The Pearl Wars by Nick James Read Free Book Online

them as the door shuts. I sink down into my seat, barely able to make eye contact.
    A silence falls over the meeting room. My heart does somersaults. Sweat drips down the sides of my torso. Usually when I’m forced into a meeting with Captain Alkine I layer on a gallon of deodorant beforehand. I may smell like a flowery garden, but at least he doesn’t see what a nervous wreck I am.
    “Fisher, Fisher, Fisher.” Mr. Wilson shakes his head. “What are we going to do with you?”
    The scary thing is, I don’t know. I don’t know what the hell they’re planning to do with me. Alkine’s a busy guy. He doesn’t have time for unscheduled meetings.
    I contemplate bolting for the door and locking myself in my bedroom, but before I know it, Captain Alkine enters the room. His heavy combat boots clomp on the floor as he walks to the desk. He’s gotta be a full foot taller than me at least. Impossibly tall. His skin is weathered from years of living on the Surface. A scar runs down his left cheek—a battle wound from his days as a soldier. His dark hair is all but gray now, turned by years of overseeing a Skyship full of children.
    Mr. Wilson stands, whispers something in Alkine’s ear, and leaves. Alkine moves behind the desk and stares off into the corner of the room for a moment. Then his eyes fall squarely on me.
    “Jesse Fisher.”
    I bristle at the sound of his deep voice. I try to look anywhere but at his face. It’s not that he’s a bad guy. It’s just that, well, he scares me. And not knowing why he’s here? That’s even scarier.
    His words sit in the air, detached. I can’t tell if they were supposed to be a statement or a question, so I keep my mouth shut.
    He sighs. “For god’s sake, straighten up in your chair. You look like you’re about to drip onto the floor.”
    Amazing. He’s managed to put into words exactly how I feel inside.
    “So you lost the Pearl.” He clasps his hands in front of him. “Big deal. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again. It’s only training.”
    My shoulders relax. Maybe I’ll get away with this after all.
    He clears his throat. “Do you want to be an agent, Jesse?”
    Crap. I give my best fake nod, wondering if he can see through it.
    “Then you’ve got to focus. And work hard.” He pauses. “What’s on your fac e?”
    I touch my cheek, still tender and warm from the brick wall. “It’s … uh … a burn.”
    “Clumsy,” he replies, shaking his head. “I regret that I haven’t been able to play a more active role in your life, Fisher.” He scoots closer to the desk. A shiver runs down my neck at the thought of Captain Alkine wanting any part of my life, or even thinking about me at all with the hoards of trainees running around up here.
    He sighs. “Your parents would have wished for you to realize your full potential, you know. I’m concerned that without a steady guide things are becoming … stagnant.”
    I look down at the table at the mention of my parents. I can count on one hand the kids at the Academy without family. No need for Alkine to remind me.
    “I never thought I’d be taking care of children up here,” he continues, “but let’s face it, children are our greatest hope.”
    I nod, unwilling to make eye contact.
    “The Tribunal’s been on my back about getting all of our medical reports in order. There are some additional tests I’ve arranged for you at the beginning of next week, things you’ve missed.”
    I groan inwardly. It’s been the same since I was a kid. The Academy loves its checkups. Something about the Tribunal wanting to make sure trainees are in tip-top shape, they say. All I know is that I hate needles, especially when they’re poking into me.
    He pauses, waiting for me to say something. I keep my eyes on the table.
    “Aside from losing the Pearl, how did it go today? Did it feel different being on the Surface?”
    My mind flashes back to the rooftop. Falling off. Living.
    “Hotter,” I reply.
    He smiles.