“I know.” Anpaytoo raised her chin in that Shank-like way.
“Then tell me what I should have done instead,” Allie asked.
Anpaytoo looked at her for a long time. “I do not know. This is why we don’t allow our children to be registered.”
“And when the day comes for me to have kids, I’m going to be right there with you. The Command official who tries to draft my kid is going to find a knife buried in his chest up to the hilt.”
Anpaytoo smiled at her. “Perhaps that is one thing on which we can agree. I still feel this plan is poorly formed.”
“Then we agree on two things. But a poorly formed plan is better than sitting still and letting bad things happen.”
Anpaytoo leaned back and considered her. “This will require navigating a station full of SC, and that’s assuming we can get through the Command patrols without being boarded.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“And then you will need to steal the ship.”
“From Claire.” Allie curled her lip.
Anpaytoo laughed. “I believe we have found a third thing on which we agree. Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re an idiot who is leading my equally idiotic son down a path to almost certain destruction.”
“Call it youth, but considering what you let boys endure as part of the manhood ceremonies, and the crazy math required to pilot a slip, I don’t think you people are strangers to almost certain destruction.”
“We aren’t. That’s why I’m better qualified than most to call you lacking in intelligence.” Anpaytoo’s smile was particularly nasty.
Chapter Sixteen
Shank was waiting forher right outside the office door, and Cetan leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the corridor.
“Hey, you still have all your appendages attached,” he said cheerfully. “You do, don’t you?” He teased her with a smile.
Allie held up both hands and wiggled her fingers. “Everything’s still attached, but I think she got me to admit I was an idiot somewhere in there.”
“She’s done that to me more times than I can count,” Shank said as he slipped his arm around her waist.
“Be respectful, rascal. If you hadn’t done so many reckless things in your life, your mother would likely be kinder and have fewer gray hairs.”
