long winded. My father couldn't STAND long
speeches!
40 Ask the funeral parlor if they can arrange a double viewing line,
one for commoners and one for high born. Split the Honor Guard schedule
into twenty-five minute segments. I'm sure Morn will want one. Schedule
me for the same time; early afternoon. And Number Two, thank you. Thank
the men. Their efforts are appreciated. Your personal concern will be
remembered. Pass that on to the crew."
41 "I don't have to tell them, sir, what they already know."
42 "And Number Two, tell the funeral parlor no more than eight days.
That's stretching custom as it is!"
43 "Yes, sir!" the Number Two acknowledged. "By the way, sir, we moved
your things. The hotel gave you the Number One Suite for as long as
you're here. The Manager said if he had known who your father was, he'd
have given it to you FIRST THING!"
44 The next few days passed in a gentle blur. North just kept going,
but it was only with the Doctor's and Morn's help. Morn hung around
after they stood their Honor Guard together, keeping North busy until
it was finally time to put his father's body in the hearse and fly it
to the cliffs overlooking The Tombs.
45 Thousands of airships hovered along the route and hundreds followed.
The cliffs facing the Temples were lined with Servicemen who at one
time or another, had served under North's father.
46 When the body was laid to rest and the funeral procession flew back
toward their vehicles, the twilight sky was lit with the volley of
thousands of beams. North was sad, yet happy. He knew that most of
those that had come because his father had once done some good turn for
them, and this one last time wanted to show their gratitude.
47 He had had all the proceedings recorded, all the