MUTINY

Clio’s eyes snapped up to look at Teeg, standing in the tent door, the perimeter lights glaring behind him.

“Maybe we’re gonna make our own rules from now on,” Teeg said. “We’re a long way from Vanda, Clio. Maybe I like it here. I was hoping you liked it too.”

“What are you talking about, Teeg?”

“You ever think about staying?”

“On Niang?” Clio’s heart was sinking like an elevator with the cables cut. “No, I never did.”

“Maybe you should start.”

“Jesus, Teeg. You gotta be kidding. Get a grip. Nobody wants to give up Earth, give up home.”

“Posie does. Liu and Meng too. We’ve talked.”

Clio looked at him, scared for the first time. “You’re crazy. Think they wouldn’t come after us?”

“Think they’d find us?”

Then, from a distance, shouts and then gunfire. Teeg bolted through the tent flap, Clio behind him. She ran for her gun in the crew tent.