The Bird of the River by Kage Baker Read Free Book Online

Krelan shrugged, with a sheepish look. "My older brother got into some trouble and, er, my father thought it would be a good idea if he didn't have all his sons under one roof. You see, we live in Mount Flame and--"
    "That's all right." Mr. Riveter held up his hands. "If it's something to do with gangs, then the less I know, the better."
    "And, er, he wanted to get me out of the way awhile."
    "Perfectly understandable."
    "So he asked Captain Crankbrass if he knew any river captains, as opposed to sea captains, because I'm not very strong and he thought a river voyage would be better for my health, you know, and anyway my mother was afraid of my drowning at sea--and Captain Crankbrass said, 'I know just the place for him; I have a friend on a river barge.' They never sink, do they?"
    "It's been known to happen," said Mr. Riveter, distracted as one of the bearers staggered and almost dropped his burden into the river. "Orepick! What's the matter with you? Watch where you're going!"
    "So anyway Captain Crankbrass wrote you a letter and sent it by express runner. Maybe she went to the wrong landing?"
    "It's always possible," said Mr. Riveter, grabbing the sack from Orepick and tossing it into the hold himself.
    "On the other hand, if it's hard for even a runner to find out your exact location at any given time, then this must be a pretty safe place to be, wouldn't you think?" said the boy hopefully.
    "I suppose so," said Mr. Riveter. "Look, son, what do you want?"
    "Well, what the letter said was that Captain Crankbrass sent you greetings and asked after your wife and children, and then it said I was a fine upstanding person of a good old pureblooded family, and then it explained a little of the, er, the problem with the--you know--and then it asked whether you couldn't take me on and give me a job, until people's tempers cool down a bit or ... or whatever happens."
    "Like the Chainfires burn down your house and kill your brother and anyone else who happens to be nearby," said Captain Glass, swaying slightly as he loomed up behind Krelan. Mr. Riveter gaped in astonishment to see him on deck. The boy turned around hastily and craned his head back to look up at the captain.
    "Well, er, that's putting it a little baldly, I must say, but--er--yes."
    "Captain, sir!" Mr. Riveter saluted. "I was just about to explain how I'm only the first mate and all hiring decisions have to be finally approved by the captain. Sir."
    "Good idea." The captain exhaled wine fumes. "And were you also going to ask him how likely it was the Chainfires would carry the vendetta all the way to tracking down this kid here and setting fire to the Bird ?"
    "Oh, I'm sure that wouldn't happen, sir," said Krelan. "I'm a nobody."
    "Can you live like one?"
    "I think so, sir. I'm the youngest of my family and they always pretty much treated me as one."
    Captain Glass snorted. "Work out the details, Mr. Riveter," he said, and staggered back to his cabin.
    "He doesn't get stupid when he drinks, does he?" said the boy, which surprised Eliss, because she had been thinking exactly the same thing at that moment. She grabbed up Mrs. Nailsmith's baby, who had been about to stagger out into the path of the bearers, and listened more closely.
    "No, he doesn't get stupid," said Mr. Riveter. "Now, look, you'll have to work. This isn't like a navy ship with officers and commissions, see? And you'll have to drop your name, in case anyone should come asking after you. No Silverings on board."
    "I could call myself Smith," offered the boy.
    "No. Everybody calls themselves Smith when they're on the run," said Mr. Riveter, thinking hard.
    "What about Stone ?" said Eliss, handling the baby, who wanted to get down. They both turned to stare at her.
    "Stone is good," said Krelan. "Nice and undistinguished without sounding suspicious."
    "Then you're Stone," said Mr. Riveter. "Do you know how to do anything useful?"
    "I can cook, a little," said Krelan.
    "Right, then! You can report to the