The Genius Asylum: Sic Transit Terra Book 1 by Arlene F. Marks Read Free Book Online Page A

reluctantly, responded to the cue.
    “Well,” he sighed, “I guess I’ll just go supervise the transfer of your luggage.”
    “Don’t forget the other cargo,” Ruby warned. “And my special order — five barrels.”
    “Five barrels, yes,” he repeated, leaving the word ‘Mom’ hanging unspoken in the air. “It was a pleasure meeting you folks. I’m sure we’ll talk again.”
    Drew waited until Bonelli had moved out of earshot to mutter urgently to Ruby, “Will we?”
    “I’m afraid so. But whether you personally have to deal with Captain Bonelli depends entirely on you,” she replied. “Karim felt it was his duty to represent the Hub in all interactions with the Rangers. But the manager we had before him, a fellow named Jovanovich, avoided contact with them at all costs. They don’t call this place the Zoo for nothing, and some people get along with animals better than others. Part of the assistant manager’s job is to run interference in situations like this. So just take your time and settle in. By the way, I’m—”
    “—Ruby McNeil,” he cut in. “I’ve already reviewed the crew manifest. I’m Drew Townsend. And this is—”
    “Teri Martin!” gasped Ruby, her hands flying involuntarily to her cheeks. “I knew I recognized you from somewhere. I took my last vacation on Riviera Hub. You were the opening act in the Broadway Room. You were just a kid at the time, barely in your teens, but, what a voice! Honey, I knew you were going places, but I never expected to see you out here.”
    In the presence of a genuine fan, Teri seemed to grow taller. She smiled graciously. Her entire demeanor warmed and softened. Drew watched with a mixture of amusement and resignation as the last remnants of Teri Mintz melted away, revealing Teri Martin, star of hub lounges and InfoCommAds. “It was a surprise to me, too, Ruby. I thought I was going to Vegas Hub, but—”
    “—but somebody with connections had other plans. Tell me about it. My son-in-law worked for the Relocation Authority for six Earth years, maneuvering himself into a management position just to be able to send me somewhere. Now I’m the perfect mother-in-law — healthy and productive, and three Gates away. Hold it!” she called to the deck crew. “I want to count those barrels before you close the hatch.” Ruby turned back to Drew and Teri and said in a quieter voice, “Why don’t you two climb aboard? As soon as I’ve finished giving these guys a math lesson, we’ll go home.”
    The short-hopper’s outer hull was shaped like the carapace of a kind of scavenger beetle Drew had often seen scurrying around the garbage bins behind his building on Lamont Street. He and Teri ascended a narrow embarkation ramp that extruded like a stinger from the ship’s rear end, then had to duck to enter a cabin that seemed to occupy the entire length and width of the vessel, but only half its height. The ceiling inside was uncomfortably low. Drew had to stoop to protect his neck and shoulders from its bumps and protrusions, and Teri, though shorter than average, couldn’t stand upright without hitting her head. Strange, then, that the shuttle’s interior should feel so welcoming. No, Drew amended, it wasn’t strange — it was the entire purpose of the decor. Soft amber light reflected off bulkheads plaincoated in warm autumn colors — rust, yellow, golden brown. The deck plating gave slightly under their footsteps, the carpet-like feel belying its metallic appearance. At the front of the craft sat a row of four generously-padded armchairs on pedestal bases, facing a broad, curving viewport. Clearly, this was where passengers were meant to be — sitting, not standing.
    As they eased themselves into two of the seats, Teri observed, frowning, “No control panels?”
    She was right. If they were facing frontward, then one of these seats had to belong to the pilot.
    “Everybody settled?”
    Startled, Drew whipped around in his seat in time to