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owned by Starbright and on perpetual lease to the owner of the ship. So the
drive riggers are Starbright employees, and the rest of the crew are Taler
people. At least
Born owns its own computer and telemetry systems. Otherwise there d be another
group of techs on board.
The news didn t particularly surprise Steward. Expensive equipment on the
order of large complex drive systems was often leased rather than bought,
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particularly by smaller freight companies operating on the margin.
I imagine that gives the riggers a certain amount of autonomy,
Steward said.
Reese nodded. Something like that.
Steward rubbed the bridge of his nose where his shades were chafing him.
There s this other thing I want to mention, he said. I have this investment
opportunity you might be interested in.
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Williams, Walter Jon - Voice of the Whirlwind
Reese seemed amused. She put one of her feet up on an empty chair. What
sort?
It s this special account where they start you off with a thousand Starbright
dollars. And then you do whatever you want with it.
Reese laughed. Okay. Her silver ear cuffs flashed in the sun.
The last guy offered me thirteen hundred Pink Blossom, but I d have to train
him. It might be worth three hundred not to have to bother. Hey. She was
waving at someone over Steward s shoulders, presumably the waitress. She
looked at Steward. I m starved. Do you mind?
The waitress was about sixteen, black, with severe acne and a jacket that
flashed scenes of beaches, palm trees, and Heineken greenies. Steward watched
the pictures reflection track across
Reese s face as they ordered. The waitress smiled, then padded back into the
interior of the hotel.
Reese finished her drink and leaned forward across the linen tablecloth. The
major thing about this job is that it takes someone who can be comfortable
with himself, all alone, for long periods. You re gonna be spending months in
a bottle with only four other people. If you re the kind who needs other
people around him all the time, you re going to drive everyone crazy.
Steward shrugged. I can be as solitary as the next person.
Griffith said that about you, but sometimes I don t know what
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Williams, Walter Jon - Voice of the Whirlwind to think about Griffith s
friends.
Steward smiled. I know what you mean.
She was frowning at him. You got religion?
I m sort of a Zen agnostic.
People who babble about God all the time make trip a lot longer than it has
to be. How about ideology?
I thought Starbright has no official ideology.
No, it doesn t. Do you?
No.
Do you smoke?
Yes.
Reese s look turned cold. You ll quit. That s a condition of employment. I m
allergic, and I m not going to live with it.
I ve quit before.
I m talking permanently. No sneaking smokes, either, when
I m not around. I d rather have a pork junkie on board than a nicotine junkie.
At least when you stick things in your veins, it doesn t pollute the air.
I can quit.
Reese seemed dubious. Okay. As far as benefits and votes are concerned, you
spend the first three years as an apprentice. The pay s shit, but you get
room, board, and your health is taken care of. After that, you get citizenship
and one vote. There are stock
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Williams, Walter Jon - Voice of the Whirlwind options and such built in, so
every ten years you get another three votes. If you buy more stock, you get
more votes, but on the basic fifty-year plan you ll be able to contribute
sixteen votes to the political health of our plutocratic democracy. Of course
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