My father had spent much of his political career arguing to cut funding to the military, and I'm sure his sixteen-year-old son running away to enlist did not help his cause, though I'm sure that he would have eased back on his arguments in light of 9/11 regardless of my actions. Furthermore, he'd always made it clear that he expected my elder brother and me to join the church as the younger sons of our family have always done. My elder brother rather enjoys the work, but I don't think I was ever quite suited to a life as a vicar.