Deshavi nodded before asking, "What did my grandfather do with you when he was younger?"

Chantry chuckled softly, "Oh, I suppose you could say, a lot of crazy type things like he just did, only then he was younger, but he can still get it done apparently. Gives me continued hope for myself in my advanced years."

Silence reigned for a little while in the darkened cabin and Chantry decided to volunteer something about Shalako that he knew Shalako would never speak of himself. He just wasn't the type to brag.

"I do many things for those who ask something of me, but I give out very few favors. Your grandfather has the most favors of anyone I've ever dealt with, at two. He redeemed one of them in order to gain my help. He didn't need to, but he insisted it be considered as such. That favor he redeemed was hard earned. In effect, your grandfather saved the entire world from nuclear war once. The world was never going to give him credit for what he helped to avert so I decided that I would at least in a small way offer my own appreciation."

Deshavi's eyes had grown large at the mention of nuclear war, but Chantry doubted that she could appreciate her grandfather any more than she already did. Everyone on the planet should know and appreciate what Shalako had done for them. Since that wasn't possible, at the very least his granddaughter should know.

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"What was the other favor for?"

Chantry seemed to stare off into the distance as he answered, "After my wife died I became very low and your grandfather talked me out of blowing my brains out, when few could have."

Chantry glanced over at the sleeping Shalako, "He is as good a friend to have, as any I have ever had."




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