Sunborn by Jeffrey Carver Page B

and leaned close over the table. “I was taking a look at the in-system comm traffic and I read some things maybe I strictly shouldn’t have.”
        “Shame on you.”
        “I read a few things addressed to Herr Envoy Lamarr.”
        “Maybe not so shameful. What did they say?”
        Georgia gazed at her for a long moment. “Well, if you had any hopes that they might let the translator sit undisturbed...I’d forget them.”
        Julie felt a chill take over her body. “What are they planning?” she asked, her voice thick.
        Georgia cleared her throat. “There’s a shuttle arriving in twenty-nine days from the InterExploratory Coalition. Said shuttle has orders to pack the translator up and take it to Earth under the watchful eye of the Coalition. Now, you know how well MINEXFO and the IE Coalition get along—so you can bet that MINEXFO really  doesn’t want the Coalition meddling with the translator, much less trying to take custody of it. As you said, they consider it theirs.”
        Julie eyed her mug, but didn’t drink. “And?”
        “The MINEXFO ship that’s here now has a launch departure window for Earth that opens in three days. I think they’re planning to take the translator and run. Possession is nine-tenths of the law, and if they can be on their way back to Earth before the other shuttle arrives, there’s no way to catch them.”
        Assuming the translator is willing to let them move it.  “There’ll be one hell of a legal battle back on Earth,” Julie said, taking a gulp and coughing as the carbonation went the wrong way.
        “Sure. But they’ll have the whole trip back to make studies...”
        And maybe establish a relationship with it?
        “And they’ll definitely need help from you, Julie.” Georgia was peering over the top of her wineglass at her.
        Julie didn’t know how to react; it was too much to absorb all at once. She wanted to yell, argue, dig in her heels and fight—for something. But all she could do was stare across the table at her friend.
        “ Breathe,  Julie.”
        She drew in a ragged breath.
        “You were about to turn blue there,” Georgia said, touching her wrist. “So what do you think? What will the translator do if they try to dig it up?”
        “The last time they tried, it cost them twenty million dollars in ruined equipment.” Julie felt a sudden tingle in her wrists, and closed her eyes. It wasn’t often that the stones rang to let her know they had something to say. /Yes?/
        *The translator will accept an offer to travel to Earth.*
        Julie coughed again. / Now? You mean, now  it’ll go along? On the MINEXFO ship?/
        *Yes. You may inform your colleagues.*
        “Julie? You still with me?”
        “What? Yes! Yes, I’m here.” Julie tried to force a smile, but it came out crooked with puzzlement. “It’s just that—” She shook her head and started laughing out loud. “The translator—the mokin’ translator wants  them to take it to Earth!”
        Georgia could only gaze at her in amazement.
     

Chapter 7
    Almost Like Home
      
        The halo spoke sonorously as it led them through the ship. They peered into sleeping quarters and a common room for meals, then various work compartments. The vessel seemed cavernous, or at least endless, and the passageways all looked bewilderingly identical. The ship’s facilities included what appeared to be laboratories full of incomprehensible gear, a docking bay carrying a small scout craft, and several compartments that on first glance appeared to be empty—then, when Bandicut glanced back, were humming with strange machinery.
    Copernicus and Napoleon roved around taking readings. Upon crossing paths with the company, Copernicus noted aloud what Bandicut felt—that there was far more space inside the ship than they could account for, from the external dimensions. Delilah confirmed