Page 68 of The Last Hope

Finished eating, I realize that Stork is saying we should read the big pile of books. Court is already scouring another one, but the thought of perusing these texts pounds my head. I hope they’re not too dense.

Mykal seems to be avoiding the mental slog too. Puffing on a cigarette. He’s been trying to take short drags of his cig, and Court and I can handle easygoing smoking.

“I have a new plan,” I tell Stork. “What if you skip the part where we read and you just tell me what I need to know?”

Court sends me a strict look.

I sigh hard and snatch a book. Not wanting to let him down, but I trust Court to read quickly and verify what Stork says. I’ve chosenEarth, 30th Century.

My lips part. “Wait, you’re letting us read about Earth?”

His brows arch mockingly. “Why are you so surprised?”

Court answers first, “We tried to search your computer for information about Earth. Everything was password protected.”

Stork massages his own shoulder, tensed. Thinking, he sucks in a breath. “See, here’s the thing, mate, I can’t tell you about thirty-sixth-century Earth.”

Cig in mouth, Mykal mumbles, “Why not?”

“So you’re hiding this information just from us,” Court confirms.

I think about Nia, Arden, and Barrett. “If we ask the crew—”

“They won’t be helpful. Most have no clearance for the scope of information you’re seeking,” Stork says. “And some have been spaceborne for decades.”

Yet they fight for Earth. I turn and face him. “You promised you’d tell us information while we’re here.”

Stork laughs like I’m joking, but he sees my seriousness. “You haven’t even been here for a week.”

“Tomorrow, you’ll tell us about Earth.”

He shakes his head, almost laughing in disbelief. “No bloody chance.”

“How long is training going to last?” I question.

“Two months.”

“Then in one month, you’ll tell us about—”

“When we reach Saltare-1,” he interjects but lets his voice drag like he’s reconsidering. He pushes forward. “… Then I’ll share what I know about Earth.” He sighs out a tight breath, and I have a feeling this wasn’t his original plan.

That’s mostly why I nod. “Deal.”

He sips his liquor and hands me the flask. “We drink to deal—”

“I remember what you said.” I put my mouth to the rim. Slowly swigging to help Court and Mykal with the taste, and the liquor runs sharply down my throat.

Mykal coughs softly into his shoulder.

Before Stork glances at him, I say, “So are you going to tell us about Earth’s and Saltare’s past?”

He reclaims his flask. “We’d have to start at the beginning. To well over a thousand years ago. Two two twenty-two hundred.”

2-2-2200seems so long ago.

Stork continues, “The day that Saltarians landed on Earth.”

“That’s wrong,” Court says, seizing Stork’s gaze. “Saltarians were on Andola before anyone else.”