In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

"Oh, that’s going to be easy. Once we approach orbit, they’re going to be dropped out the airlock during an emergency drill. Everyone will think a meteor clipped us and the stuff will just fall into orbit. We give the right signal and go to meet it at our landing coordinates. All we have to do is pick them up."

They moved off still talking in low voices.

The five children exchanged glances. "I smell a rat," said Lucinda.

"They’re planning something really bad," Violet’s voice was shaking.

"Oh, yeah," Rupert responded. "I think we need to find out more about this. Maybe we can stop it."

"Should we tell Katherine?" Lucinda asked.

"Not yet," Juliette responded. "Let’s wait until we have more information. Maybe we can find out what those weapons are going to be used for."

"How many of Grouter’s spy buttons did you filch when we left?" Roderick asked.

"About thirty," Juliette said. "The real trick will be getting close enough to Lister to plant one on her."

"Yeah, but it’s got to be on something she always has with her, like her boots or something," Lucinda said.

"We need to plant one on him too," Rupert interjected.

"I heard the Clan heads and their families are all going to be on the same shuttle up to the moon where the ships dock, maybe we can do it then," suggested Roderick. "We should all carry one so if any one of us gets the chance we plant it."

"Hey, I think she’s leaving," Rupert reported.

"Let’s see where she goes," suggested Lucinda.

Ignorant of the children’s plotting, Zack looked down at Katherine as they spun gracefully around the room, "Are you finished with your duty dances?" he asked.

"Yes, thank goodness," she replied and then gasped as he executed a whirling spin and danced her out of the ballroom and onto the heated terrace.

Once outside he led her down into the moonlit gardens. "I thought we could do with some time alone," he said. "Every time I try to get you alone we get interrupted..."

He tilted her chin up and fastened his mouth on hers. Katherine yielded eagerly. She had wanted this too. After a few minutes however, it became apparent that Zack had more in mind than a few kisses.

Katherine caught his hand as he was attempting to untie the lacing on the front of her dress one-handed. "We can’t do this here," she protested.

He sighed, his hand on her rump tightening, making her acutely aware of his arousal.

"If we don’t, we won’t have another chance before we make planetfall," he said, sliding his lips down her neck. His other hand left the stays and cupped her breast, sliding his thumb over her aroused nipple.

"I know," she breathed, wanting to give in, but just then, there was a giggle from the bushes behind them, followed by a man’s laugh.

"I don’t think we’re alone here either," she said, sobering.

He made a growling noise and dropped his hand, looking around for the other couple. He didn’t find them, but he did spot Darla Lister striding through the gardens. Unfortunately, he saw the child sized shadows following her as well.

"Dammit!" he exclaimed, grabbing Katherine’s hand and moving to intercept the shadows. He caught Rupert by the shoulder and pulled him out into the moonlight.

"Alright, everyone, out where I can see you," he ordered. Five very sheepish children stepped out of the shadows and regarded him with identical defiant gazes.

"I know, this might seem like a good place to play hide and seek," Katherine remarked, "but it really isn’t. I think it’s time for us to take leave of the Governor and return to base, don’t you Zack?"

Remembering what they had almost interrupted, and what else they might encounter out here with the adults taking advantage of the moonlight and darkness to play sexual games, he agreed.

The next morning on the shuttle trip, it was Violet who managed to plant the bug on Darla Lister. By "accidentally" tripping on the way back to the bathroom, she managed to drop hers onto Darla’s boot.

Bending over to help Violet back to her feet, Rupert was able to do the same to Lewiston who was sitting next to Lister.

Once settled in their quarters aboard ship, the children found it relatively easy to take turns sneaking out to follow Lister and Lewiston. Since the spy buttons had a limited range, the receiver had to be close to hear and record the conversations. Katherine as well as one of Jayne’s toddlers was suffering from a bout of space sickness, and it was almost two weeks before Katherine was back to normal.

Although generously proportioned for a free trader, The Dancing Gryphon wasn’t an especially large ship and they had been in space for several weeks before the inevitable happened. Lister spotted them hanging around and suspected she was being followed. Her angry response and the resulting hullaballoo caused a stink that ended with them all up before the Captain.

Captain’s Mast

UPON RECEIVING the summons to the Captain’s Mast, Katherine had taken care to dress herself, Juliette and Zack formally. She had explained to an uneasy Juliette that the Captain was going to make an inquiry in the circumstances that had led to her being locked into an unheated storage closet. The summons had requested only Katherine, Juliette and Zack attend; however, Rodrick and Rupert had insisted on coming with them. Suspecting the boys were fully capable of sneaking out and following them anyway, Katherine had reluctantly acquiesced.

When the Dancing Gryphon had been used primarily as a troop transport during the war, the military had made several changes to her inside decks to accommodate both officers and troops. Captain Hidelberg had converted one of the re-conditioned officer’s lounge areas into an outsized office. It also served as a meeting room for himself and his crew.

To hold court, the Captain presided behind a sizable table. To the left of the table, stood a large flight cage occupied by a beautifully plumed Screecher. Although considerably bigger, the