Though not as big a disappointment as I’d been to myself. If I couldn’t sleep, it was because I was too angry about messing up like I did. I should have just cleaned the danged latrine. One morning’s work. It wouldn’t have killed me. It hadn’t when I’d ended up cleaning the whole thing, anyway.

I was still awake when reveille sounded the next morning, and I couldn’t help regretting that it was the last time I’d hear it.

And even though I knew wishing was useless, I sure wished I’d get another chance to do things right.

Chapter 11

“You heard anything?” Nate asked, as the company gathered for morning formation.

“No. Not yet.” A scene from an army movie popped into my mind, a whole company of cavalrymen watching the stripes being torn from the shirt of a soldier who was being thrown out. Cashiered. That was the word.

They wouldn’t do that here, would they? Dismiss me in front of the whole company, so everybody would see my disgrace?

The flag got raised. Sergeant Mackey told about the day’s schedule. Since it was Saturday, guys would get some time off. Then the CO took over, something not usual in the morning, and I felt a clammy sweat break out on my hands.

“A couple of things, men,” Captain Strom began. “First, I want to encourage any of you who missed the movie on the national parks to see the rerun of it this evening. And pay special attention to the part about the Grand Canyon.”

He paused, smiling at a ripple of excited murmurs. “That’s right. Assignments have come through. That’s where most of you are headed.”

Yahoos broke out up and down the line.

“Now though,” he continued, “I’m going to turn things over to Major Garrett, who’s got different plans for a small group of you.”

The major, who I hadn’t noticed standing off to one side, now stepped forward. He looked over the company, his eyes stopping on me a moment.

“The Grand Canyon’s a great assignment,” he said, “but I can offer a pretty good alternative. I’ve been charged with establishing a new CCC camp here in Montana, near Monroe, on the other side of the mountains.”

I heard Nate draw in his breath.

The major continued. “It will be under the auspices of the Soil Conservation Service, and it’s going to be tackling a variety of projects that will help that area turn itself around and bring land back into production.

“Right now the camp is just a bare field, though, and that’s why I’m here. I’m to pick a construction cadre to leave with me today, to begin putting up the buildings needed to house yourselves plus the additional one hundred forty enrollees who will be arriving in less than six weeks.”

He paused to let that sink in.