A shady archaeologist, an ambitious priestess, a suspicious officer - and a load of hidden contraband. Indiana Jones meets Firefly in the first book of the Sparrowhawk space adventure series. When dodgy passengers bring aboard a mysterious ancient relic, Patch and the crew of the space hauler Sparrowhawk are caught in a web of danger, deception, and greed. Sparrowhawk's rag-tag crew of petty smugglers navigate the perils of religious obsession, determined thieves, and uncharted space as they carry an expedition to discover a lost planet and the secret of the relic's dark influence. Born a slave, Patch is determined never again to let anyone control her fate. Armed with determination, wry humor, and healthy skepticism, Patch confronts pirates and scoundrels, religious intolerance, and her own self-doubt, navigating between cultures as she sails her ship between worlds. "Strap in behind Kojo and Patch and enjoy the ride. It's like getting a second life to experience a career as an interstellar smuggler!" - Douglas Phillips, author of Quantum Space.