My Other Car is a Spaceship Read Online Free Page B

the ship’s computer and sensors. There’s a lot to process simultaneously and most of us are incapable of doing it. Fewer than one percent of humans have this ability—what we call hypertasking—and at most two to three percent of some other races. A few species—the Foren, for example—lack the ability entirely. Either they fly the old-fashioned way or they hire pilots from other races to fly for them.
    “We ’ve been scanning pilots on Earth for this ability since Tompkins died, and you’re the first we’ve found who’s suitable. That gene is part of the reason you were such an exceptional pilot. The rest, of course, was due to intelligence, hard work, and training. We only need you for seven months, before we’re relieved. Then you can go home and we can return to base and pick up some replacement pilots.”
    “ Let’s say I believe all this. So far you haven’t said why I should risk my neck to help you.”
    Kalen shrugged. “It’s very simple. You wouldn’t be doing this for me, or the Unity, you’d be doing it for Earth. Look, you spent your entire adult life defending your country from marauders. Then you were put out to pasture before your time. I’m giving you the opportunity once again to protect not only your country, but your entire planet. And , you get the chance to fly an actual starship. I’m guessing that was a boyhood dream of yours.”
    Hal flashed a crooked smile. “You certainly know which buttons to push.” His smile faded. “Suppose I decline your generous offer. What then? Am I a prisoner?”
    “ Certainly not. You’re welcome to leave at any time. I would just ask that you keep all this to yourself. You wouldn’t want to create mass panic on Earth, would you?”
    Hal snorted. “Who’d believe me anyway? Okay, for the sake of argument say I’m in. I don’t have anything more exciting planned for the next few months than to do some gardening. What’s involved in this neural interface?”
    Hal listened as Kalen went on in more detail about the interface and the other things Hal needed to know. The more Kalen talked, the more intrigued Hal became. As he’d said, he had nothing exciting coming up. What he failed to mention was that he missed the excitement of test flying. Piloting his old Cessna Skylane was enjoyable enough, but it lacked the rush of pulling negative gees in an untested experimental fighter. 145 knots at two thousand meters hardly matched Mach 2.8 or pushing the envelope at the edge of space.
    He desperately wanted —no, needed —some excitement in his life again.
    I’m probably insane for believing all this, but —damn it—he makes perfect sense. He could be lying through his teeth, but I don’t think so. The aliens in the crew, the view outside the ship—there’s no way all that could be faked so convincingly.
    And why such an elaborate charade, anyway? Any classified information I might know is years out of date. Surely there’s active military personnel that would be better targets for a con job this elaborate.
    Hal took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then he squared his shoulders. “W hen do we begin?”
    Kalen smiled. “Right now , if you like. I’ll give you the grand tour.”
    “Let’s do it. ” The two men shook hands. “By the way, now you can call me Hal.”
    Hal followed Kalen out of the room, never once giving thought to the life he was leaving behind, if temporarily. He was too caught up in the excitement of the moment.
    When most men suffer a midlife crisis, they buy a hot little sports car or find a mistress. Me, I get to strap on a spaceship! He grinned inwardly at the thought.
    Swee t.

CHAPTER TWO
    He wasn’t exaggerating when he called it a grand tour. This is incredible!
    Hal had just spent two hours following Kalen from one end of Adventurer to the other, with many stops along the way: from the bridge to environmental systems, from engineering to weapons. The sheer scope of the immense ship continued to amaze