beyer groaned, “Spy.”

Caldicott thought he raised a flailing arm toward Matt’s tablet.

Garry snatched the tablet from Doctor Xiao Wei. He looked at the screen, stopped the video, and handed Caldicott the tablet with the stilled image.

As Caldicott had guessed, the tablet showed Champollion, grinning, eyes bright with mischievousness.

Garry said, “I’ll report your lapse in judgment to Base. Mr. Caldicott, you placed our senior officer in the prisoner’s hands. God only knows how much she slowed his recovery. Did you plan this? What bothers me most is that a sick man saw what you can’t see: the prisoners are spies.”

“Lies, lies!” Xiao Wei shouted in tears. She shook. “We are not enemies, we are not spies. You condemn us wrongly.”

“Ms. Winder,” Garry directed, “confine the enemy. If she resists, you are armed.”

Shannon Winder’s eyes were black with sleeplessness. She nodded obediently, turned to Xiao Wei, and put the gun on her, limply.

“Why?” Caldicott asked Garry.

Garry used his pistol to point at the pilot because the pistol was in his hand. “Enough, Mr. Caldicott.” He directed Shannon Winder, who had not moved, “Remove the enemy to the stockade and shoot if she resists.” He returned to Caldicott, “I recall someone telling me that this ship pilots itself.” Garry interrupted himself to supervise Shannon Winder’s progress again. She had not moved. He said, “Ms. Winder, execute my order. I insist!”

“Give it a rest, Garry,” Caldicott said.

“Now, woman!” Garry said to Shannon Winder.

Shannon Winder headed to the gym, the stockade, motioning Xiao Wei, who sobbed.

Garry turned to Caldicott, continuing where he had left off. “Mr. Caldicott, given your lapse in judgment, I confine you to your quarters until further notice. This ship can be - and will be - piloted without you.”

“We’ll see how long that lasts,” Caldicott said. He shook his head in disbelief and retreated to his quarters.

In any event, he needed time to think through things.

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