“At least a pint if you can spare it.” She looked at Tadeas, who had finished setting up the ultrasound machine. “See about getting me two cots. We’ll put Ozzy here on one and McBride there on another, and do a direct transfusion.” Looking at the leader, she said, “As long as there are no objections, Captain.”

He unclipped his carbine and set it against the wall, loosened his body armor, and took a long, slow drink from his Camelback. Then he retrieved his rifle and took up a post alongside the door, his eyes scanning for any movement out toward the tree line. He held his weapon loose and low. What he did not do was dignify her attempt at sarcasm with so much as even his notice.

She looked at the gear and ammunition he carried and idly wondered how the men could move with such ease and grace under the weight of all that equipment.

Tadeas enlisted the help of one of the other soldiers, and they left the building to go get the cots.

“Take all you want, ma’am. Anything to help Doc Oz,” McBride said. He unfastened his armored vest and set it gently on the floor before he stripped off his sweat-stained outer blouse.

She smiled, impressed at the camaraderie as Tadeas and the other soldier returned, each carrying a cot. “He must be a good man to have all of you so worried about him.”

“They’re all good men, Doctor Myers,” Captain Norton said without looking in her direction. “The best, in fact.”

Feeling a little defensive and outnumbered, Cynthia said, “Tell me something. How do you all know my name, Captain?”

His expression didn’t change, but he did turn his gaze in her direction. Under all his gear, she thought she saw his shoulder make a small movement. “You know my name, ma’am. Only seems fair.”

“It may be fair, but it doesn’t answer my question.”

He turned his gaze away, staring at the tree line. “Can you keep a secret, Doctor?”

“Yes. Of course I can.”

“Good.” He nodded. “So can I.”

After a few seconds, she realized he didn’t plan to confide in her. “That’s not an answer either.”

The tone of his voice remained even. “It’ll have to do.”

She wasn’t going to get anything else. As she slipped on yet another pair of gloves, she watched Captain Norton clip his weapon back onto his sling harness, then move it around behind him. On her count, they lifted and moved Ozzy to one of the cots. In no time, she had a direct transfusion going between the men.

She turned and found that her mountain man had already lifted Sanders onto the table. When she caught his eye, he said, “I don’t want Chukuwereije’s men finding this village, Doc. Fisher and I are going to go handle that truck and the bodies.”