Prophet of ConFree (The Prophet of ConFree) Read Online Free Page B

sleep, the first night of my new life. Suddenly I remembered – Mark's note! It was still crumpled in my trousers pocket, I hadn't even thought about it before. I pulled the little note out of the envelope.
     
    When and if you come back I will be going with Kittykat.
    Good luck. Mark R. Kane.

Chapter 2

The Dark Lady
    " ATTENTION! " The voice was at max volume and it cut through the buzz of random conversation like an electric shock. There must have been close to a hundred of us, volunteers from all over Eugarat, crowded into a spotless white assembly hall with the Cross of the Legion on the wall behind the raised dais. "This is your initial intelligence test," the voice continued. It was coming from one of four black-clad Legion troopers who had just entered the room. "Shut down! Then form rows of ten, facing front. NOW , bodies! Why are you standing there?"
    We hustled to form the rows in silence except for the shuffling of bodies. We were still in civvies and had no idea what was coming. The building we were in was part of the Temple Mount spaceport complex. From what I gathered from the other bodies, some of them had been waiting weeks for this event. Arie and I had arrived just in time for the space flight to Veltros, which was set for the following day.
    Arie and I found a place midway into the second row and then did our best to become invisible. We could hear the Legion troopers discussing us as the people at the rear did their best to form one last row that evidently did not add up to ten.
    "They get scruffier every time, don't they?"
    "Deadman! See the one with the bone in his nose?"
    "You want to rip it out or can I?"
    "That girl looks like she could kick ass."
    "I don't think that's a girl."
    " STAND AT ATTENTION! SILENCE ! Now the intelligence test will continue. First man in the first row, here –" he pointed at him. "You say ONE and the rest of you count off, two, three, four, et cetera. Can you do that? Let's hear it. NOW !"
    "One." It was barely audible.
    " WHAT? "
    " ONE !"
    "That's better. Continue!"
    "Two!'
    "Uh, three!"
    "Four!"
    "Um, five. I mean, five!" This continued with several hopeless screw-ups until the last man confirmed there were ninety-six of us. We were mostly young males, almost all Outworlders, with a sprinkling of females as well. It was a motley crew.
    " ATTENTION !" We didn't know how to stand at attention but we gave it our best. It was silent. A new trooper entered, making his way to the dais and standing behind a lectern. He dropped a field cap onto the lectern. He was flanked by the other troopers. He appeared as young as the others but you could tell immediately he was not the type you'd want to challenge to a bar fight. He stood there glaring at us for some time. Then he spoke.
    "Is this the best we could do?"
    "I'm afraid so, sir," one of the troopers answered.
    The officer sighed. "All right, volunteers, pay attention. You are about to be inducted into the ConFree Legion. Tomorrow you will be transported to Veltros for Basic Training. That's all you have to know for now." He spoke in a low voice; I had to strain to hear him. "You should know that your act of volunteering is greatly appreciated by the people of ConFree. It comes at a very dangerous time in galactic history. Great events are underway that are going to threaten ConFree's future and perhaps the future of humanity as well. The ConFree Legion is all that stands between our sworn enemies and the women and children of ConFree. And, after Basic, you are going to be the ConFree Legion. Think about that as you repeat the Oath of Enlistment. Generations of Legion troopers before you have taken this oath, and we all take it very seriously. Now, eyes front, salute with right fist over your heart, and repeat the words you see on the screen. Attention to the colors!"
    The lights abruptly cut off, plunging us into darkness. A huge screen appeared behind the dais, glowing with light, and it revealed a great flag, the black flag