Read Online He Who Dares: Book Three by Rob Buckman - Free Book Online

his own thoughts.
    “As the Queen Ann sunk deeper into the atmosphere, I wondered if I’d ever do this again.” The man murmured softly.
    “What! Pardon?” The man’s voice drew him back to the present.
    “They say that at the moment of death, your whole life flashes before your eyes. Not true, it’s all the things you are going to miss that flash before your eyes.”
    “Oh.” Mike answered, not caring one way or the other.
    “I don’t mean the big things, it’s the little things that you yearn to do again. Like sitting on a park bench and watching children play, enjoying a cold pint of beer on a hot day at your favorite pub, or a good book to read.”
    “I see.” Mike didn’t, but didn’t want to say so.
    “When Captain Philips told us they couldn’t get the fusion reactor back on line, I knew we were doomed, and it was just a matter of time before we sank deeper into the atmosphere and were crushed.” Mike turned his head and looked at the man understanding why the man needed to speak to him.
    “You are one of the survivors?” It was a dumb question, obvious from what he was saying.
    “Yes.” The man answered. Mike just nodded his head, unable to think of anything to say. “Then we received word a tug was coming down to pull us out. I think I laughed, partly from hope, and partly from the sheer guts it took for one lone skipper to bring his tug down that deep and pull the Queen Ann back out.” Mike had the grace to blush at the harsh words. His stupidity was what the man should have said.
    “Then they told us it was an old Royal Navy deep-space tug that was on the way. Then I did hope. I know how powerful those old tugs are and what they can do.” He paused for a moment to cough, as if clearing his throat. “You and your grandfather did something few men, or women, in the universe would have done. Not for gain, not for glory, just because it needed doing.”
    “There wasn’t time to think about it, I just knew we could do it.”
    “Oh! I see, so the press got it right for once. You were at the helm?”
    “Yes, Gramps’ ticket was under suspension at the time, so I was the Skipper.” Mike didn’t say it with pride or arrogance, just as a fact.
    “Then the rescue was even more remarkable than I first thought.”
    “Except for the cost…” He didn’t need to elaborate.
    “So now you feel guilty about your grandfather’s death.”
    “Yes.” He snapped, angry that this man had touched such a raw nerve.
    “Even though, through your actions, you saved the lives of over three hundred, mine included.” It was an odd thing to say.
    “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
    The man nodded. “When I heard who was coming to rescue us, I couldn’t believe it. You see, I knew your grandfather.”
    “You did?” Mike shot round, seeing the man nod.
    “I even served under him for a short time, as a Second Leftenant, before he was court-martialed.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “No, I don’t suppose you do.”
    “Explain!” The man dropped his chin to his chest and sighed. He opened his hands and looked at them for a moment. Maybe he was seeing blood on them.
    “I can’t tell you the story. That will have to come from someone else, someone who knows the whole truth.”
    “Who might that be?”
    “I don’t know. I can tell you your grandfather was falsely accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy.”
    “I knew it was something like that, but Gramps would never say.”
    “I can imagine why. The secret is buried somewhere in the naval archives. Maybe one day you will have a chance to look at that record and find out the why of it.”
    “I doubt it.”
    One by one the lights came on in the park as the old lamplighter peddled his way around on an antique pedal cycle. The lights were a throwback to days gone by, more electronic than gaslight, and the lamplighter was an android. No one minded, and it lent a charm to the park. Android he may be, but he always skipped