Fool's Gold (The Wandering Engineer) by Chris Hechtl Read Free Book Online Page A

out of the
way of the doors as they ground closed.
    “I
wish we could fix that,” he muttered. “Lazy people in engineering,” he sighed.
“No, I heard the Admiral made more cuts since they're down to one reactor,” the
woman whispered. The Admiral picked it up. “The reactor is down to twenty
percent and falling. We need to get off this station before it dies,” she
whispered urgently.
    The
man waved her to silence then looked over to the Valdez family then the
Admiral. “Are you folks getting off the station?” he asked.
    The
Admiral shook his head. “I doubt it, I just got here. I'm here to help.” He
indicated the Valdez family. “If we can get their tug back online then they can
get more fuel for the reactors.” Junior smiled grimly and nodded as the couple
gazed at him then looked hastily away.
    The
car ground to a long slow stop with loud clangs and screeching metal. Irons
sighed. “Okay, looks like this is our stop.” He watched as the door struggled
to open. The couple forced the door open enough to get through then left
without a backward glance.
    “So
much for chivalry,” Irons commented dryly. He and Junior wrestled the door open
wide enough to get the cart through. “If it's all the same with you, I think
I'll stick to the ladders,” Anita said dryly as the lift doors closed behind
them and the lift dropped away. Her son chuckled softly.
    “Oh,
that's not bad actually. A drop chute is much worse,” Irons replied turning
around.
    “And
what pray tell is that?” Anita asked. Irons smiled.
    “A
tube that shoots people with force fields. No car at all. It was popular on
resort worlds and large corporate buildings and space stations. The clear tubes
were all the rage for a while.” He shrugged. She shook her head then shivered.
    “NO
THANKS!” she said then took in his smile and smiled herself.
    They
waved to the bored customs girl and guards then purposely made their way to the
Io's slip. The couple were there arguing with the guard. Irons waved as she
commed her supervisor. She smiled and waved back then went back to her
argument.
    They
managed to make it to her station just as Faith, a small group of techs and the
purser arrived. The purser took the couple aside and began to talk with them.
Irons turned his attention on Faith. “How are things shaking?” he asked. She
smiled.
    “Not
much to shake in dock Admiral. These the parts?”
    He
nodded. “This is the Valdez family. Jorge, Anita, and Sergio. They are
Juanita's family,” he nodded to Faith. Faith glanced at the wounded Jorge and
nodded. Motion on his HUD made the Admiral look up. He could just make out
Juanita on his sensors.
    “Someone
is rather anxious to see them too,” he said softly.
    Faith
looked over her shoulder then chuckled turning back to the Valdez family. “That
she is. I can't say I blame the lass. All right ladies; let's get this lot
sorted out while they head to sickbay.” She motioned to Jorge. “Your guide is
waiting inside.” Jorge nodded and got up weakly. Anita rushed to help then
hastily stopped hands cringing. He looked up and smiled softly. Faith took it
in and grunted.
    “Typical
damn fool men, don't know when to shelve their pride and get help when they
need it,” she grumbled. Irons hastily smothered a laugh with a cough as Junior
glared. The Valdez family entered the ship and then happy cries echoed back
through the lock.
    Faith
and her work party were smiling. “I'm glad you made sure he gets medical care.
I don't think any of us would forgive ourselves if we didn't. We owe you and
Juanita that much,” she nodded to the party. “This the first load?” she asked
as they transferred the load to a new cart. The Admiral nodded.
    “Call
it a deposit. I'll go back for the next load in a moment.” He nodded to several
of the crew as they passed him with smiles and waves. He chuckled. “Missed me
already.” He shook his head. Faith smiled.
    “They
know what you’re doing now, helping