ed something, the woman said: "The
truth is bound to come out when your fleet returns to Earth, so we'll
need to work out a defense for you. Or is necessity enough?"

"It doesn't matter." He raised his head, and now he could again speak
steadily. "I don't figure to skulk more than I must. Let them say what
they will, eight decades from now. I'll already have been judged."

"What?" She retreated a little, perhaps to see the gaunt form better.
"You don't mean you'll stay on Rustum? But it isn't necessary!"

"A liar ... quite likely a murderer ... I am not worthy to be the master
of a ship." His voice cracked over. "And maybe, after all, there isn't
going to be any more space travel to come home to."

He jerked free of her and went through the door. She stared after him.
She had better let him out; no, the key had been left in the bulkhead
lock. She had no excuse to follow.

_You aren't alone, Joshua_, she wanted to call. _Every one of us is
beside you. Time is the bridge that always burns behind us._

THE END

Transcriber's Note

This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ January 1960.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright
on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors
have been corrected without note.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Burning Bridge, by Poul William Anderson

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