Not only had she learned the lessons taught by Freelander and her old friend Miguel Galluzzi aboard the Ashanti, but never in her life had she transported people like her current high-ranking family members. These people scared her right down to the marrow. She would have rather shared the company of quetzals, bems, spiders, scorpions, and sidewinders.

And then there was the Board Appointed Inspector General Soukup and his mysterious Four: three men and one woman who accompanied him everywhere.

“God help you, Kalico,” she whispered under her breath. “You’re going to need it.”

Then aloud, she said, “Captain, since you’re in radio communication, could you get a message to Board Supervisor Aguila?”

“Yes, ma’am. She’s not more than an eighteen-minute delay by radio. What message would you like delivered?”

“Tell her Margo Abibi sends her compliments. We need to talk.”

Chapter 5

  5  

The simple slab of engraved duraplast read: HERE LIES LIZ BARANSKI, KILLED BY WHITEY. It wasn’t much of a marker or much of a grave. Just big enough to hold the box that enclosed Liz’s skull. Talina watched as old Fred Han Chow shoveled the rich red dirt back into the half-meter-deep hole.

Shig Mosadek stood to the side, arms crossed on his narrow chest; his worn quetzal cape draped from his shoulders, protection against the misty rain that fell from the thick overcast. Shig’s thatch of unruly hair—black sided by gray—now sported beads of water. Round and brown, his Indian face had a serene look that not even his mashed mushroom of a nose could disrupt.

Talina let her gaze rove over the familiar headstones, the occasional fake floral display, and the larger and more ornate stone monument to Donovan himself. He’d been the first human buried atop this small hill back when Tempest—the initial survey ship to reach Donovan—had landed here to sample the clay deposits. Donovan had stepped out to take a leak and was grabbed by a quetzal. After his crewmates had killed the beast and pried what was left of Donovan out of the predator’s gullet, they’d buried his remains here on the heights.

Upon the founding of Port Authority, it only made sense to put the cemetery here. Give old Donovan some company. Somewhat depressed, Talina took in the graves; she was surprised by the number of them she’d stood over as they were filled. Yonder was Mitch, the first man she’d ever really loved. And next to him lay Cap. And over there, Trish. Just across the way was Felicity’s grave. Down at the bottom there, they’d interred the remains of Deb Spiro after Tal had shot her. Tens of others were friends, acquaintances, people she’d known. Some, like Paolo and Pak, that she’d murdered. Demon stirred at the thought. The piece of shit always enjoyed it when she experienced a pang of guilt and regret.