The Helavite War by Theresa Snyder Read Free Book Online Page B

was in no hurry. He'd
squirreled away enough shiny stuff to last him a lifetime. After
his dad was killed Jake dealt with the crisis by burying himself in
his work.
    Arr TOOK to prowling the ship at night. Jake
figured he was having nightmares over his first battle. The
mercenary tried to approach him one night, but the kid was
reluctant to talk. Jake told him there was no reason to be ashamed
of his feelings; even Jake had bad dreams now and then. It came
with the territory.
    The boy needed some time to adjust. Jake
decided he wouldn't take another job for a while. Let the kid rest
and hope the demons passed.

Chapter 19
    Arr was thankful for the rest at Outpost #68. He was
having a hard time coming to grips with what he had done on the ice
planet. His waking thoughts were stuck on the scene of the battle.
When he fell asleep he had the old familiar dream of the Henu
massacre, but this time he played two parts in it. He was still
that little boy in the reeds by the lake. However, when The Other looked at him he was
looking into his own grown up face. He was the invading force. Jake
asked him if he wanted to talk. Jake sensed something was wrong,
but Arr wasn't ready. He was trying to think it out for
himself.
    It seemed so senseless to Arr. The battle
was over the possession of the snow and ice itself. Where Arr grew
up there was plenty of water to drink, irrigate and swim in. Such
was not the case throughout the rest of the galaxy he was told. All
minerals were very precious and water was scarce. One part of the
little planet wanted to set up a purifying plant and market their
water to the other planets in their space. The other part of the
populous wanted to keep it as it was and always had been. The
latter lost through the efforts of the mercenaries of which Arr was
now one.
    What made the mercenaries any different from
the Helavite pirates? Arr wasn't sure they had a right to decide
which was the best course for that planet and its people. If he
kept thinking along these lines he would desert Jake and go home.
But he didn't.
    There was another part of him that said
thirsty people had a right to drink and others whose planet
abounded in natural resources should share. Jake had been fighting
battles like this all his life. Jake was a good man. Jake wouldn't
do anything he didn't feel was right.
    And so the internal battle raged on.

Chapter 20
    Jake thought he found the perfect assignment for him
and Arr to take next. He heard from a trader who was passing
through that the planet he fought on just seven months ago in the
Nubula System established a processing plant for the galnon
crystals. They needed a security team to do light duty, checking
the workers for pilfering from the plant. No killing required -
plush duty and good money. He hated to say 'a piece of cake,' after
the last episode, but it really did sound like just the ticket.
    Jake spoke to Tim via his new and improved
communications system about the kid's sleepless nights. Tim quoted
that ancient anecdote, 'If the horse throws you, you get right back
on.' Tim advised putting Arr straight back into the most heated
battle Jake could find. Don't let him think about what he did. Keep
him busy. But Tim didn't know the kid like he did. Jake felt the
slow approach was best. A few quiet months at Galnon Station #41
and he'd work it all out for himself.
    When Jake contacted the station
superintendent the guy was elated. Jake's reputation preceded him.
The Super never thought he'd get someone of Jake's caliber for the
job. He met Jake's price with no questions asked.
    Jake's announcement earlier in the evening
that they were leaving tomorrow was met with silence. It wasn't
until he explained that it was a security team position and cushy
duty that Arr relaxed and started to ask questions.
    There wasn't much to tell. The plant itself
was usually flown in, pre-assembled or close to it, along with the
living quarters for the management staff and employees. The
equipment,