The labored breathing paused. "Yeah."

"Don't fight it. Don't act stupid. Do your best and work."

"They're crazy," Jason muttered.

"We can't beat them. We have to prove we're good enough."

He took a moment to answer. "I'm not good enough."

"Yes, you are! Jason, you can do this. Just keep trying."

"I can't."

"Yes. You. Can. I know you can." She was lying, actually filled with fear that Jason would collapse under the pressure, but learning from her father how to spot truth in others had also shown her how to lie in a very convincing way. It wasn't a skill she was proud of, but sometimes it came in handy. And in this case it might save Jason.

Jason took much longer to answer this time. "I'll try," he finally said.

Kira dreaded the dawn, but discovered to her relief that the ordeal of the day before had been part training and part hazing of a new recruit. Having endured and survived, she was still subject to rough treatment but wasn't run to exhaustion. Jason made an obvious attempt to act better, putting his best effort into his tasks, and after a short spasm of additional maltreatment was also permitted to work alongside the rest of the crew. They learned by doing, members of the crew usually showing them how to do something once and expecting them to pick it up immediately. Kira, who had sailed on ships before, gained a new appreciation for the work that went into the ship, from frequent trimming of sails to working the bilge pump. The height of the mast gradually grew familiar, so that she could climb all the way to the top without balking.

Kira had worked hard at times in her life, but never this hard.

Late on the second day, a passing sailor gave her backside a lingering pat. Kira's leg flashed out as the sailor walked away, planting the flat of her foot on his butt and knocking him down. The sailor came up with a snarl and rushed her, Kira ducking under his charge and then flipping him so that his back hit the deck with a wham. As the sailor got to his feet again, one hand reaching for the knife at his belt, the first mate intervened. "Enough of that. You know ship's rules, Ori. No pawing at anyone who doesn't want it. I'll remind you that this girl is underage besides, and no one better be giving cause for port police to come aboard this ship looking for those who messed with a kid."

Ori nodded. "Sorry."

"Shake on it and be done."

Kira and the sailor shook hands, he eyeing her with respect. "How'd you do that, girl? Dump me on the deck? Can you show me?"

"I can show you," Kira said.