he was, though behind, a strong contender in the very prestigious Regatta for the Purple.
The newsspew showed Dincrist standing proudly before his ship, accepting the first-place trophy, a file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...y%20-%20Fall%20of%20the%20White%20Ship%20Avatar.htm (30 of 242)23-2-2006 17:03:12
[Fitzhugh 3]-FALL OF THE WHITE SHIP AVATAR
racing starship carved from a single, enormous fire-drop.
" Zhopa's ruchkoi , that bastard," Alacrity breathed. "We should've killed him when we had the chance."
There were scenes from the race as a commentating talking head went on about Dincrist's brilliant performance, particularly during the solar sailing leg of the dangerous race.
"I hate to give him this," Alacrity grudged, "but either he's an awfully good racing skipper or he had one inboard with him, ghosting."
The shot switched back to Dincrist, surrounded by wealthy, powerful Regatta Club members whose friendship he'd been courting for so long. He was taller than Alacrity, deeply tanned, white-haired, and fit. His gleaming smile was frozen in place.
Floyt recalled the contempt in which club members held newspeople. The fact that a press opportunity was being tolerated showed that Dincrist, as winner, had impressive new influence among the august and mighty members.
Alacrity wondered if the irony was eating at Dincrist's liver—being compelled to give up the vengeance he wanted so badly in order to win the trophy, the only thing he wanted more.
"When will Celeste Aida take to the stars again, Captain?" a fawning interviewer asked.
Dincrist chuckled regretfully. "My first love is sailing the stars, of course, but unfortunately I have weighty responsibilities to my family and to my business and financial affairs."
Another newsghoul, one who didn't sound so friendly, elbowed the first aside. She was young, barely postadolescent, and wore a fetching strawberry-color coat of dermal frosting over bare skin.
"Salome Price, for the Uncensored Network! Captain Dincrist, aren't you referring to the meeting of the Board of Interested Parties of the White Ship? Haven't there been persistent rumors that you'll face opposition at the upcoming meeting and perhaps a drive to unseat you from the board? Isn't it even said that much of that opposition will come from members of your own family and from your daughter, the so-called Nonpareil, in particular?"
Dincrist glared at Salome Price furiously, then his eyes flicked around the crowd and into the pickups.
For a moment Alacrity felt like he was eye to eye with Dincrist again and about to throw some hands and feet.
Floyt was certain Dincrist was wondering if he could get away with swatting the female newsghoul in front of all those people and recording devices, and concluding only with great reluctance that he couldn't.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...y%20-%20Fall%20of%20the%20White%20Ship%20Avatar.htm (31 of 242)23-2-2006 17:03:12
[Fitzhugh 3]-FALL OF THE WHITE SHIP AVATAR
The smile froze back into place. "Those are vicious and unfounded lies, as I suspect you know, foisted off by malicious people on the gullible and foolish, my dear. As proof of that, my business associates and family—and most particularly my daughter—will be backing me all the way at the meeting."
His mouth smiled wider; his eyes were chilling. "Backing me all the way."
Alacrity came halfway out of the big pilot's seat to bark at the projection, "Liar! Dincrist, you limbic case !" He turned to Floyt. "You don't think he found her somehow, do you?" Alacrity replayed the interview, but there was nothing more to learn from it.
"Something's happened to her." Alacrity was staring numbly at the spot in the air where the projection had vaporized. "Ho, we've got to find her." He was keypadding up new astrogational data from the computers, not sure where he wanted to go or what he would do there.
"Alacrity, we don't even know where to start. Look, she must be all
The newsspew showed Dincrist standing proudly before his ship, accepting the first-place trophy, a file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...y%20-%20Fall%20of%20the%20White%20Ship%20Avatar.htm (30 of 242)23-2-2006 17:03:12
[Fitzhugh 3]-FALL OF THE WHITE SHIP AVATAR
racing starship carved from a single, enormous fire-drop.
" Zhopa's ruchkoi , that bastard," Alacrity breathed. "We should've killed him when we had the chance."
There were scenes from the race as a commentating talking head went on about Dincrist's brilliant performance, particularly during the solar sailing leg of the dangerous race.
"I hate to give him this," Alacrity grudged, "but either he's an awfully good racing skipper or he had one inboard with him, ghosting."
The shot switched back to Dincrist, surrounded by wealthy, powerful Regatta Club members whose friendship he'd been courting for so long. He was taller than Alacrity, deeply tanned, white-haired, and fit. His gleaming smile was frozen in place.
Floyt recalled the contempt in which club members held newspeople. The fact that a press opportunity was being tolerated showed that Dincrist, as winner, had impressive new influence among the august and mighty members.
Alacrity wondered if the irony was eating at Dincrist's liver—being compelled to give up the vengeance he wanted so badly in order to win the trophy, the only thing he wanted more.
"When will Celeste Aida take to the stars again, Captain?" a fawning interviewer asked.
Dincrist chuckled regretfully. "My first love is sailing the stars, of course, but unfortunately I have weighty responsibilities to my family and to my business and financial affairs."
Another newsghoul, one who didn't sound so friendly, elbowed the first aside. She was young, barely postadolescent, and wore a fetching strawberry-color coat of dermal frosting over bare skin.
"Salome Price, for the Uncensored Network! Captain Dincrist, aren't you referring to the meeting of the Board of Interested Parties of the White Ship? Haven't there been persistent rumors that you'll face opposition at the upcoming meeting and perhaps a drive to unseat you from the board? Isn't it even said that much of that opposition will come from members of your own family and from your daughter, the so-called Nonpareil, in particular?"
Dincrist glared at Salome Price furiously, then his eyes flicked around the crowd and into the pickups.
For a moment Alacrity felt like he was eye to eye with Dincrist again and about to throw some hands and feet.
Floyt was certain Dincrist was wondering if he could get away with swatting the female newsghoul in front of all those people and recording devices, and concluding only with great reluctance that he couldn't.
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...y%20-%20Fall%20of%20the%20White%20Ship%20Avatar.htm (31 of 242)23-2-2006 17:03:12
[Fitzhugh 3]-FALL OF THE WHITE SHIP AVATAR
The smile froze back into place. "Those are vicious and unfounded lies, as I suspect you know, foisted off by malicious people on the gullible and foolish, my dear. As proof of that, my business associates and family—and most particularly my daughter—will be backing me all the way at the meeting."
His mouth smiled wider; his eyes were chilling. "Backing me all the way."
Alacrity came halfway out of the big pilot's seat to bark at the projection, "Liar! Dincrist, you limbic case !" He turned to Floyt. "You don't think he found her somehow, do you?" Alacrity replayed the interview, but there was nothing more to learn from it.
"Something's happened to her." Alacrity was staring numbly at the spot in the air where the projection had vaporized. "Ho, we've got to find her." He was keypadding up new astrogational data from the computers, not sure where he wanted to go or what he would do there.
"Alacrity, we don't even know where to start. Look, she must be all
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