"Me?" Palmer shakes his head. Oh, no, no, he's no leader, and he's happier that way. Look what being commander did to Garry. El Capitan had to shoot someone. Palmer was happy just being camp mechanic. He couldn't live with having to make choices like that. "I don't lead. I ain't the kind of guy you want in charge of anything. Really." If Garry cracked under pressure, Palmer would crack faster.

He stops, thinks. He isn't a leader, and he'd never want to be leader, but what if, for whatever reason, it has to be him?

"But if it had to be me, well...I guess I'd turn most of my decisions over to a group vote, so I ain't the only one choosing what we do. Two heads are better than one."