There was a clunk as the airbreathers came on and the engines switched from onboard oxidizer. The noise levels in the cabin became even more unbearable. Ginger found it comforting, however. She knew she could breathe the air, but it's one thing to do a spectrographic analysis and quite another to actually use the local atmosphere. Seeing as how the transport wasn't dropping any faster, she put the matter out of her mind.
Toby, who was strapped into the troop seat next to her, was taking no chances.
"Our Masters who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven . . ."
She cocked an ear. Toby was stroking his dog tags with one hand. The metal tags were shaped like stylized bones.
". . . Give us this day our daily meat and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass in our yard. Do not bring us to the vet, but deliver us from evil . . ."
Like many marines, Toby wore his tags on a wide leather collar. The collars were no longer standard-issue but the term Leatherneck had stuck around.
". . . For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever . . ."
Ginger was not especially religious, but she found herself whispering the last words to that ancient prayer. Her hand went to her throat, but then she remembered that she didn't wear a collar.
"Amen," they said together.
Toby's ears twitched. He looked down and began inspecting his service rifle. Ginger was reminded to check on her own weapon. The Bulldog revolver was still in its crossdraw holster.
There was another clunk as the pilot engaged the cavorite hull. That meant they would be landing soon. Ginger's tail was practically vibrating, she was so excited.
