Onus Portamus: (Latin, "We Carry The Load")

[motto of the 436 'Elephant' Transport Squadron]

*

AND I'M SHORT ON PATIENCE, BUT I'M LONG ON TIME

AND I'M FINALLY WILLING TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND

BUT I KNOW SOMETHING IS HIDING BEHIND THE SUN

DON'T TRY TO FIND ME, I'LL BE TRAVELLING ON

THE ENDLESS ROAD, ENDLESS ROAD

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD JUST TO CARRY THAT LOAD

DELIVERED WHERE WE'RE GOING TO

ENDLESS ROAD, ENDLESS ROAD

WHAT'S THE DESTINATION, I DON'T KNOW

BUT I'LL FIND OUT AT THE END OF THE ENDLESS ROAD

Endless Road – D.L. Byron

*

Sam Cobb didn't know for sure about the identity of the person on her doorstep, but he or she had the trademark blue eyes which ran strong in the Cobb family, plus was very close to fainting. Motherly instincts took over.

“Come in child, do.” The figure collapsed in her arms. Sam managed to get the child to her sofa, then she went for water.

Long dark brown eyelashes finally fluttered open, “Ma Cobb?”

“Hush, child. I'm Sam Cobb, you've made it to a safe place and you seem to be family. Now; drink first, questions later.”

“Name's Bethan.” Sam cast a concerned eye at the thin, lanky frame. She guessed Bethan was about eleven or twelve years old and hadn't seen a good meal in some time. Tousled, dirty and curled brown hair and not looking a million miles away from a younger, undernourished version of her big, grown up son. Determined chin, rather similar to Vera's.

“Named after your grandpa? I know the name, Bethan.”

“I'm a boy!”

“Drink some more and rest. I'll get you some soup soon and then you can have a bath.”

Bethan groaned with pleasure, “Haven't had a bath in *years.”

“First things first; you arrived, you're a guest and looks like you're family. Details can come later, Bethan.”

*

Ares had adapted to live in space without a single demur. Right from the moment they'd left atmo from Euridice, he'd made a bed for himself in the back left hand corner of the cargo bay, as if he'd been going there for years. Vera found an old duvet for him and he was even happier i