A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge Read Free Book Online Page B

weapons.
    Ezr's attention came back to the meeting table. Who besides Kira Lisolet favored a sneak attack? Ezr had spent much of his childhood studying the Strategies, but the great treacheries were things he'd always been taught were the domain of insanity and evil, not something a self-repecting Qeng Ho need ever or should ever undertake. To see a Trading Committee considering murder, that was a sight that would...stay with him awhile.
    The silence grew unnaturally long. Were they waiting for him to say something? Finally Captain Park said, "You've probably guessed we have an impasse here, Apprentice Vinh. You have no vote, no experience, and no detailed knowledge of the situation. Without meaning to offendyou, I must say that I am embarrassed to have you at this meeting at all. But you are the only crewmember owner for two of our ships. If you have any advice to give with regard to our options, we would be...happy...to hear it."
    Apprentice Ezr Vinh might be a small playing piece, but he was the center of attention just now, and what did he have to say for himself? A million questions swirled up in his mind. At school they had practiced quick decisions, but even there he had been given more backgrounding than this. Of course, these people weren't much interested in real analysis from him. The thought nettled, almost broke him out of his frozen panic. "F-four possibilities, Fleet Captain? Are there a-any lesser ones that didn't make it to this briefing?"
    "None that had any support from myself or the Committee."
    "Um. You have spoken with the Emergents more than anyone. What do you think of their leader, this Tomas Nau?" It was just the sort of question he and Trixia had wondered about. Ezr never imagined that he would be asking the Fleet Captain himself.
    Park's lips tightened, and for an instant Ezr thought he would blow up. Then he nodded. "He's bright. His technical background appears weak compared to a Qeng Ho Fleet Captain's. He's a deep student of the Strategies, though not necessarily the same ones we know....The rest is guess and intuition, though I think most Committee members agree: I would not trust Tomas Nau with any mercantile agreement. I think he would commit a great treachery if it would make him even a small profit. He is very smooth, a consummate liar who puts not the faintest value on return business." All in all, that was about the most damning statement a Qeng Ho could make about another living being. Ezr suddenly guessed that Captain Park must be one of the supporters of sneak attack. He looked at Sum Dotran and then back to Park. The two he would trust the most were off the end of the map, in opposite directions!Lord, don't you people know I'mjust an apprentice!
    Ezr stepped on the internal whine. He hesitated for seconds, truly thinking on the issue. Then, "Given your assessment, sir, I certainly oppose the first possibility, joint operations. But...I also oppose the idea of a sneak attack since—"
    "Excellent decision, my boy," interrupted Sum Dotran.
    "—since that is something we Qeng Ho have little practice in, no matter how much we've studied it."
    That left two possibilities: cut and run—or stay, cooperate minimally with the Emergents, and tip off the Spiders at the first opportunity. Even if objectively justified, retreat would mark their expedition an abject failure. Considering their fuel state, it would also be extraordinarily slow.
    Just over a million kilometers away was the greatest mystery-possible-treasure known to this part of Human Space. They had come across fifty light-years to get this tantalizingly close. Great risks, great treasure. "Sir, it would be giving up too much to leave now. But we must all be like armsmen now, until things are clearly safe." After all, the Qeng Ho had its own warrior legends: Pham Nuwen had won his share of battles. "I-I recommend that we stay."
    Silence. Ezr thought he saw relief on most faces. Deputy Fleet Captain Lisolet just looked grim. Sum