"Is it? When was the last time you were on Earth? Twenty years ago?"
"Unless the Formics are defeated, we are cut off, Arjuna. No supply lines will get through. We will die out here."
"I am aware of this. But our tracking the news feeds won't prevent that from happening. We are powerless to help, Rena. The Formics will win or lose regardless of us." He crossed his arms and studied her a moment. "Are you sure this is not about Victor? I know you want closure, Rena. I understand that."
"Not closure. That suggests he didn't make it to Luna. I'm certain he did."
"You say that, but I see the doubt in your eyes." He sighed softly. "He tried to cross the system in a quickship, Rena. This is impossible. There is no chance your son is still alive."
"Don't talk to me about chances. You do not know my son."
He held up his hands. "I have offended you. That was not my intent."
Rena ran a hand through her hair, calming herself. "This is not just about Victor. There are other advantages here. With a subscription we would have a continuous link to Themis's receiver. We'd be in the network. We'd get news from distant places in the Belt. We could better track vultures."
"These are all wonderful benefits, Rena. But we can't afford it. We are a salvage ship."
"What if we weren't?"
Her question confused him. "What are you saying?"
"What if we made this a mining ship?"
He laughed. "The Gagak is no mining ship. We're barely a salvage ship."
"What difference does that make? El Cavador was in no better condition when we started."
His smile faded. "You're serious about this."
"If we're mining rock, we'll make far more money. The thought hadn't occurred to me until now, but it makes complete sense. We can help each other. The women and I want our own ship. The faster we bring in revenue, the faster we can make that possible."
"Consider what you're saying, Rena. We don't have the equipment. We would need smelters, diggers, quickships. We don't have any of that."
"So we get it. Piece by piece. We're salvagers. We find what we need, or we trade for it. We've got some of that stuff in our haul right now. Not much, but enough to get started."
He shook his head. "We don't have a credit rating, Rena. Even if we could dig, Luna would never take anything we send them."
"You don't have a credit rating, but El Cavador does. I propose a partnership. Your ship and your crew; plus my crew, our expertise, and our credit rating. We split the profits. It's not as far-fetched as it sounds."
He looked uncomfortable. "No. I am sorry. A partnership is out of the question."
"You can't do this without us, Arjuna. We know the business. We know the tech. We have the credentials. It's only fair that you make us full partners."
"I agree. That is only fair. But I cannot partner with you, Rena. It's not possible."
"Why not?"
He hesitated. "Because ... you are women."
His words surprised her so much that it took a moment for their full meaning to sink in. Of course, she thought. He was Somali, a patriarchal society. He would lose face with his crew if he partnered with women. They would think him weak, soft, unmanly. He would lose command, maybe even his wives. A stronger man would step in and claim them, and Rena and the others would be pushed aside.
"You must understand," he said. "It is nothing against you personally. This is simply who we are. You have your culture, and we have ours. I cannot ignore that for convenience."
"No, you can't. The partnership wouldn't last. We would be ostracized. And so would you."
"There is one possible solution," he said, "but I do not think you will like it."
She looked at him and waited.