“I take it you had conducted a risk assessment of the local fauna?”

He knew I hadn’t. The Trouble Dog would have told him, been forced to when she submitted a report.

“No, sir.”

With finger and thumb, Odom smoothed the ends of his moustache. Like most of us, he had once served in the military, but now, instead of a uniform, he wore a charcoal-grey business suit and a high-collared white shirt.

“I see.” He picked his cup from its saucer and inhaled the steam.

“The Hobo was taking on water,” I told him. “By the time we got there, she had been wallowing for three days. We only had a few minutes’ grace before she sank for good.”

Odom sipped his tea. “So,” he said, “you knowingly placed your crew and yourself in harm’s way?”

“I took a calculated risk.”

He sat back in his chair and drummed his fingers. “No, Captain.” With his fingertips, he pushed his cup and saucer aside. “You lacked the data to make a calculated risk. The decision you made was stupid and uncalculated, and it resulted in the death of one of your crew.”

“I’m—” My voice faltered. “I’m sorry, sir.”

I braced myself for a tirade, but instead he made a visible effort to control his temper. Fingers to his temples, eyes closed, he sighed, “What is our motto? The motto your own great-great-grandmother coined for us?”

“Life Above All.”

“Above all, Captain. Above all.” He settled back in his chair. “There will be a full inquiry,” he said. “By rights, I should ground you until then, but…”

“The Geest van Amsterdam?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Do we know anything more?”

“Only what was contained in her original signal: that she was under attack in the Gallery.”

“No ID on the assailants?”

“Nothing.”

I brushed a speck of fluff from the knee of my fatigues. “I’ll need a new medic.” We were already operating with the barest skeleton of a crew.

“When do you leave?” Odom’s fingernail sketched a rectangle on the desk and a screen appeared.

“In four hours, as soon as we’re refuelled.”

He peered down at the screen’s blue glow and impatiently tapped a couple of icons. “I’ll have one with you in three.”

“Thank you, Ambassador.” I rose to my feet. “Will there be anything else?”

“Not for now.” When he spoke, his voice was gruff. “Just come back with your crew and your ship in one piece.”

He didn’t need to tell me that when I did, he’d throw the book at me.

Seven: Ashton Childe

SEVEN

ASHTON CHILDE