A side door opened and the captain walked in wiping his hands on a paper towel. He smiled at Leo right away. Leo stood, but the captain waved him back into his chair. He was tall and looked older than Jim or Ryder. He had short sandy-colored hair. Double silver bars were sewn into the shoulders of his short-sleeved shirt, and his brass tie tack was crooked. Above his left shirt pocket were rows of colored ribbons: red, green, white, and yellow. He reached over the desk and shook Leo’s hand, then he sat down and picked up the clipboard, the smile still on his face. “Leo Suther. Do you like Heywood?”

“Sure thing, sir.”

“We have a house up in Holyoke.”

“My mother’s buried there.”

The smile left the captain’s face. “Is this a recent passing?”

“No sir, I was a little boy then.”

The captain nodded, keeping his eyes on Leo, then he flipped the page up over the clipboard and read some more. “Superior test scores, that’s outstanding. We’re quite fortunate. Tell me, do you like writing?”

“I like to write songs.”

“Really.” The captain lowered the clipboard. “A songwriter.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have you heard of our Stars and Stripes?”

“The flag?”

The captain smiled. “It’s our newspaper, Leo. And they are always on the prowl for new talent.”

“Is there anything in my papers about Europe, sir?”

“Europe?”

“The sergeant told me I get preferred assignment status because I’m enlisting instead of getting drafted. See, sir, I didn’t get a notice. I mean, I didn’t have to join.”

Captain Bennett’s eyes got smaller and he sucked in his lower lip. “Why Europe, Leo?”

“It’s a long story, sir.”

The captain put down the clipboard. He tapped his fingertips on the desk.

“I will be going to Germany though, won’t I, sir?”

“Do you consider yourself a moral young man, Leo?”

“I try to be.”

“Do you expect the same from others?”

“I think so, sir.”

“That’s fine, that’s fine. Now, if Sergeant Ryan said you will be stationed in Germany, then I am sure you will be stationed in Germany.” The captain stood. His head and shoulders were silhouetted against the sun reflecting off windows across the street. “When an officer stands, you follow suit, Leo.”

Leo stood.

“Are you familiar with the writings of Samuel Johnson?”

“No, sir.”

“‘The torch of truth shows much that we cannot, and all that we would not, see.’ That’s from The Rambler. Do you like it?”

“I don’t think I understand it, sir.”

“I like your candor. Definitions are found in experience, Leo. Raise your right hand and repeat after me, please.”

Leo raised his right hand, but he was standing close to the desk and he knocked his fingers on the way up.

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Leo repeated the words.

“Against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

“Against all enemies foreign and domestic.”