The Raft

  Chapter 36

  “Then...” Rachael began. Above, on the car deck the Kalakala, a cheer rose up. It reminded Rachael that just a few yards away, the Kon-Tiki races were still in full swing. People were happy, celebrating. Perhaps a particularly well-contested race had just finished. Rachael didn't know the specifics. She was locked away, below the water line, trapped in a suffocating dungeon with a confessed murderer. Her head throbbed and she longed for her bed. Rachael wished she could just close her eyes and be magically transported back to dryland.

  She'd done her part, the story was over. She'd helped Maggie find her murderer and now Rachael wanted to go home. But yet, there was still so much farther that they all had to travel. Rachael's chest ached with the burden.

  “Then... Gandalf died for nothing?” Rachael said, breaking the pained, extended silence that had only been filled by the cheering outside the ferry.

  “I- I -” Tiger Print returned to her sobbing.

  “It doesn't matter,” Maggie said, turning and starting for the dimly lit ladder beyond the heavy steel door.

  “Doesn't matter?” Rachael repeated, confused. “But what do we do with her?” Rachael said, pointing at the blubbering Tiger Print.

  “Do with her?” Maggie said, stopping and looking back. “Nothing. We do nothing with her.”

  “But -” Rachael started.

  “Meerkat's death cost her her husband. A life for a life. She's paid her bill.”

  “But Gandalf was innocent... Everyone thinks he murdered Meerkat.”

  “He was and they do, and we have to make sure they keep thinking that or our détente with the dryfoots will collapse in on itself.”

  “But -”

  “But nothing. Gandalf died to protect Tiger Print. To protect the Raft. I have no intention of letting his death mean nothing. Tiger Print has paid for her crime and Gandalf for his. Blame? There's plenty of that to spread around. Who killed who and why and who believes what? It doesn't matter. If everyone is happy believing what they believe, then all the better.”

  “But you can't just leave it like this,” Rachael barked at Maggie. “You said before that Meerkat was your responsibility. As her Magistrate, it was your duty to investigate her murder. And you plan on just letting her murderer go free?”

  “No, not free,” Maggie said with an edge to her voice. “Tiger Print,” she commanded. “You're to put your boots on. You're no longer welcome aboard the Raft. You will leave the Kalakala and return to shore. The Raft has no prisons, no jail cells, no brigs, but there's a prison ready and waiting for you, Tiger, and I will lock you away in it.” Maggie turned back and stepped through the great steel door. She raised her injured foot onto the bottom rung of the ladder. “Get off the Raft, Tiger Print, and never return. Let that be your jail cell.”

  And Maggie, wearily, began to climb.