The Far Shore by Glenn Damato

Author:Glenn Damato [Damato, Glenn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780985816230
Publisher: Ninth Circle Press
Published: 2019-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

We do it together, Vijay and me. The rest of them shake their heads in bewilderment as I pull them into the control center. We contact the other spacecraft and set the vids so they can see both of us.

“We have a proposal,” Vijay informs everyone solemnly.

I center my face on the screen. “Vijay has discussed some ideas with me that I think everyone should hear and consider.”

Tess rolls her eyes. “Don’t wet the bed.”

Am I supposed to take the bait? Instead I get to the heart of it directly. “We propose to create a simple government framework to organize our efforts and our rights.”

They don’t utter a word, but they’re watching. Every one of them.

Vijay says, “Cristina and I believe we should have a written foundation for decision-making, a charter.”

“One elected leader with specified powers.” I look to Vijay; am I saying this right? “And a governing assembly, and a formal record of our rights and responsibilities.”

Jürgen overrides the vid. “I agree with all that. I’ve scheduled a meeting for that purpose, tentatively set twenty-eight days after landing.”

I jab the button. “What gives you the power to make that decision? You’re the flight director of your spacecraft, nothing more. These are decisions we should all make. Let’s vote on this now, today, all of us together.”

Jürgen opens his mouth but an Asian girl on Independence cuts him off. “Did you say rights?”

“I did!”

“As in, the right to criticize whoever I want?”

I glance at Vijay. He’s grinning. “Yes!”

“This is Lane Jong. I think we should do that, the sooner the better. I’ll tell you this now. I have the right to say what I want. I have the right to be heard. Are we going to do that?”

Ryder smiles. He even stops eating.

I answer her, “The right to criticize. That’ll be our first guaranteed right.”

My ears explode under the racket of everyone trying to talk at the same time.

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