“When did the boys first take out?” Talcott asked.

“Early. Some will be at the head of the creek by now. And the line stretches all the way back to here, with fellers still yet coming. God damn, we really done it!”

We joined the march. Townspeople lined the main street. Some only stood, their faces long with disapproval, but most clapped and waved. The men hoisted their rifles to their shoulders, swung their arms. We sang “John Brown’s Body.” Some Italians in front of us sang a marching song in their language. Doc said it had to do with a man named Garibaldi. Rondal held my hand and swung my arm high in time to the music. He laughed. “Jesus, I wisht C.J. and Isom could be here.”

We quieted as we started up Lens Creek. Dr. Booker whistled the Internationale softly. Cicadas buzzed far up the dark green hillsides. At the checkpoint, Talcott approached three automobiles parked across the rutted dirt road.

“I’m in charge. Point Lick, Local 124.”

One of the men made a mark in his notebook.

“Password.”

“I come creeping.”

“Stand around here and watch each man that passes through. Point out anybody you dont know.”

“Who’s the lady?” one man asked, his voice high with surprise.

“Nurse,” Rondal said. “See her cap?”

“Honey, you got a long way to walk.”

“I’ll make it. I’m going toward home.”

“That right? All I can say, you sure do pick bad company to travel in.”

“You’re jealous, Cantley,” Rondal said.

Cantley laughed and waved us aside. We waited while those who had come unarmed received their rifles from the back of a truck. Then we marched off up the creek to a distant drumbeat from one of the locals behind us.

The day was scorching hot, even for August, and it took the longest and hottest part to reach the head of Lens Creek. I trudged along, worn out after the first few hours and hard put to keep up. I was not used to the long heavy overall material on my legs in such heat; I wondered how men could bear it. My spirits rose whenever the road joined the creek. Then I had an excuse to splash and wet myself down. Once I fell on purpose and flung cool water on my face and neck. My nurse’s cap flew off and floated downstream where Rondal retrieved it. He helped me up and set it crookedly on my head.

“You all right?”

“Fine,” I said.

The sun was high for a while before we stopped to eat. I took a ham sandwich Rondal pulled from his knapsack, and mulled chunks of it around in my mouth. It was difficult to swallow.

“How far?” I asked.

“Two more mile to the foot of the mountain, maybe.”

He leaned over and rolled one of my pantlegs above the knee.

“Rondal, I cant show my legs with all these men around.”

“Hell you cant. I’ll speak to the first one says anything.”