Kathryn Hoff [Hoff - Sparrowhawk Legacy

Sparrowhawk

Legacy

Prologue to the
Sparrowhawk Books

Kathryn Hoff

Copyright 2019 by Kathryn Hoff.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Cover Design by JD&D Design. 2019 by Kathryn Hoff.

Book Layout 2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

CHAPTER 1

Life and death

Captain Kwame Babatunji always claimed that he worshipped nothing and no one, and the only faith he had was in his ship, his crew, and his own damned will. So when Papa lay in his bunk dying of Perrigan fever, it was with curses on his lips, not prayers.

Stand down, Patch, he whispered. Ive lived hard, and Ill go out the way I always wanted: aboard my own ship, with my son as first mate and my daughter at my side.

To hell with that, I said. Kojos not ready to be captain, and for damn sure Im not ready to be an orphan. Now take your medicine.

For two days, Papa alternated between delirium and exhausted sleep while I mopped his brow and used all the serum we had to try to bring down the fever. Hiram, a grizzled old sinner whod been with Papa since before I was born, came and went between shifts at the helm, offering Papa sips of brandy and recounting the wildest adventures from their mercenary days. My half-brother Kojo, twenty-eight and already an accomplished pilot, sat beside me when he could, tense and quiet as Papa sank lower.

And, since our little space hauler Sparrowhawk was deep in a deserted star corridor, days away from any port, I prayed. Not a prayer to change what might comedeath touches allbut a prayer to my ancestors to send me the strength, courage, and wisdom to face life if the worst should happen.

The last word Papa spoke was Sorry.

In the calm of the star corridor, as the jump cells transported the ship at faster-than-light speed toward the next jump gate, Sparrowhawk s remaining crewme, Kojo, Hiram, and the new engineer Archergathered in the operations room to say our farewells.

Id dressed in a tunic jacket of somber blue with a matching beret pulled down to keep my curls under control. Kojo wore a double-breasted dress jacket, the one Papa had worn to impress passengers. With his mahogany-brown face and dark wavy hair, Kojo looked so much like Papa a sob caught in my throat. All he needed was a jaunty smile and a brace of stun pistols, and Id have thought Papas youthful spirit was visiting from the afterlife.

Kojo stepped forward and called for a moment of silence. For an uncomfortable half minute, we all stared down at the deck.

Papa had been more than a father to me. Some Terrans wouldnt have bothered with a half-blood child sired on a Gavoran slave during a raucous celebration, but Papa had come back for me, snatching me from my masters at the age of seven to smuggle me to Terran sectors and freedom.

I had no illusions about my lookshomely by the standards of both my races. My hefty build, protruding brow ridge, sloped forehead, and receding chin came from my Gavoran mother, descended from Earths Neanderthals. From Papa, I got an incongruously jutting nose, prominent ears, andinstead of a sleek Gav pelthair like straggly orange corkscrews.

But aboard Sparrowhawk , Papa had nurtured an ugly, unwanted girl into a confident woman of twenty who knew how to pilot a ship, spot a good trade, and strike a keen bargain.

Youre a bridge between races, hed said. When someone treats you bad, remember: its the ones who step on a bridge who need it most.

I had no doubt Papa would soon be rollicking about the afterlife with the same reckless bravado hed had in life.

When Hiram sniffed and Archer began to shuffle his feet, I broke the silence. Smooth sailing, Papa. Give Mother my love.

Hiram wiped rheumy eyes and poured a bit of brandy onto Papas shroud. A little something for the journey. Give em hell, Kwame.

Rest in peace, old man. Kojo laid a hand on the bulkhead, as if by touching the ship, he could touch Papa once more. Then, with a flick of a button, he consigned Papas remains to the waste disposal system. Thanks, everyone. Back to posts, please.

Archer, a thin, awkward young man wed hired only a few weeks before, murmured, Sorry, Patch. He ducked his head, making his unruly curls bob, before disappearing in the direction of the engine room.

Hiram paused to pat my shoulderhigher and broader than his own. Dont fret, missy. Its as hed want it, to go out among the stars. Hed never rest easy if we planted him in the dirt.

Kojo stared at the ether blur on the viewscreen. Im glad you were with him, sis. I just wish that me and Dad

Hiram harrumphed. Dont you fret neither, lad. Fathers and sons always fuss, and the more theyre alike, the worse the fussin. Kwame never took it to heart.

And you are a lot like him, I said. In looks, pride, and stubbornness.

Kojo quirked his one-sided smile. A week ago, I would have told you both to go to hell. Right now, Id settle for being a little more like him. He blew out a breath. Hiram, you should take over as captainfor a while, anyway.

Hiram folded his arms. No, lad. Kwame wanted you to follow him as Sparrowhawk s master, even if he didnt think itd be so soon.

Kojo bowed his head, looking almost humble. Thats just it. Its too soon. Im not ready.

Yes, you are. You can pilot, you can nav, and you know your ship. You just got to make your mind up to it. As for the trading side Hiram nodded toward me. You let Patch handle the money. Thats why he left Sparrow to the both of you. So long as you work together, youll do all right.

Something in Hirams tone made me search his face. Youll stay with us, wont you?

Course I will, missy. At least till youre comfortable with Sparrowhawk being yours.

He glanced at the scanner. We got one more jump before we get to the Chuchan system. You both better get some restonce we hit sublight, well have to haul ass to make up for lost time.

As Hiram headed for the companionway, I grabbed Kojos sleeve. Listen, dont file notice with the registrar until the last beacon.

Why? The sooner Im listed as captain, the sooner our customers will get used to the change.

Proud and stubbornbut I wished Kojo had half Papas business savvy.

And what do you think our suppliers will do? And that rat Branson? Once it gets out that Papas gone, anyone we owe money to will demand payment. Wait till we exit the corridors to make the reportthat way well have time to unload our cargo and collect before the payment-due notices arrive.

Kojo rubbed his jaw. Zubs pitchfork, Dad chose a bad time to peg out.

For a moment, he stared at the viewscreen, as if the swirls of ether hid the answer to all our problems. Patch, maybe we should think about selling the ship. We could pay everyone off and forget the headaches. The Cartel would be happy to take me and Hiram on as pilots, and you as a trader.

I sputtered in anger. Papas barely gone and youre already giving up? Sparrow was Papas pride. Selling her would be likelike losing him all over again.

Patch

Just sail the ship and let me handle the creditors. Ill straighten things outall I need is a little time.

Kojo sighed. All right. No need to decide anything yet. But think about it, will you? After all, Sparrow s just a shipan old and ornery one at that.

We had a few more hours of quiet travel in the star corridors before hitting Chuchans system and the demanding sublight sailing through the swirls and eddies of ether. I retired to my cabin to catch up on the sleep Id missed while sitting at Papas bedside.