Chapters (73)

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

She does it, though. She pushes her wi-com, gives the orders to the First Shippers, and then strides down the hall toward the Bridge.

Before I follow her, I have some coms of my own to make.

“Com link req: Bartie,” I say, pushing my wi-com.

A moment later, Bartie answers my com.

“You’re going to destroy us all,” I say.

“You opened the door.” Bartie’s voice is strained, as if he’s running—running from the mob he himself created. “I just pushed them through it.”

Chapter 50

AMY

I HEARD THE WI-COMS FIRST.

Then I saw the smoke.

Then I could hear, far in the distance—the sound of the ship in revolt.

Elder coms me and at first I’m relieved—at least I know he’s escaping the mob—but he sounds as if he’s running—fleeing—and the com cuts out before I can say anything.

I run straight to the Hospital, to the elevator, to the cryo level.

It is silent here, and cold.

Above me there is rage, and fire, and chaos.

But here: stillness and ice.

I pull my parents out at the same time, relishing in the feel of cold metal on my skin, the ch-thunk sound the cryo chambers make as they settle on their stands.

“Today,” I whisper, “I miss you.”

I know it’s stupid, I know it’s pointless, but there is still within me a tiny part of my mind that believes my parents can fix anything. Even a mutinous ship, even people who are tearing apart the only home they’ve known. Even me, caught in the eye of this storm.

Elder said the ship would be landing soon, a voice whispers to the piece of me that still cries for them.

When the ship lands, they’ll be woken up anyway. Why not wake them up now?

Why not?

Chapter 51

ELDER

THE FREX AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH A SHIP IN REVOLT? IF they’d just listen, we could be discussing preparations for planet-landing. Instead, the people seem intent on ripping the ship apart at the seams.

I storm into the irrigation room first.

“Drop the strongest rain program we have,” I order the Shipper on duty, Tearle.

“Elder,” Tearle protests. “That has the potential to cause minor flash floods on the streets.”

“Do it,” I order.

“How long should the rain be?” He sounds reluctant, but he moves over to the water controls regardless.

“I’ll tell you when to stop it.”

I go across the hall to the solar lamp operations. The solar lamp is automated, but the level of heat is regulated by one Shipper, a mousy woman who looks as if she’d be more comfortable on one of the farms. Her name is Larin.