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Fraser did so, closing the door behind him. "Too drafty for you?" Stillman asked mildly as Fraser sat down on one of the mayor's guest chairs.
"I got a call a few minutes ago from Harti Bell out at the Horizon Port," Fraser began without preamble. "Jonny Moreau's back."
Stillman stared at the other for a moment, then shrugged slightly. "He had to come eventually. The war's over, after all. Most of the soldiers came back week...
"Yeah, but Jonny's not exactly an ordinary soldier. Harti said he lifted a satchel that must have weighed thirty kilos with one hand. Effortlessly. The kid c...
"Relax, Sut. I know the Moreau family. Jonny's a very even-tempered sort of guy."
"Was, you mean," Fraser said darkly. "He's been a Cobra for three years now, killing Trofts and watching them kill his friends. Who knows what that's done to...
"Probably instilled a deep dislike for war, if he's like most soldiers. Aside from that, it hasn't done too much, I'd guess."
"You know better than that, Teague. The kid's dangerous; that's a simple fact. Ignoring it isn't going to do you any good."
"Calling him 'dangerous' is? What are you trying to do, start a panic?"
"I doubt that any panic's going to need my help to get started. Everybody in town's seen the idiot plate reports on Our Heroic Forces-they all know how badly...
Stillman sighed. "Look. I'll admit there may be some problems with Jonny's readjustment to civilian life. Frankly, I would have been happier if he'd stayed i...
"Yeah. Maybe." Fraiser shook his head slowly. "It's not going to be an easy road, though. Look, as long as I'm here, maybe you and I could draft some sort of...
"Good idea. Hey, cheer up, Sut-soldiers have been coming home ever since mankind started having wars. We should be getting the hang of this by now."
"Yeah," Fraser growled. "Except that this is the first time since swords went out of fashion that soldiers have gotten to take their weapons home with them."...
Stillman shrugged helplessly. "It's out of our hands. Come on: let's get to work."
* * *
Jonny pulled up in front of the Moreau home and turned off the car engine with a sigh of relief. The roads between Horizon City and Cedar Lake were rougher t...
He stepped out of the car and retrieved his bags from the trunk, and as he set them down on the street a hand fell on his shoulder. He turned and looked five...
"Hi, Dader," Jonny said, face breaking into a huge grin as he grasped the other's outstretched hand. "How've you been?"
Pearce's answer was interrupted by a crash and shriek from the front door of the house. Jonny turned to see ten-year-old Gwen tearing across the lawn toward ...
"Good," she panted. "Then you can teach me how to arm wrestle. C'mon and see my room, huh, Jonny?"
"I'll be along in a little bit," he told her. "I want to say hello to Momer first. She in the kitchen?"
"Yes," Pearce said. "Why don't you go on ahead, Gwen. I'd like to talk to Jonny for a moment."
"Okay," she chirped. Squeezing Jonny's hand, she scampered back toward the house.
"She's got her room papered with articles and pictures from the past three years," Pearce explained as he and Jonny collected Jonny's luggage. "Everything sh...
"You disapprove?"
"Of what-that she idolizes you? Good heavens, no. Why?"
"You seem a bit nervous."
"Oh. I guess I was a little startled when you tossed Gwen in the air a minute ago."
"I've been using the servos for quite a while now," Jonny pointed out mildly as they headed toward the house. "I really do know how to use my strength safely...
"I know, I know. Hell, I used exoskeleton gear myself in the Minthistin War, you know, when I was your age. But it was pretty bulky, and you couldn't ever fo...
Jonny shrugged. "Actually, I'm probably in better control than you ever were, since I don't have to have two sets of responses-with power amp and without. Th...
Pearce nodded. "Okay." He paused, then continued, "Look, Jonny, as long as we're on the subject . . . the Army's letter to us said that 'most' of your Cobra ...
Jonny sighed. "I wish they'd just come out and listed the stuff instead of being coy like that. It makes it sound like I'm still a walking tank. The truth is...
"Okay," Pearce said. "Sorry to bring it up, but your mother and I were a little nervous."
"That's all right."
They were at the house now. Entering, they went to the bedroom Jame had had to himself for the last three years. "Where's Jame, by the way?" Jonny asked as h...
"Out at New Persius picking up a spare laser tube for the bodywork welder down at the shop. We've only got one working at the moment and can't risk it going ...
"I can spot-weld, yes. They were designed to work on metals, as a matter of fact."
"Great. Maybe you could give us a hand until we can get parts for the other lasers. How about it?"
Jonny hesitated. "Uh . . . frankly, Dader, I'd rather not. I don't . . . well, the lasers remind me too much of . . . other things."
"I don't understand," Pearce said, a frown beginning to crease his forehead. "Are you ashamed of what you did?"
"No, of course not. I mean, I knew pretty much what I was getting into when I joined the Cobras, and looking back I think I did as good a job as I could have...
Pearce remained silent for a moment. Then he laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "You're right, Jonny; fighting a war from a star ship was a lot different. I'...
"Yeah, Dader. Thanks."
"Sure. Come on, let's go see your mother. Then you can go take a look at Gwen's room."
* * *
Dinner that night was a festive occasion. Irena Moreau had cooked her son's favorite meal-center-fired wild balis-and the conversation was light and frequent...
It took most of the meal for the others to bring Jonny up to date on the doings of Cedar Lake's people, so it wasn't until Irena brought out the cahve that c...
"I'm not really sure," Jonny confessed, holding his mug of cahve with both hands, letting the heat soak into his palms. "I suppose I could go back to school ...