（外文电子版资料）TITAN-JohnVarley_ch23_ch.docVIP

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE Im not a hero, you know. All right, heroine. Cirocco chuckled. They were bedded down m the last day of their fourteenth winter together, their eighth month in the spoke. There were now only ten kilometers separating them from the hub. They could do it in their sleep, as soon as the thaw started. Not even that. If theres a heroine here, it has to be you. Gaby shook her head. Ive helped out. This probably would have been a lot harder for you if I hadnt been here. Cirocco squeezed her hand. But Ive just tagged along. Ive helped you out of some messes, but I dont qualify as a hero. A hero wouldnt have tried to throw Gene over the side with no parachute. You would have made it here by yourself. I wouldnt have. They were silent, each with her own thoughts. Cirocco was not sure what Gaby said was true. Part of it was accurate, though she would never agree with it out loud. Gaby could not have brought them this far. She was not a leader. But am I? She wondered. She had certainly tried hard enough to he one. Could she have made it alone? She doubted it. Its been fun, hasnt it? Gaby asked, quietly. Cirocco was genuinely surprised. Was it possible to call eight months, struggle fun? I dont think thats the word I would have used. No, youre right. But you know what I mean. Oddly enough, she did. She was at last able to understand the depression that had plagued her during the last weeks. The trip would soon be over. They would discover the means to return to Earth, or they would not. “I dont want to go back to Earth, Cirocco said. Me either. But we cant just turn back. You know best. No, Im just stubborn. But we do have to go on. I owe it to April and Gene-and the rest of us, too-to find out whats been done to us, and why. Get out those swords, will you? You expecting trouble? Nothing that a sword would cure. Id just feel better with it in my hand. Im supposed to be a hero, right? Gaby didnt argue. She went down on one knee and rummaged t