A (Wife of a Storm Trooper)

Wife of a Storm Trooper

By Michael Hoy

05/23/02

"I watched him kill one of the officers today."

"I hate that you work for that guy. He gives me the creeps."

"You're not the only one."

"Can't you do something?"

"Impossible."

"What if he gets mad at you?"

"I'm not important enough."

"Never say that."

"He was making an example of one of the officers. It was all for the
officers. I wasn't even supposed to see it."

"Was it Carl? Tell me it wasn't Carl."

"It wasn't Carl. This guy was higher up."

"Good thing you got that helmet on. That way they can't see you
watching them."

"I've seen worse."

"Have you done things like that? I mean, since you got this new
post?"

"I do my duty and if I don't I won't get to come home."

She watched him take off his uniform and armor and place it in a neat
pile by the end of the bed. She hated the gun in the room but that was
the way it was on this ship.

"We should hurry and light the candles. They might call you
back."

"Not for eight hours. That's the deal."

"It happened before." She lit the candles one by one with great speed
and delicacy. It made him feel bad to watch her like this. She was
worried about something all the time now. She was a nervous wreck ever
since he got his new position.

"Is your arm still sore?"

"Yes, but it's fine. This post is easy. I just have to guard."

"I'll change into my night clothes. You relax on the bed."

She left him there. He thought about the officer killed today. He
wondered what the dead officer's wife was doing right now.