He Without Sin Read Online Free

except for Tom. Maybe he will be around too. Apparently I am not privy to his latest activities.
    Mark has no one here either but laughs and makes a joke saying, “If you’d been through this as many times as I have, you wouldn’t be here either.” Although that doesn’t make any sense at all, I laugh with him.
    Up front, I see Commander David Means, our fearless leader, pass by the dean and they speak briefly as he passes.
    Dean Carson cuts an impressive figure. He is presidential in appearance; he should be in politics, where image counts for as much as, if not more than, substance. Not that the dean lacks substance, not at all. I have been impressed with him during my time here. When speaking in front of a group, he knows what he is about. He has the cool look of authority and uses it to good advantage. Black hair, in place. Dark suit, fits perfectly.

    David Means is easy to spot; he is one of the few older men with a full head of wavy hair. And not short either— his hair, I mean. Long enough to raise an eyebrow or two when first meeting him but not long enough to create any lasting negative effect. Besides, the salt ‘n’ pepper coloring gives a sufficient aura of maturity to quell any suspicions.
    Several of the team leaders, and I think they are the ones scheduled for departure on the longest expeditions, have a few seconds each with Dean Carson and then: “Welcome everyone; students, staff, faculty, and, not least, our visitors. We are happy to be able to share this brief time with you all together at the culmination of our current programs. As you visitors no doubt have learned at your orientation seminar, we have, as we normally do, a mixed group of both new graduates as well as veterans.
    “Let me first address the vets. If you would please stand, yes, thank you, please stand while I say that you are one of the greatest assets we as an institution could hope to have.
    No, more than that, one of the greatest assets our society as a whole could hope to have. You are scientists and pioneers, but you are also teachers and leaders. Your presence and contributions bring continuity and richness we would otherwise be without in our quest for a stable, responsible and secure civilization. Whether you are here to prepare for a new mission, or whether you are closing out your career and readying to return, for the first time in many years, to the general populace, we wish you well and again offer our sincere thanks.”
    The audience acknowledges the standing vets with polite applause and the dean motions for all to be seated once again.
    “Speaking of new missions, and certainly not to diminish the importance of shorter term projects, we have with us this evening those special people who have volunteered for some of the longest missions of all; missions that have a significant impact on our future and the future of generations to follow. Would our Deep Survey and Genetic Expansion team leaders please stand? Thank you. These are very special people indeed. We owe a debt of gratitude to these and to all of the teams and their families, past, present and future, for the sacrifices they are making.”
    More polite applause as the team leaders acknowledge the recognition.
    “Finally, we are pleased and proud to present to you the next generation of graduates, men and women whose dedication and performance will no doubt contribute positively to the long and storied tradition of excellence at our institution.
    “These are the officers, the leaders, those who will shape the future of our society, some sooner, some later. They are the best we have to offer the world and beyond, to the limits of our civilization.
    “We anticipate the accomplishments of this class and enjoy the confidence of knowing they will make us, their predecessors, their peers and their families proud to be among those who can say, ‘I know him. He is a good man. We know her. She is a good woman. They are the strong, the trustworthy.’ Please join