[ WP ] You thought about moving away for a long time . Today you finally pack your bags .

He did n't have much, and that made it easy to leave. 
 
 Artemis Horn had just finished shoving one last handful of clothes into his pack when the truck pulled up. It was a Bulldog, manufactured by Pinard Protectorate Limited across the breadth of Taurian space. Its cab was painted in rough camouflage colors and the insignia of an oak tree graced the driver side door. Two men in olive drab uniforms sat in the cab. A woman, perhaps twice as old as Artemis stood in the back of the truck, her jacket wrapped round her waist by its sleeves. 
 
 `` You ready, kid?'' 
 
 Horn slung his bag, packed with all his worldly possession, onto his back. `` Be there in a moment!'' he yelled out the open window of his room. The boarding house was like any other which lined Montgomery Street, cheap but well-kept. He did n't bother locking the bedroom door. There was nothing in it but an iron-framed bed stripped down to the mattress, a closet and a nightstand with the lamp which came with the room. 
 
 His boots rung on the narrow steps towards downstairs. Another boarder, Johnathan Harlow, poked his head from out his door, his face covered in shaving lather. 
 
 `` Attaboy, go on and git! Last thing you wan na do is get buried on this loathsome chunk of rock. We're all rooting for ya, even that fucker Delaney!'' 
 
 Three doors down came the muffled reply. *'' I heard that you fucking sonovabitch! `` * 
 
 Horn waved his thanks as he hit the bottom of the stairs. Mrs. Harrison was waiting for him. 
 
 `` God keep you safe, young Mister Horn,'' the old widower said. She had in her hands a bag. `` Something for the jaunt out; some of the ham from last night's dinner, a few of the blueberry turnovers as well.'' He accepted them with a word of thanks and a peck on the cheek. 
 
 He did n't look, afraid that he might not find the strength to leave. But instead pressed on and towards the idling truck. He tossed his pack into the bed of the truck and climbed aboard with the help of the waiting woman. 
 
 `` Ready to see the stars?'' she asked. 
 
 He nodded as he settled down next to crates of freeze-dried rations and other supplies. `` Since the day I was born.'' 
 
 One of the men leaned out the cab's open window. `` Oh, do n't give us that warrior-poet crap. We get enough of that from Sergeant Hayashi. I'm Ellis and my friend at the wheel is Keith. The old mare next to you is Grace McCoy, listen to her and do everything she says. Otherwise I'll see to it that the Captain drops you off on the next blighted planet we set foot on, consider it done.'' 
 
 As the truck pulled away from the boarding house, Artemis Horn smiled.
