MacMartree smiled tolerantly. "I know. It's a quiet life."
Abner came over and joined them, completing the party. "What're you three up to?" he wanted to know.
MacMartree yawned. "They're trying to get me to argue with them, as an excuse for not sleeping."
"Not a bad idea, either," Cole grinned.
"You youngsters will be the death of me," MacMartree complained. "Don't you know an old man needs his sleep?"
"Come on, Mac," Phillips teased. "Tell us why the patrols are necessary."
They all laughed then, and MacMartree grinned. "I know how it is with you young ones," he said. "You're tired of the dull and safe life back home and joined the Service, only to find it just as dull and safe as anything else."
"Tell me," Phillips put in, "can't anything happen to us anymore?"
"Yes," Cole said. "We can die of old age."