Island in a Sea of Stars Read Free

Lee Iswander’s advancement as Speaker would also open up many opportunities for her. He would have to delegate the Sheol operations, put her in charge. “Having watched Roamer politics from the outside, I’d say anything would be better than Isha Seward, sir.”
    He gave her a wry frown. “That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement. She was just a compromise candidate chosen because she was lackluster and didn’t offend anyone. Now it’s time for vision, and I’ve certainly proved myself.” He chuckled. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be giving you my speech.”
    â€œIt’s practice, sir—the election’s in a few weeks,” Elisa said. She struggled with her own pain, her admission of failure, as well as the guilt of knowing that this unexpected matter would take her away from her work.
    Before she could make her request, though, Alec Pannebaker broke in on the comm. “The plume’s about to burst, Chief. Right on schedule, right on target. I’m getting images that’ll take your breath away!”
    Elisa felt brief tremors in the deck of Tower One. Sheol was in a constant restless slumber on an unquiet seismic bed.
    Out on the lava lake near Pannebaker’s small, shielded craft, a large bubble appeared that became a spurting geyser of lava. It sprayed high, then rained down in a rooster tail that splashed back into the magma. Pannebaker whistled as he withdrew his shielded boat. “Those will make great PR images!”
    Iswander sounded skeptical. “‘Come to Sheol and see the sights’?”
    â€œNo, Chief—I was thinking more of how it shows you’re a visionary with the foresight and the balls to establish a viable industry where other Roamers feared to tread. No one can argue with your profit reports.”
    â€œIt might be good for your Speaker campaign, sir,” Elisa said after the deputy signed off. “But you should delete the part about the balls.”
    As Iswander returned to his desk, Elisa stood straight-backed, anxious. Surely, he could see her agitation! But she had never brought problems to him before. Finally, she said without preamble, “Garrison’s gone. He stole one of your ships.”
    Iswander sat back. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œHe left between six and ten hours ago. He kidnapped our son and flew off.”
    â€œI can’t believe your husband would do that. He seemed like such a…”
    â€œPassive man?” Elisa said. “Yes, he fooled me too.”
    â€œI was going to say ‘good father.’ Is he still insisting that we’re operating too close to safety margins? It’s nonsense. We’ve been here for years without any mishap.”
    â€œHe thinks the seismic makeup of Sheol is changing, and the old calculations are no longer valid.”
    Iswander was disturbed. “He riled up the other workers. If they find out he’s left, they’re going to demand answers.”
    â€œI knew he was plotting something.” Elisa focused more on her specific problem than on the overall question and its impact on Iswander Industries—which demonstrated just how rattled she was. “I could tell by his mannerisms. Garrison couldn’t keep a secret to save his life.”
    â€œDo you have any idea where he’s gone? For a man to steal a child away from his mother is … not a good thing, not a good thing at all.”
    â€œI’m glad I was suspicious. He checked the Iswander ships, saw which ones were fueled and supplied. Garrison thought he was being discreet, but I rigged tracers on all our ships. No matter where he goes, each time he stops and changes course, it’ll drop off a tiny signal buoy and squirt a message with his new coordinates.” She hesitated, fought with the dryness in her throat. “I can track him, sir, but I’ll need to leave right away. He’s got a head start.”
    Iswander