Fall of the White Ship Avatar by Brian Daley

around the more substantial obstacles. There was apparently some point to the added file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...y%20-%20Fall%20of%20the%20White%20Ship%20Avatar.htm (46 of 242)23-2-2006 17:03:12
    [Fitzhugh 3]-FALL OF THE WHITE SHIP AVATAR
    hardship, but it eluded Floyt. Eventually Lord Marcus beckoned them onto a narrow path like a game trail.
    When the bush thinned a bit, Marcus said to Alacrity, "Oh, before I forget … " He passed over an intricately woven gilt document bearing ribbons and stamps. Alacrity took it and examined it closely.
    "Exactly one voting share in the White Ship, made out in your name," Marcus said. "I've already registered the formal transfer, although how much good that will do you I can't really say, Jordan."
    Alacrity opened an inside pocket to tuck it away. "More than you know; it'll get me into the next board meeting. That's all I need."
    "Ah, yes," Marcus said, armored hands clasped behind his back. "Don't take this the wrong way, m'lad, but you really have two choices, the way I see it. Vinzix and I are cooperating on our, own plan regarding the White Ship, you see. You can confide in me and let me help you—and I wish to, believe me—or you'll have to pretty much go it alone, although I'll do what I can for you, of course."
    Alacrity wore the withdrawn expression Floyt knew so well. Albrecht was keeping up a running translation for Vinzix, who watched Alacrity closely.
    "And don't get me wrong, Marcus," Alacrity said at last as they came up the rise to the target area with its scorched tree roots and vanished holobeast. The next castway lay just beyond, and from where they were they could see the target.
    "I'm grateful to you," Alacrity went on, "but it's just not that simple. I have an obligation to—someone, to make sure the information I've got isn't used the wrong way." He was thinking of Heart and how much more she would hate him if she thought he'd used the data he'd stolen from her father to profit some outside party; as it was, she had little enough sympathy for his personal quest for mastery of the White Ship.
    "Wouldn't you say you owe some debt or obligation for the help you've been rendered here?" Albrecht translated, after hearing out Vinzix's rasping, hissing remark. Alacrity was sure the gist of it was closer to fighting words.
    "Son, you have to trust someone sometime," Lord Marcus said softly.
    He's right there, Alacrity admitted to himself. I trusted Ho, and it got me the only friend I have.
    "All right, Marcus. Um, lemme see, here … " He stepped back, shielding himself with his body as he worked on his proteus and studied the data he'd seized from Dincrist at the start of the Regatta for the Purple. When he turned back, the proteus was inert again.
    file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...y%20-%20Fall%20of%20the%20White%20Ship%20Avatar.htm (47 of 242)23-2-2006 17:03:12
    [Fitzhugh 3]-FALL OF THE WHITE SHIP AVATAR
    Alacrity said, "Here's one for openers. There's a very sizable block of voting shares that's been inactive for a long, long time. Nobody's supposed to know who owns it, of course, under board procedures, but it's some woman named Loebelia Curry."
    "Loebelia … Loebelia Curry ?" Lord Marcus exploded. "Hecate! Hecate!"
    Alacrity looked baffled. "Are you saying this Loebelia Curry was Hecate? The one my parents were always talking about?"
    Floyt was looking at them blankly. "Who's Hecate?"
    Lord Marcus was belly-laughing. Albrecht was translating to the impatient-looking Vinzix. Alacrity told his friend, "Hecate was—well, was one of the great eccentrics and—an adventurer, I guess you could call her. I wasn't even sure she was real."
    He looked to Lord Marcus Perlez. "It looks like you're right about a partnership. I knew one thing and you knew another and now we've got something going here."
    "We have indeed, we have indeed," Marcus said. "What else did you find out?"
    Alacrity cocked his head at the old man. "Don't you