Front matter (continued 4)
Reading edition
"Nay, my Steve, but because you are—a man."
Steve took her into his arms. It was a moment worth waiting for, a dream worth all he had experienced. For her nearness warmed him with a promise of happiness to come, even through the long and arduous days which lay before them.
He kissed her. "We've won, sweetheart, the flag shall fly over Earth again!"
The gentle voice of the Mother Maatha was like a benediction on their love.
"We could not fail," she said. "We could not ever fail. For thus it was promised us ages hence in the sacred song of the Ancient Ones.
"'And thus be it ever,' she quoted, 'when freemen shall stand 'Between their loved hoams and the war's desolation; 'Blessed with victory and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land 'Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation....'"
Stephen Duane picked up the old, familiar words, repeating them softly:
"'Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, 'And this be our motto: "In God is Our Trust!" 'And the Star-Spangled Banner....'"
"It will fly again, Steve," said Chuck, "now."
"'... forever shall wave 'O'er the land of the free....'"
"'And Thy hoam,'" finished Beth, her eyes worshipful upon her mate, "'O Thou Brave!'"
For a woman always has the last word. So, too, it was in the old days....