Midshipman Read Online Free PDF

through the portals and suddenly I was surrounded by absolute bedlam. “How’s it feel to be free?” a woman screeched in my face. “Did you really kill three Imperial marines?” another voice demanded. “Who died because you took up a Tank that should’ve gone to a human?” Then they all let loose at once, a sea of angry, demanding voices closing in from all directions as bright lights flashed in my eyes and the footbunny hunkered down over me as closely and as protectively as he could.
    Fortunately it didn’t last long—a few seconds at most, though I was quite certain at the time that I’d never forget the experience as long as I lived. We passed through a second door, and suddenly it was as if the insane crowd had never been. The hallway was now dark, quiet, and dignified. “Wow!” Pedro whispered from close alongside me. “That was terrible !”
    “Oh, yes!” the footbunny agreed, nodding. “Some Rabbits think it’s all tea and crumpets, serving a Royal Governor. Well, let me tell you something! I often dream of a nice, quiet ship’s steward berth out between the stars, far away from all this nonsense.” He shook his head, making his ears waggle ridiculously. “Humans can be so rude ! And what’s amazing is that they treat each other even worse than us!”
    The hall stretched on and on and on, until it felt almost like the limo-ride and I began to appreciate the wisdom of whoever had reserved me a wheelchair. Then finally it grew lighter up ahead, and I could make out soft music and the murmur of conversation. “Where are we going?” I asked at last.
    The footbunny smiled, but Pedro spoke first. “It’s a party!” he explained. “For all of us Hummingbird s! They’re even going to let you and me eat with ‘em!”
    I blinked. “Wow!”
    “The governor is presiding personally,” the footbunny continued. “It’s a great, great honor, sir. I can’t remember this being done for any other ship’s crew, ever.” He smiled. “But then Hummingbird’ s done something no one else ever has. Though I’m afraid that the technical details go right over my head.”
    They didn’t take me straight into the ballroom; instead I was shunted off into a little antechamber where Mr. Banes was waiting for me, reading a datapad. He stood and smiled as I rolled in. “Congratulations!” he greeted me as, a bit awkwardly, I clambered up and out of my wheelchair. “I hope the surprise is a pleasant one.”
    I looked around a little bit, suddenly feeling very lost. The little chamber was all done up in fancy textured wallpaper, and expensive-looking busts adorned the corners where they met the ceiling. The knap on the carpet was so deep that it felt strange under my toeclaws. “I… I…” Mr. Banes’s brows knitted, and he opened his mouth to speak. But Pedro beat him to it.
    “It’s okay, David!” he declared, slapping me heartily on the back. “We’ve got a day off, see? Someone else is making the sandwiches!” Then he smiled and picked up another “Hummingbird Crewman” cap off of the counter. “We get to wear these, and no one makes us work!”
    I looked at Mr. Banes. He smiled, took the hat from Pedro, and clamped it on my head. There were even ear-holes—someone had thought ahead. “Yep!” he agreed. “This is your special day, all right.” Then he looked at Pedro and smiled. “A day for all of our heroes.”
    “Hooray!” the big Rabbit cried out, dancing with joy. Pedro might not’ve been very bright, but he was certainly pure of heart.
    Then my tutor examined me more carefully, verifying that my shirt was tucked in and my tie properly knotted despite the fact that I’d never put one on before. Next he picked innumerable little specks of lint and fur from my jacket. Then he stood back and sighed, shaking his head. “That’s the best that can be done for now,” he admitted eventually. “Though we’re simply going to have to commission special shoes. And the ever-shedding