Presentation
“I am going to presentation,” Epi declared.
“What?” The draftee standing next to him said. “After last night?”
“Yes. I was a fool last night.”
“Well, I certainly thought so,” the draftee said, and grinned Epi cuffed him.
“You said you danced with her, and then you just couldn’t manage to ask her guardian. What makes you think you will do better today?”
“I… I just will,” Epi replied, and marched off.
Newlyweds were exempt from presentation, by which was meant anyone married in the last six months, but everyone else, all of the rest of the civilian passengers, were there.
Various other Army men, and their wives, were passing down the line, greeting the various civilians, but Epi looked down the line, saw his lass from last night, and walked up to her… straight up to her bypassing everyone else in the line.
“You are beautiful,” he blurted out.
She blushed, “I’m too tall,” she replied.
It was true that she wasn’t short. She was a full four inches taller than he was. But he was still growing and…
“I think you are beautiful,” he said, staring at her.
“I…”
“I think it is time for you to move along, young lad,” he heard from behind her. It was an older civilian lad, obviously her guardian.
“I… I want to marry her,” Epi said, wishing he had the poise of that hero last night.
“I looked you up. You are just a recruit. You haven’t done anything yet. You are hardly the kind of lad that Article 17 was meant to…”
His lass reached forward and took his hand, and glared up at her guardian, who stopped in mid-sentence. Epi tried to pull away… she could be beaten for that! But his lass didn’t let him, hanging on tighter.
“Miss!” Her guardian protested, staring at their hands.
“I’ll do more than this!” She said, leaning forward as if to kiss Epi.
“Miss, no, you mustn’t… very well, I give my consent. But you are behaving very foolishly!”
His lass didn’t answer him, but pulled Epi off toward the registrar… then they both stopped in surprise as everyone in the line started clapping. They both blushed, he bowed, she curtseyed, and then, taking his hand again, she pulled him to the registrar.
Unlike with Tom and Illoia, the registrar did his work amongst a background of conversation, and one other couple coming up behind them, but when he raised his voice with ‘All Hail the Dictator’, the crowd responded loudly enough, “All Hail”, and she pulled him past and out of the door. Where she stopped. “I don’t know where to go now,” she admitted.
Epi pulled her down the hallway toward the military disembarkation area. Neither of them talked as they walked until after they had walked through the disinfectant mist.
“Why did you do that?” He asked. “Your guardian was right. I’m just a recruit. I’ve never done anything. I didn’t even have the courage to ask for you last night.”
She held his hand tighter. “Since I grew up, well, since I passed the height of the average lad, I have never had a lad look at me like you did.”
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Von
Links
Article 17
Article 17 is a military science fiction story with aliens and romance. It is set in a future reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. The war was going very poorly until the military installed a dictator. This story follows one of the dictator’s great men: Cladin Tomirosh, Leader, and thrice decorated hero.
Intro // Podcast Version
She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.
A Dance // Podcast Version
As a governor’s daughter, Illoia usually avoided such events, but when the captain made the announcement that there was to be an Article 17 dance, she, too, was forced to attend. If only the scum hadn’t been there too.
The Unbridgeable Chasm // Podcast Version
Eukles and Meriones, brave military leaders, quail at the idea of crossing the gulf between themselves and asking a lass to dance.
There He Is // Podcast Version
The young hero comes in, and Aleshia and Illoyia gossip about him.
Look at the Young Hero // Podcast Version
The young hero comes in, and greets Eukles and Meriones… and announces his intentions.
Target // Podcast Version
Tom, Leader Cladin Tomirosh, sets his sights on the governors daughter. She isn’t impressed.
Fuming // Podcast Version
Tom and Illoia dance, while she desperately tries to get him to go away!
Now’s Our Chance! // Podcast Version
Eukles and Meriones use Tom and Illoia as a distraction and stalk their own girls.
To Slap or Not to Slap // Podcast Version
Meriones introduces himself to his new wife with a slap on the backside.
No Sane Man // Podcast Version
Illoia insults the young hero, and he proposes.
Never You, Darling // Podcast Version
Illoia finds herself unable to turn down his proposal.
A Wild Dance // Podcast Version
Illoia finds being Tom’s Consented Wife hard… with wild New Irish dances and immodest ones.
Registered // Podcast Version
A new marriage is registered. All hail the dictator!
Middy’s Got a Lass! // Podcast Version
Medinia is deliriously happy… she got 17d!
A Duel to the Death // Podcast Version
Illoia wakes up next to her new husband.
Good on Epi. It looks like he's got himself a good one. Does she have a name? Does he know it? I expect them to have an interesting life together.