Dragon Pearl(26)

The physician was frowning over something on the slate. “I could have sworn . . .”

I looked innocently at her even as I began to sweat. “Yes, Doctor?”

“There’s an error in the database,” she muttered. “It lists the girl on that freighter as having survived.”

I definitely didn’t want that info getting around. I closed my eyes and directed my Charm at her again.

“Poor thing,” she said. “Still, that’s easy enough to fix.” Without any more hesitation, she edited the database.

Whew! Close call.

“All right, Cadet Jang,” the physician said, “off you go.” She strolled over to her next patient.

“Thanks, Doctor,” I said, getting to my feet.

What I didn’t say was Go where, exactly?





It took me a couple of tries to locate the medical bay’s exit. I emerged into a passageway wide enough for four people side by side. Unlike the Red Azalea, this ship’s deck had a slight concave curve to it, so it felt like I was moving along the inner surface of a cylinder. There were hand-and footholds not only on the sides, but also on the floor and the ceiling—in case the artificial gravity went out and magnetic boots weren’t enough, I guessed. The ship could probably be spun all the way around its long axis to simulate gravity.

I picked a direction—there were only two to choose from—and started walking in as military a fashion as I could manage. The ship was full of strange smells. Some I recognized from my brief time aboard the Red Azalea—metal and rust and smoke. Some scents were human. And some had a distinctly supernatural flavor.

The Space Forces accepted the “more respectable” supernatural creatures, such as dragons and celestial maidens—and even tigers, if they could control their violent tempers—as long as they confined themselves to human form. Dragons, in particular, were enormous in their true manifestations. It was easier to design starships for human shapes and sizes and have everyone else adapt.

I had just enough time to wonder how to trace Jun’s trail, when a nearby door whooshed open. Another cadet barreled out of it and crashed into me. I emitted a strangled yell when the person’s knee accidentally connected with my crotch. I was going to have to be more careful about guarding that part of my body! Assuming the shape of a boy might not be any weirder than turning into a table or a teacup, but I had to remember that it didn’t make me immune to pain.

The other cadet’s eyes went wide. “Jang!” The person’s name tag told me they were called Sujin and that I should address them as gender-neutral. I recognized them immediately as a dokkaebi, one of the goblin folk. While I’d never met one before, the small horn protruding from the middle of their forehead was a dead giveaway. Otherwise they had a smooth tawny human face, with black hair and brown eyes, like those of most citizens. Goblins were known for their strength, magical wands, and invisibility caps. I couldn’t help peeking around Sujin for a glimpse of their hat, but I didn’t spot it. Which made sense.

“Wait, what?” A second cadet emerged from the same doorway. She was taller than the dokkaebi, and she, too, was a supernatural. The name on her badge was haneul, which would be easy to remember. It meant sky. Even if it hadn’t been for her blue-tinted hair, which was pinned up severely, I would have smelled the sea on her. She had to be a dragon. They had an affinity for air and water. “Jang, I didn’t think you’d be up and about so soon!”

When I’d hastily adopted my disguise, I hadn’t taken the other cadets into account. At least some of them would know Jang—they were all training together to be officers, after all. Yikes! What if they asked me questions only he could answer? I’d talked with his ghost for just a few minutes, so impersonating him convincingly would be difficult. But it was too late to back out. For now, I’d have to rely on magic to get me through. Later I could try to find Jang and grill him. In the meantime, maybe these cadets knew something about Jun. . . .

“It’s me all right,” I said. “I have a headache, but otherwise I’m fine.” The headache might help excuse any gaffes I made. Cautiously, I nudged both of them with Charm. If they detected that I was a fox and ratted me out, I’d be toast. My powers should keep them from realizing I was another supernatural, but I would have to be careful. I’d never had the opportunity to test Charm on a goblin or dragon before.

My stomach chose that moment to growl. I hadn’t eaten in a long time, and using Charm so much was making me hungrier than usual.

“I’m so glad you’re not as badly hurt as we thought,” Sujin said.

“Yeah, I was knocked out for a while there,” I said. “I only just woke up. You’re the first people I’ve spoken to.”

“Where were you going?” Haneul asked with a frown. “Shouldn’t you report in to Lieutenant Ju-Won?”

Of course. I couldn’t just wander anywhere I liked, not if I was supposed to be a cadet. Perhaps talking to the lieutenant would give me a better idea of how to fit in while I figured out how to continue my investigations.

“Sorry,” I said, feeling stupid—as well as a little faint. While the doctor had declared me fit for duty, I could tell I wasn’t at full health. “I forgot.”

Sujin looked alarmed at that. “You must really be out of it! Haneul, let’s take him to the lieutenant.”