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Understand?" Chane noddedsheepishly. "Good." Bogar looked back to
Lizina. "Eight hours leave, then getthem back here for another run.
We'll practice maneuvering until we make theLanatia haul." Lizina
reopened the comm and announced the schedule to her(officially Bogar's)
crew. Toeing off the intraship comm, she closed her eyesand sighed. At
the moment her carefully schemed plans seemed to contain asmany holes as
a sieve. She had never considered the work that would beinvolved. The
hard, minutely detailed work required to operate a spacer. Tomake a team
out of her, Chane and five equally inexperienced slaves. She shookher
head. Hoku and her fellow crewmates were no longer slaves. Lizina
hadpurchased them, given them freedom. She had offered them jobs
onboardWindrammer. All had accepted and willingly submerged themselves
in this newlife. What had appeared to be the perfect plan now seemed
hopeless. All it wassupposed to take was encepha- 103 loboosts. A few
simple injections to providethe knowledge needed to run and maintain a
spacer. All seven of them hadreceived the injections. Their brains now
contained the requiredknowledge. Knowledge and practical experience,
however, were two entirelyseparate entities. The crew and captain-to-be
of Windrammer were terriblylacking in the latter. By now Lizina wasn't
at all certain that Bogar couldprovide everything needed in a mere two
weeks. She opened her eyes. The conlay dead except for a few lights that
glowed steadily, informing her that thelife-support systems remained up,
and so did SIPACUM. No spacefarer shut downthose two survival systems.
They were the heart, lungs, and brain of aspaceship. Hopeless? No! It's
not hopeless! A week ago I didn't know whatSIPACUM was. Now I can tear
it apart and make minor repairs! She could. Andhad. As had every member
of the crew. Bogar had seen to that during then justcompleted run to
Samanna. She had also brought Windrammer (in one functioningpiece) home
from Samanna. Oh, true, Bogar had growled at her every parsec ofthe
journey. It was she who had completed the flight, though. Thesnarly-
crusty old spacefarer had never laid a finger on the controls. And
shehad learned. Learned double the knowledge imparted by the
injectedbrainboosts. So had her crew. If two weeks isn't enough, then I
find anothercaptain to teach us! She nodded with determination. She
would have her shipand crew. It just might take longer than she had
expected. "Lizina," Chanecalled from behind her. "Hoku and I are going
to the Hub Bar for lunch. Wantto join us?" Lizina swiveled around. Her
First Mate and compu-trician stood bythe door to the con-cabin. Chane's
arm 104 was about the young Terasak'swaist. Hoku didn't seem to mind.
"I'll pass. Got a meeting onplanet." Whichyou were supposed to attend
with me, she thought, but she left it unsaid.
Chane nodded. "See you when you get back, then." Hoku's arm slipped
about hiswaist as the two left Lizina alone within the con-cabin. She
stared after
them. A bittersweet smile touched the corners of her mouth. Youth wins
out
once again! Her smile widened to one of chagrin. Was it jealousy she
felt-orrelief? A touch of both, old lady! She laughed aloud. Her
reaction to Chane'sinterest in Hoku was predictable-and silly. She had
known the young man wouldeventually find another woman. If not the sexy
little Terasak, then someoneelse. Lizina already had someone else. Chane
and she had shared the same cabinduring the Samanna run, but she had
noticed his stolen gazes at Hoku, theirsmiles. Naturally Lizina had done
nothing to intercede. When Dorjan arrived(she refused to consider "if"
he arrived), things would be easier. Lizinaturned back to the con. She
opened intership comm to Panishport Control. Twominutes later she was
booked for a shuttle down in half an hour. It wasn't
much time. She'd make it. She had important matters to attend onplanet.
