“That’s true.” I eat every bite of the meals Tam serves. My plate is always as clean as if it had been licked by a cat. “But when do you sleep?”
“I don’t,” he says. Then, hastily, “I do. Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
“Remember,” I say, “the Admiral’s not here for you to impress.”
“I’m not trying to impress the Admiral.” Tam looks at me. His hazel eyes have flecks of gold. There’s something there. Is it worth mining deeper to find out what it is?
“It’s interesting,” Tam says. “The more gold we get, the more grim you look.”
He’s right. The wealth, the ease, the success of all this puts something inside of me even more on edge. I feel like the ship has changed form. Now it’s not a sleek wild cat with claws and teeth at the ready, hair standing on end. It’s plump and sated, curled up in the sun, waiting to be gutted.
* * *
• • •
When I walk into my quarters after supper one night, I know instantly that someone’s been there. Nothing is ransacked but everything is slightly askew. The chair, not quite tucked in under the desk. The edge of my blanket, pulled out a bit from the bunk.
Someone wanted me to know they were here. Wanted to scare me.
Who could it be?
I have the only key to the room.
That’s not true, I think to myself. Clearly, someone else has another.
Did the Admiral give someone a key so they could keep an eye on me? What else do they have keys to? The mining deck? The bridge? The firearm lockers on each level?
I fold my arms and look around, not touching anything, trying to memorize all the differences. Only when I’m sure I’ve noticed everything do I walk over to the bureau, which has a drawer ajar.
That’s where they’ve put the note—on top of my folded shirts. It seems personal. I don’t like it. This is an even bigger violation than putting something in my bag.
This is not your gold, the note says.
I crumple the paper in my hand.
Enough is enough.
I walk out in the hall to the nearest alarm box and pull the handle down. The ship begins to wail.
CHAPTER 10
I DON’T FLINCH.
It makes sense that I can handle the sound. Call died before the alarm, when the ship stopped. That’s the sound that I don’t think I’d be able to bear. For me, the sound of Call going gone is the sound of the ship going quiet.
The crew knows the protocol. If the alarm sounds, they’re to report to their assigned spots in one of the ship’s two largest areas—some to the cafeteria, some to the mining deck. Naomi’s over the deck and Brig’s in charge of the cafeteria. I’m supposed to secure the bridge, leaving Ophelia Hill, the navigator, in charge. Once I’ve done that, I call to my first and second mates on the ship’s communications system.
“All here,” Naomi says, yelling to be heard over the noise of the trammel down on the mining deck.
“All here,” Brig says.
“Good,” I say. “I’ll come to the mining deck first.”
Some of the crew are wearing pajamas—it was their shift to sleep. They watch me, eyes wary. Do they trust me? Should they?
“The dredge itself is stable, and you are in no immediate danger,” I say, “but there is a raiders’ sympathizer on this ship.” I hold up the crumpled paper. “This is the second note they’ve left for me. We can’t risk anything on this voyage, particularly with everything going so well.”
The openness I’ve seen on everyone’s faces over the past few days has disappeared. Eyes narrow, faces go blank or angry or worried.
“I’m going to search the ship before they have time to hide anything,” I say. “Everyone stays here until I give the all clear. Watch one another. Naomi, make sure that no one leaves.”
Members of the crew shift their feet. Someone clears his throat. The goodwill we’ve had on the ship sifts out like the slicken and slips overboard.
“You should take someone with you when you search,” Naomi says, leaning close to my ear. “So you have a witness to back up whatever you find.”
She’s right.
Who?
I look out at the crew. They are tired and gray-faced from lack of light. The trammel turns and the gold keeps coming in.
Tam, I think. Everyone likes him. Everyone trusts him. He was right about the food—it makes a difference in the morale on the ship. They’ll believe the person who feeds them.
“I’ll take Tam,” I say to Naomi, and she nods.
Up in the cafeteria, Brig has his group standing at the ready. Tam’s with them. I repeat the speech that I gave the crew on the mining deck. Brig’s expression flickers, and I think I see a hint of anger there. And betrayal. I didn’t tell him about the notes.
Because he’s one of the suspects. He should know that.
Someone raises a hand, but I shake my head. “I’ll answer questions later,” I say. “Right now, time is what matters. I don’t want to hold you here any longer than necessary. We have a ship to run.” I face Brig. “Make sure no one leaves.”
Brig lifts his chin in acknowledgment. “Yes, Captain.”
“I need you to come with me,” I tell Tam. “I want someone to witness the search, and I need my first and second mates to stay where they are for now.” I nod to Brig. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Tam’s quiet as he follows me down the hall. I know from glancing at my watch that it’s nearing dusk outside.
Dusk was the time Call liked best in the Outpost, when we’d finish up work at the scrap yard and have a few moments of our own. It’s strange. I almost feel like if I could get up to the deck, I’d see him.
That makes no sense, I tell myself. Call is dead. He’s not on the deck. He was never even on this ship. Never on this ship, never on this river.
Tam starts to say something and then stops.
“What?” I ask.
“Are we searching your room?”
I don’t bother dignifying this with a response. I’m not going to go through my things in front of Tam. Besides, I’ve already searched my room. And I already know it’s not secure.
“Don’t touch anything. Just watch me.”
“Right,” he says. “What are you trying to find?”
“I’ll know it when I see it,” I say. I hope.