r
conscience and have an exotic fuck." He was silent.

"What do you want from me?"

"I want you to stop KILLING yourself." The emotions of a lifetime
seemed to be trying to push their way through her throat, the back of
her eyes. "DAMN you. Aren't there enough things out there to destroy
us..... I want you to find another WAY to fight them." As he weakened
she started to go to him, checked herself.

"Listen to me, Morgan. One more raid isn't going to make a difference
in this war, one way or another. It's too big for that now. But if
you're killed it will mean everything to you..... And to me."

They stood in silence.

*

Again they stood within their chambers beneath the transparent dome on
the planet Alba: early night. Morgan was preparing to leave.

"Please don't go." The tears flowed freely down her face. "I could
never forgive you." The boy, standing by her side, looked at him with
an angry, puzzled expression.

He started for the doorway. Reaching it he stopped, and stood
perfectly still. As the battle raged inside him.

"Morgan, please." He turned to face her. She was love and loss
personified.

His shoulders went limp, and the rifle slid halfway down his arm. He
had never felt so empty. Twenty seconds.

He lifted the strap of the rifle, leaned the weapon against the corner
by the door. He walked past them and into the bedroom.

Un-shouldering his pack as they followed him in, he unfastened the
flaps at the top and took something out of it. Steel hoops on a black
chain shone silver. The man placed one cuff around his wrist, hooked
the other to the metal bedpost. He took a set of keys from his pocket.
. .and threw them across the room.

He slid to the floor, covered his face with his arm.

"Morgan," she said quietly. "What are you doing?"

"I love you." His sobs were audible.

........................................................................
..........................

A WALK THROUGH THE NIGHT

THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD POSSIBLY DESCRIBE THIS. One foot after the
other. Rock walls rising black on either side, a chasm of stars. The
road like a gray snake winding through cold air. Night.

WHEN YOU'RE READING A BOOK..... YOU'RE ALWAYS SAFE INSIDE YOUR MIND.
THERE ARE WALLS AND WARMTH AROUND YOU. THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN FEEL
EXPOSED, LIKE THIS. The sound of shoes on pavement. A chill sweat.
THIS WEAKNESS. IT PUTS YOU I