Captain Cosette Read Online Free PDF Page B

to whatever that place is.”
    “ If you wish.  It’s a training center.  I’m not happy about taking you, though.  As I said, I don’t want the bounty anymore.”
    “ You can send the money to your parents.”
    “ Our parents have passed away, but I’ll hold the money for you.”
    A fat lot of good money would do me as a soldier . 
    It was hard to tell, though.  She knew nothing about what was going to happen.  Maybe a bit of money would be useful to buy her something needful.  Earplugs for the battlefield, or something.
    She wasn’t anxious to reach the training center, but she was tired of the uncertainty.  She scattered the lazy fire and tossed the ropes and blankets in the back of the van.  “Let’s go, then.”
    He held the keys at her.  “Do you want to drive your van?”
    She laughed ruefully.  “I’ve never driven anything.  The only thing mechanical I know how to use is a methane stove and a washing machine.  I’m just a country girl.”
    “ Do you want me to drive?”
    “ Sure.  I wouldn’t even know where to go.”
    As they climbed into the van, he pointed at the city.  “It’s near the spaceport.  The spaceport belongs to the Planetary Union, but Sorine’s government offices are built next to it.  That’s where you get turned in.”  He frowned.  “I’m sorry.”
    “ Yes, well, that makes two of us.”
    The turbine whined and they pulled out of the clearing, traveling down a narrow trail until they got to the mountain road, a series of paved switchbacks that gave access to the highlands where Cosette’s family and others raised fruit.
    They weaved down the road and past the Lucky Lady, which had a sign in the window saying CLOSED.  The streets became regular, a mix of apartments, manufacturing blocks, store fronts, and fenced-off empty blocks.  Toulouse had its prosperous sections and its poor sections; the spaceport lay in the middle of a depressed industrial area.  Wealthy people did not want to live near the thunder of departing ships, but the poor had little choice.
    Rasora pulled over and opened a compartment next to the steering wheel.  He pulled out an official-looking rectangular pin which he fastened on his shirt just above the pocket.  They drove on, turned a corner, and arrived at a guardhouse where the guard examined the sticker on the windshield of the van, the pin on Rasora’s chest, and then waved them on.  Rasora parked the van next to a long, low building painted yellow and gray.  “In here,” he said.
    With sinking heart, Cosette grabbed her bag and descended from the van.   She walked slowly to the door of the building like a condemned woman walking her last mile before execution.
    Rasora walked beside her, and she felt a hesitant squeeze of her shoulder.  “You’ll be okay,” he said.  “You’re too little for them to put on the front lines.”
    Small comfort .
    Rasora opened the door for her, and they walked into a small office.  Behind the counter sat a hefty man with close-cut hair and a bent nose.  He stood when they entered, and said loudly, “Rasora!  Back again, eh?”  He walked up to the counter and leaned on it, examining Cosette.  “What’s this?  You’ve finally found a girl that would go with you?”
    Rasora didn’t smile.  “This is Cosette, Raimy.  She’s a new recruit.  You gave us her draft papers last week.”  He pulled a folded paper from his pocket and laid it on the counter, and laid the key to her bracelet on top of the paper.
    Raimy’s smile shrank.   “She’s a new recruit?  Well, I’ll be.”  He turned his attention to Rasora.  “Where’s Imsami?  He never trusted you to collect the bounty.”
    “ Imsami’s dead.”
    Raimy’s smile vanished.  “Oh, I am sorry to hear that.  Some father gave you trouble?”
    “ No,” said Rasora.  “A knife fight in a tavern.  Someone had a gun.  It was only two days ago, so I’d rather not talk about it.”
    “ Oh, sure, I’m