Party, With Echoes
First published in Redstone SF. For this story I decided to combine an extraplanetary setting with my experience in SCUBA diving.
"So—your ancestors were pearl divers in Western Australia?" he says.
"Yup," Yuriko replies, in who-cares sort of way that she hopes reinforces her tough image. But she thinks, So, you said you were fit? and she's looking at the thermals stretching over his belly and the pudgy hairy spiders that are his hands.
"You're OK with the gear?"
He makes an O by putting the tip of his index finger on the tip of his thumb, the divers' sign. "Don't worry. I have Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Dive Rescue and Dive Master qualifications."
Yuriko smiles and thinks, But how long since you've used them? The spec from Ianni said he was a company directo
