“You’re right, Commander,” said Jones, leaning forward, his face dimly illuminated. “Some things don’t change. But that doesn’t mean progress is impossible. My niece made that film you just saw, by the way. She cut it all together for a school project. Even took the footage at the White House herself. It’s nicely done, don’t you think? She’s only eleven years old, and I suspect she’ll be a holy terror to her mother and father.”

Lieutenant Commander Black was at a loss for words. “Is she . . . uh . . .”

“As white as the Grand Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan. But she loves her uncle Lonesome, and wants to follow in his footsteps, God help her.”

“How did you win the medal?” asked Black, readjusting his headset as he handed the goggles to Ensign Curtis.

“I don’t mind you asking, Commander. But I’m not inclined to discuss it with you just yet. That doesn’t mean I won’t.”

“I think I understand,” Black said with a hint of chagrin.

“No, I don’t think you do,” said Jones. “Have you ever been in combat, Commander?”

“No,” he admitted.

“Well, the admiral, myself, Airman La Salle over there, and the pilots of this helicopter, we’ve all been there. Too many times. If I could wish that away, I would, believe you me. I don’t want my niece to live my life, but that’s the world she was born into. It’s not pleasant, but it has its certainties. One of which is that I know every man and woman in this aircraft would cut their arms off to save me if they had to—and they know I would do the same for them. They’re my people, Black, no matter what. You, however, you I don’t know.”

“That’s pretty goddamn rich, don’t you think?” Black protested. “You blowing in here the way you did, and then demanding that we earn your trust. That’s hardly fair.”

“Fair’s got nothing to do with it.” Jones shrugged. “You’ll see that soon enough, if you have any sense.”

“Colonel Jones?”

Ensign Curtis interposed himself between the two men in the unfamiliar role of peacemaker.

“Yes, son?”

“These eyeglasses, sir. Do you actually wear them in combat, so you can see in the dark?”

“We do. But they have other uses, too. They’ll take a shotgun blast from twenty yards out. Your face’ll get shredded, of course. But your baby blues will be A-okay.” He grinned ghoulishly. “They can display a bunch of tactical information, too. Real-time imaging from intel drones, spy-cams, and so on. So if you’re wondering what’s on the other side of a hill, say, you can see without popping your head up to get it shot off.”

Jones could see that neither Curtis nor Black really understood what he was talking about.

“Put them on, Ensign,” he said.