Page 147 (1/2)

“Do you want it?”

“It doesn’t matter if I want it I’ll be offered it because if the bobble-head doesn’t offer it, people will think he’s slighting me And I’ll take it because if I don’t, people will think I’er I’ll be answering directly to the secretary-general I’ll have more power, more responsibility More friends and ”

“Seems like there should be an alternative”

“There is I could retire”

“Why don’t you?”

“Oh, I will,” Avasarala said “The dayto quit?”

“You et ood Itabout her answer

“No,” she said “I don’t think so Going down in a fight’s one thing I can be proud of that But just getting out to get out I can’t do that”

“You’re in an interesting position,” Avasarala said “You think about what to do with it”

“And what position is that? Ronin?”

“A traitor to your government and a patriotic hero A martyr who didn’t die A Martian whose best and only friend is about to run the government of Earth”

“You’re not my only friend,” Bobbie said

“Bullshit Alex and Aet into your pants”

“And you don’t?”

Avasarala laughed again Bobbie was at least s It was h was deep and ht it would go away I thought if I faced it, it would all go away”

“It doesn’t go away Ever But you get better at it”

“At what?”

“At being haunted,” Avasarala said “Think about what you want to do Think about who you want to become And then see me, and I will make it happen for you if I can”

“Why?” Bobbie asked “Seriously, why? I’m a soldier I did theI’ve ever done, but I got it done I did it because it needed doing You don’t owe ”