Any Troop member who wanted to be a part-time Front Runner first had to travel with the Outrider, absorbing a working familiarity with the safety mechanism. So now as the Outrider monitored through the Buffer and the Front Runner, whatever reached the woman, a smaller Troop member sat, listening attentively and hoping one day to be chosen. She was only twelve years old, so there was a lot going against her. She did, however, have a sharp mind.
