Chapter 14The officers filed in and satdownaround the round table. Rab carried in his laser rifle and slammeditdown before the dagger placed before his chair. Rab is the onlyperson I know who can sit down at attention. If you had a tendencytoslouch in your chair, one look at him stiffens your spine. Astridsattwo seats down from him. She had bumped into something, a redcreasein her forehead. She wiped away spots of red with a bluehandkerchief. The minor wound didn’t diminish her smile. It warmedthe cabin and put everyone in a good mood. The admiral, looking abithaggard after the battle, sat with a stern look on his face. Hishairwas usually neatly combed. Now strands looked like they had beenoutdoors in a hurricane. He brushed them down with his hand. Whichmade it look like they had only bee
