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"Do you knoho the governor of our colony is going to be?"

Mother did not know "Does it matter? He'll be an old fat man Or a bold adventurer"

"What if it's not a man at all? What if it's a boy, a mere boy of thirteen or fourteen, a boy so brilliantly sood that he saved the human race?"

"What are you saying?"

"They've announced the crew of our colony ship The pilot of the ship will be Mazer Rackhain"

Noas Mother's turn to gasp "A boy? They overnor?"

"He coovern a colony," said Alessandra

"A boy A little boy"

"Not so little My age"

Mother turned to her "What, you're so big?"

"I'e!"

Mother's face turned reflective "And the sain"

Alessandra felt her face turning red "Mother! Don't think what I know you're thinking!"

"And why not think it? He'll have to marry somebody on that distant lonely world Why not you?" Then Mother's face also turned red and she fluttered her hands against her cheeks "Oh, oh, Alessandra, I was so afraid to tell you, and now I'lad!"

"Tell me what?"