Magnus sat studying the north view without seeing it.
"But how is this?" he said suddenly. "You say your classmate has gone on furlough—why aren't you gone too?"
The cadet shrugged his shoulders.
"Some men leave their country for their country's good," he said, "and some stay in it, same at same. I lost my furlough. But anyhow Crinkem went ahead of time; folks sick at home. He's always in luck."
"Lost it," Magnus repeated. "How could you?"
"Easy enough, if you run against the Tacs in a tight place. Lose anything here, except your heart and your appetite."
But to these last words Magnus gave no heed; his whole soul was astir with this new idea. Lose his furlough! Not go home even at the end of the two long years!
"Can you do that?" he said. "Is it often done?"
"Not so very. Oh, you can do it, fast enough, if you have a run of bad luck, as I did."
"I don't believe in luck," Magnus answered him.