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Elder e beside me

“How did you know?” I ask him

“Knohat?”

“That Bartie wouldn’t ask you to step down then? That he wouldn’t take over leadership of the ship when you offered ”

Elder meets my eyes “I didn’t ”

I try not to show my surprise at his words

Although the Hospital has been cleared for occupancy, I steer Elder the other way, toward the Recorder Hall

“I’ve been thinking,” I say as we plod up the path

“About what?” Elder’s voice sounds tired and weak

“How different you are from Orion ”

Elder huffs out a breath of air

“No, really,” I insist “Orion had backup plans for his backup plan You don’t You just do what you think is right at the time and wait to see what happens ”

“Maybe I should have a plan,” Elder says “Things ht work out better if I did ”

“You can’t plan for everything Orion couldn’t have known solance at Elder and notice his frown “And neither could you,” I add, but I don’t think he quite believes me

We don’t speak again as we mount the stairs to the Recorder Hall It’s quiet here The artifacts inside are just a re we can’t have, and no one wants to be reminded of that