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"Ten'stet!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The ceremonial volley of the ancient long guns caught him off guard as it
continued.
All eight of the remaining devilkids, four on a side, in full-dress Service
uniform, stood at attention. They formed an honor guard between him and the
open port of the waiting shuttle.
Behind them, also in full dress, was Lerwin, and it had been Lerwin's voice
that had given the commands.
Gerswin stood, waiting.
"Captain," began the new commandant, "there will be a commandant of Recorps
here on Old Earth who will succeed you. And he will have a successor, as will
his or her successor. But there is only one Captain, and there will be only
one Captain from Old Earth. Either here, or out among the Imperial stars."
"Ten'stet!" another voice barked.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
"Any words. Captain?" . Gerswin swallowed. Hard. Waited.
Finally, he cleared his throat.
"You all understand. Remember what we did. More important, remember why.
Time will make it easy to forget. I'll be back, one way or another, but it may
be a long cold trip. It's all in your hands, and you have a big job. The
biggest ever tackled." He paused. "We know it can be done. I did what I could,
but the biggest part is up to you, and I know you're up to it. You can do it.
You just have to forget the past and get on with it."
He turned to Lerwin and saluted.
"Your command. Commander. Your command. Permission to depart?"
"Your command, Captain. Always your command. We may hold it for you, but it
will always be yours. Good luck . . . from all of us . . . for all of us."
Lerwin returned the salute.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Gerswin waited until the last volley died away before bending to retrieve
the two kit bags. He lifted them and marched through the eight devilkids and
across the plastarmac toward the shuttle.
Once inside the lock, he set down the bags, turned and gave a last salute
before the shuttle ports closed.
A long trip so far . . . and a longer one that was just beginning.
Dawn For A Distant Earth L.E. Modesitt Jr.
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