Strandline

Strandline - Episode 4: Homecoming

Petra slipped out of the cabin before the others awoke. She padded down the narrow hall, her only company the muffled chug of the Lachesis’ engines.

A flight of stairs brought her up to the cargo ship’s deck. The sun hovered a few degrees above the eastern horizon, just starting to warm the early morning air. Thankfully at this latitude the temperature stayed mild. Her light jacket, blouse, and capris—the clothes she’d worn yesterday—were enough to keep the chill at bay. If she’d known that she and Miguel would be hitching a ride with Captain Demopoulos, she’d have packed an overnight bag.

Petra sat on the starboard side of the deck with her back to one of the dozens of containers. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sun and salty breeze while she could. Once Naveen and Kristin awoke she’d have her hands full.

An hour later Petra met Miguel, Kristin, and Naveen at the cabin, then walked with them to the galley for breakfast. Miguel, bless his heart, kept up small talk as they made their way through the line for plates of scrambled eggs and bacon. Petra pretended to listen while keeping her mental attention on the ship’s sailors. Thanks to the Greenmen’s escapades, nictans were less than welcome.

The four of them sat at the table furthest from the sailors. Kristin silently dug into her food. After taking a few bites of his breakfast, Naveen caught Petra’s eye. “So, um, d’you think you could send me back to Honolulu? I’ll pay you, of course. Miguel said that you and him are couriers, and I know it’s a long way. Judging from the stars last night, it looks like we’re at 35 degrees north or so.”

Petra blinked. Not many people could navigate by the stars, even a little. “That’s right. And you don’t have to pay us, but we’ll have to take you to Strandline first.” Naveen frowned a bit, and Kristin looked up from her food. Petra continued, “You don’t want us to guess at where we’ll arrive. It’s best if we call one of our contacts first and arrange a time and place.”

Naveen nodded. “Okay. If you need a place to crash—not like, literally—you’re welcome to stay at my place. It’s nothing special, but, you know, free.”

Miguel chuckled. “We might take you up on that, Naveen. Like you said, it’s a long way to Honolulu.”

“Cool.” Reassured, Naveen turned back to his meal.

They ate silently for a few minutes. Petra was pleasantly surprised when Kristin spoke up. “Do you guys do this a lot?” She looked from Petra to Miguel and back. “Teleport people around?”

“Occasionally,” Petra replied.

“It’s usually documents or small items,” Miguel added. “Sometimes just a message. We charge a lot to transport people because of the risk involved.”

Naveen worried his lip, so Petra interjected, “It’s okay, Naveen. You’re not our usual client. The risk is from the circumstances involving a potential client. We screen them carefully to keep ourselves safe.”

Kristin’s brow furrowed. “You don’t have to be a courier,” Miguel assured her. “That’s why we’re bringing you to Strandline. There’s all sorts of stuff that needs doing there, and no one will care that you’re a nictan. Most everyone is, anyway.”

“Okay.” Kristin didn’t seem encouraged, but Petra wasn’t worried. She just needed time. All of the newcomers did.

***

Shortly after breakfast Kristin followed Miguel, Naveen, and Petra up to the deck. The nicts told them to join hands, as they had for the jumps they’d taken with Kristin the day before. Naveen grinned from ear to ear. It was easy for him, a passenger, to be excited. He wasn’t an outcast because of a freakish ability he hadn’t asked for.