“That’s right. I saw something special in you, and I saved you. I could have chosen anyone, but I saved you. I gave you the gift of life.” Sayle’s cold eyes narrowed. “And now you give me this…” He trailed off, looking disgusted. “Colonel Stern would never tolerate a failure like that. He’d have your head on a stick. If I were Stern, you would already be a lesson in loyalty.”

“Yes, sir.”

Far off in the distance, the 999s of the Army of God boomed.

Lieutenant Sayle said, “I made you my second because you have never failed me. You’re a good soldier. We all know you were wounded, and drugged by that castoff. It’s the only reason you’re still standing here. But don’t disappoint me again, Sergeant. There won’t be any second chances. Not even for you.”

“No, sir.”

“Good.” The LT waved him over. “Now come here. It’s time we made plans. We have decisions to make.”

Ocho hesitated, trying to tell if he was really off the hook, but Sayle looked up at him, impatient. “I don’t have all day, soldier. It’s time to work.”

Ocho came over and squatted down. “I heard Colonel Stern wants us back at the front.”

“That’s right. The Colonel is finding himself hard-pressed by our enemy’s new artillery.”

“When do we march?”

Sayle’s cold eyes were like pinpricks. He smiled slightly. “We’re not going back.”

“Sir?”

“We’re not going back. We’re staying right here.” He looked out at the jungle. “That doctor and his girl haven’t come back, and I won’t leave until I see them again.”

“They rabbited. No way they’ll come back while we’re around. Might not even come back at all. Jungle’s got them now.”

“We’ll have to give them a reason, then.”

“You want them executed?”

Sayle shook his head. “No, I want to know why they left with all their medical supplies. Most of these civvies, they run with food, or a weapon. But these people took their meds.”

“Meds are valuable. He’s a doctor. The girl’s practically a barefoot doctor herself, even with that stump. I’d take meds, too.”

The lieutenant nodded slowly, but then he said, “You noticed that when the girl arrived, she was running? Out of breath. Panicked?”

“Everyone’s panicked when they run into us.”

“But she was running before she saw us. We surprised her.”

Ocho suddenly got it. “You think she was running from something?”

The lieutenant nodded. “It would have to be something big, don’t you think? To scare a war maggot like her? Castoff that’s already seen plenty of blood. Plenty of pain.” He gazed out at the greenery below. “I think she saw something very frightening out there.”