Terrence had never had any urge to be a hero. He had always pictured himself retiring at a ripe old age as a Colonel or Brigadier and raising canal oranges on Mars, but suddenly the memory of the Narakan Rifles rushing down the street with bugles blaring and flag waving right into the Rumi line of fire rose before him. The thought of O'Shaughnessy, even with his new lieutenant's commission, leading the blundering troops along the two hundred miles to Fort Craven was too much for him. "I beg your pardon, Major," he heard himself saying, "But as the Narakan Training Officer, I think that I should remain in command of the unit in its overland march." The Major was dumfounded. Norton looked as if he were sure the Narakan climate had proven too much of a strain for the lieutenant. "Lieutenant O'Mara, are you sure...." began Chapelle. "Are you nuts, O'Mara? Do you know what you're asking for?" demanded Norton. "Yes, sir. I feel that since Colonel Upton appointed me Training Officer for the Narakan Rifles, it is my duty to stay with them until I am relieved." Chapelle's look of astonishment had changed to one of relief. It would be far easier to explain the hurried abandonment of the Narakan Rifles to the native representatives at New Chicago if a Terran officer were to remain with them. "Well," he said, "I could, of course, relieve you of your responsibility but if you feel that...." "I do, sir." Terrence said quickly lest he be tempted to back out. IV Later in the day as he sat in the shade of the command post's overhanging roof with his back against a stack of sand-bags, he cursed himself for sixteen kinds of an idiot as he watched the evacuation begin. Beta was dropping low over the pink Maldo hills as the long line of earthmen filed up the gangway into the big airship. "Hello," said a voice behind him. He turned to find Joan Allen standing there clothed in radiation armor and holding a small canvas bag in one hand. "I thought ... I mean ... I came to say good-bye." "Hello, yourself. I thought you were on board with the rest of them." He got up hastily. "No. I got the kids on board but I wanted one more look at the schoolhouse before we shoved off." Somehow he was holding onto her arm, "I guess it meant a lot to you, that schoolhouse," he said. "Yes, it did. I ... I was afraid that I wouldn't get to see you when you get to New Chicago." "There's no danger of that, Joanie. If and when I get there, I'll be looking for you ... that is ... if you want to see me." "If you think you can stand an old maid school teacher, I'll be looking for you." She was very close to him now. "Why did you do it, Terrence? Why are you making the march with the Narakans? Fielding says your chances aren't very good." "I'll thank Fielding to keep his big mouth shut! I don't really know why, probably kind of an Earthman's Burden, noblesse oblige ... you know ... something like the sort of thing Kipling used to write about."