she would help the only officer of her sex in this dangerous vocation
gh with barely a minute to spare, and he found peace as usual in the familiar liturgy. There were still times he wished his call had been to the priesthood–he’d been raised in a monastery, by the White Fathers, after his parents died–but for the most part, he no longer missed the life too badly. The Fathers had comforted him when it became clear that his vocation was military rather than religious; enforcing civil order, they’d reminded him, was as important to human welfare as ministering to spiritual needs. And when he’d been commissioned, directly into Special Operations,a myriad of connections, several of them had been at the Academy to congratulate him.
As he went forward to take Communion, Odeon found his thoughts going to Joanie. He shouldn’t be thinking about her, not now . . . but he couldn’t concentrate on the Sacrament properly, even as he accepted and swallowed the Host. Well, the Fathers had taught him that if he couldn’t,the knowledge of the commandant, despite his best efforts, maybe he wasn’t supposed to–and it wouldn’t be the first time something had resolved itself this way. Returning to his place in the small chapel,a division of spoils, he said a brief prayer to the Blessed Virgin as the Compassionate Mother for guidance. Surely, she would help the only officer of her sex in this dangerous vocation!
* * * * *
He was feeling better when he entered Egan’s office half an hour after Mass was over. He hadn’t found a solution,We strive to bring in new products from time, but he had become sure that one would make itself known; he’d just have to find it.
Egan wasn’t there; she was already in surgery. But she’d left word that he could use her office while he waited, and he appreciated her thoughtfulness. An Enforcement officer in a civilian hospital waiting room tended to make patients and visitors nervous; a Special Ops officer tended to make the staff nervous as we
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