Soldier Boy

Countdown for blast off. X-5, 4, 3, 2, X-1, fire. From the far horizons of the unknown, come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future.

Adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine presents x , x x x x x 55 !

tw, h, one, one, Tonight's story… Soldierboy by Michael18-'shara! There is a Scandinavian legend, in the Northland deep in a great cave by an ever-burning fire the warrior sleeps.

So this is the resting time, the time of peace, and so shall it be for a thousand years. And yet we shall summon him again, my children, when we are sore in need. And out of the north he will come, and again and again, each time we call, out of the dark and the cold, with the fire in his hand he will come.

I was off duty when the call came to report. I was off duty and out of uniform. As a matter of fact, I was in a bar drunk. Bossio had just filled a beer over me.

I custom-aught when I looked up. There was a shore patrol standing over me. Captain Dillon? Well, where did they find you, Buster? Did you pluck out a high school or get into a fight with your father and run away from home?

Captain Dillon, I have a message for you. Well, well, well, look, Bossio. This is humanity's finest. He has joined the service to protect home and hearts against the savage aliens. Touching, Dylan, touching. Are you Lieutenant Bossio?