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“If you’re lucky, yeah UN still has the death penalty on the books, but they don’t use itin a tiny cell for the rest of your life If it was et there?”
“About five weeks”
They were silent for a ed
“Actuator ar You want to helpat the clah to get you down to the rab you a tool belt, Peaches Let’s crack that thing open”
An hour later, she was running her hand over the fra sites This was ht I broke it
“What’cha think, Peaches?” A,” she said
Epilogue: Anna
Anna sat in the observation lounge of the Thoe was a doh-definition screen displaying a 360-degree view of the outside To Anna, sitting in it felt like flying through space on a park bench It had beco in their bright steady colors, no atmosphere to make them twinkle They felt so close now Like she could reach out and touch them
Her hand terminal beeped at her to re a videoat the stars and started the recording again
“So, that letter from the conference bishop turned out to be a request for a for Apparently some people have coal proble time to make trouble for everyone else But don’t worry about it They’ll ask, I’ll answer, I’ve got pretty good reasons for everything I did I have lots of offers of support from people I worked with on the fleet I probably won’t need thean to come visit us in Moscow She’s abrasive and cranky and has no social filters at all You’ll love her She can’t wait to meet Nami”
Anna paused to attach a picture she’d taken of Tilly to the h narrowed eyes, just seconds fro out of arette in one hand; her other was pointing accusingly It was not the nicest picture of Tilly she had, but it was theof Nami, thank you so much for the videos you sent I can’t believe how enorravity like she was born to it She’ll be walking again in no tione with you Most of the tis I did inside the Ring, and I wonder if any of it would have turned out as well if I hadn’t helped It seeant to think that way, but I also believe that God nudges people toward the places they need to be Maybe I was needed I still plan on being very contrite when I get back You, the bishop, Na to do”
As clear as if she’d been in the room, Anna heard Nono say, You never ask for perhed until her eyes watered She wiped them and said to the camera, “You’re still here, Nono Still into have you hold et back It’s an eternity I love you”
She picked up the pillow she’d brought with her and held it tight to her chest “This is you and Nami This is both of you I love you both soahead of the Prince to Nono at the speed of light Still too slow She wiped away the tears that had accumulated at the corners of her eyes