Zodiac (Zodiac, #1)(48)
“Do you believe him?” Mathias stows the stretch band.
“I don’t know. I don’t think he was lying when he said it.”
“Well, I don’t trust him.” He turns around and faces me. “Or Hysan either. Although I admit we wouldn’t be alive without the Libran’s ship.”
“Yeah, this place is starting to feel like a safe harbor.” I rest my side against the wall. “I just wish I knew how the Psy shield works. Hysan won’t spill.”
Mathias takes a small device from his belt and waves it in a broad sweeping pattern, as if brushing away cobwebs. When he continues this strange behavior, I ask, “What are you doing?”
“Checking for eyes and ears.”
“You mean Hysan may be eavesdropping?” I glance around for cameras, but of course they would be concealed. “Well, as Cancrians we have nothing to hide. Right?”
“Yes. We’re not sneaks.” Mathias announces this to the walls, as if the cabin itself is listening, and I have to smile. In spite of our disagreements, his Cancrian nature comforts me and reminds me of our people back home.
We head to the nose and find both Hysan and Caasy planted at the front tip, gazing at Helios. Our sun’s light flickers through the glass, setting every surface aglow. At this distance, it nearly fills our view, and although the glass has automatically polarized and darkened to protect our eyes, the light is intense. The surface boils like liquid fire in hues of violet, crimson, brass, and gold, with bursts of white so extreme, my eyes sting. Around its horizon, a scarlet corona blazes like a holy crown, and here and there, superheated jets of gas spew outward in luminous blossoming fountains.
“Hail mighty Helios, womb of heaven.” Mathias murmurs the Zodai chant, and we all join in. “Star maker, heat giver, doorway from death to light. Preserve our Houses now and in the ages to come.”
I study the three enraptured faces around me. It’s easy to see why Helios stands at the center of all our sacred texts. The Libran Seddas. The Gemini Book of Changes. Of course our own Holy Canon. Even the famous eight-volume Covenant of Scorpio, the most secular and scientifically advanced House in the Zodiac, speaks of Almighty Helios. Many people believe our galactic sun holds the gateway to paradise, and seeing it, I understand why.
Youngest looking, but oldest by far, Caasy watches Helios with reverent adoration, like one gazing at a great beauty from afar, knowing he can never hold her.
An hour passes while we gather in the glass nose. None of us seems willing to move while the sun’s still in view. Only when our transit’s complete and Equinox hurtles away toward Libra do I settle back into my skin. The sun’s behind us now, visible only in the small square frame of Equinox’s rearview screen.
Hysan returns to the helm, and Caasy goes back to the galley for something to eat. He says the sight of Helios always gives him an appetite.
Mathias comes over to me. “Our course is locked in. We’ll be on Libra by morning.”
“I thought it was farther off,” I say, rubbing my neck.
“This bullet-ship has a photon pump, so we can travel at hyperspeed. And thanks to our loop around the sun, we’ll go even faster.” He peers over his shoulder at Hysan, then lowers his voice. “The Libran’s totally unreliable. He encrypted the ship’s controls and locked me out.”
“That’s a little paranoid.”
“He’s a spy. Spies don’t trust anyone.” Mathias’s jaw tightens. “Problem is, we need him to fly us to Virgo.”
“He promised he would. Let’s go talk to him.”
Hysan glances up from his screens as we approach, and his eyes glint with amusement. “You might as well know I overheard you.”
Mathias gives him a dark scowl. “Hidden microphones?”
Hysan’s centaur smile dimples his cheeks. “Truth is often overlooked for her simplicity. This cabin has excellent acoustics, and I have excellent hearing. I don’t need microphones.”
“Why did you encrypt the controls?” I ask.
“My lady, I assure you I meant nothing shady. This is my ship, and I’m captain here. I don’t like having to give your Advisor explanations.” The way he says Mathias’s title leaves little doubt he has a different word in mind.
Before Mathias can argue, I say, “But you’ll take us to Virgo, like you promised?”
Hysan steps around his screens and moves closer to me. Mathias tenses, but I see only humor in Hysan’s expression. He’s doing this to annoy Mathias. “Will you promise not to grill me about my Psy shield?”
I appreciate his directness, so I answer in the same spirit. “Not a chance.”
Hysan laughs, and his cheer is so sincere, it relaxes me. Again I feel my skin growing warmer in his presence, like he’s radiating his sunny disposition. I know it’s probably the smooth-talking Libran thing, but every time we have an interaction, I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Having skirted another battle between the guys, I head to the bathroom for an ultraviolet shower, and then I change back into the plush yellow tunic. I’m so exhausted that I sleep through dinner. When I awaken, everyone but Mathias is asleep. He’s out front, having discovered one of the ship’s secrets by accident.
It turns out Equinox’s helm has a Libran teaching crown. I’ve heard of them but never seen one before—they’re only installed on ships outfitted for long-distance travel. Librans have them for the same reason they have a Scan embedded in their eyes: They believe when you’re leaving home, the most important item you can pack and take with you is your knowledge.