“You decided to join then.”Millie was silent for a moment. “Look. I knew you weren’t exactly happy about the prospect of me joining up, but I ...elt it was important.”“And you don’t think helping me, even in a civilian role, is just as important?”“Look Daddy, this is important. I’m twenty-six this month, I haven’t got very far with my life, these aliens are heading towards us at a high rate of knots, could be here any day now for all we know, and Thorn is hampering all efforts to prepare. I have. The only other choice is get out of the country now. What I havesuggested is the best option, and I can understand how you feel but youhave done so much to Alice that having he back in control is the bestoption, after all so much has been done to her, you will always be ableto get her to do what you want by threatening her with more extreme workon her.Yes I think I see exactly what you mean. You go and see her as youpromised and I will speak to John about, and let you know my decisionwhen you. I did look at them and say, seriously. “That’s not our king. Our king is an honest man who makes his promises good.”“Does he treat his enemies fairly?”I turned to Mr. Black. “Mr. Black? What say you?”“I will say that he is more than fair. He has treated me far better than I would have treated him. I don’t think I want to say what I would have done if our positions had been reversed. Certainly not with him listening. I will say that I’m not always certain he’s really your King. I’ve seen him. We’ll be back shortly. There’s water, help care for them, please. Deacon, you, too. You can’t climb a ladder like that.”He looked frustrated, but nodded. “Got it, boss. Come on, you four. These folks need some water.”Rhys led the way to the ladder. The hatch above had closed at some point after we’d come down it. He started up it. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”, I asked.“I’m expendable in case we don’t hold the surface. You’re not.” He popped the hatch open, scrambling out and taking up.