Intrepid

57

The trip to the Wasp was made at one gee with plenty of zigging and zagging to throw off any of the station's lasers that might have been brought up and calibrated in the last few days.

None fired.

Kris wasn't out of the longboat before the Wasp was backing down the pier. The clanking of tie-downs coming off warned Kris not to let go of her handhold on the boat. Only after Captain Drago announced the ship under way at one gee did she risk trotting across the hangar bay's space.

Once Kris was on the bridge, Penny grabbed her for a hug. ''We were so worried.''

Abby was next. ''I wasn't. Everyone knows you can't get rid of a Longknife.'' But the hug was tight.

Jack looked like he'd love to hug her, too, but limited his greetings to ''Glad to have you back aboard.''

Even Professor mFumbo was there, only his welcome was more what Kris would have expected. ''Now can we do some real science?''

''Didn't we come here to get out their Jump Point Gamma?'' Kris asked Sulwan.

''That's the rumor I picked up, long ago and far away.''

''Well, Captain Drago, how long will it take us to set a course for Jump Point Gamma?''

''That course is locked in.''

''Then make it so, my good captain. I could use some nice boring scientific discoveries for a change.''

Only Kris's inner ear told her the ship was changing its course. Blinking that discomfort away, Kris wondered how many days she could go without anyone trying to kill her.

NELLY, START A COUNTER. LET'S SEE HOW LONG IT IS BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES A POTSHOT AT ME.

KRIS, I AM NOT SURE I CAN COUNT THAT LOW.