“Gotta go,” she said. “I really gotta get to work. This’ll be a good story if I can keep it together.” Duffy signed off as a big Sea Stallion dropped down into the field just outside the camp gates.

A woman in full combat rig pounded down the ramp of the heavy lift chopper and into the compound. As she went past Duffy she appeared to be trying very, very hard to contain her fury.

Lieutenant Chen tried to talk to her as she stormed up, but she sailed right past the platoon commander. The camp women were being tended to in an emergency aid station that the marines had run up next to the former commandant’s hut. He was alive, having dived under his bed when the missile attack on the divisional barracks began. Two marines stood guard over him and four other prisoners by the smoking ruins of the guard tower.

Duffy watched as the female officer spoke to the women. The contrast was striking. The marine was of average height but seemed to tower over the women in her combat fatigues and body armor. They gathered closer around her as the parlay continued. A girl of perhaps eight or nine, it was hard to tell, was brought forward.

Julia Duffy walked over to Lieutenant Chen.

“Who’s that?” she asked.

“Captain Francois. Battalion combat surgeon,” he said. “She just came in to supervise the evacuation of the camp.”

“Do you know what’s she’s talking to the women about?”

Chen shrugged.

The dull thud of Commanche gunships circling outside the camp made it impossible to pick up any of the conversation between Francois and the women.

“Do you think we should help?” asked Chen.

“We can’t help,” said Ivanov, who had wandered over from the Sea Stallion after topping up his ammo. “This is women’s business. Best left to the lady doctor, yes?”

“Maybe,” Chen said. He didn’t exactly sound sure of himself.

The three of them saw Francois hug the child. She rubbed the girl’s matted, filthy hair and seemed to deliver a short lecture to all of the women. Then she waved over the marines who were guarding the prisoners.

“Uh-oh,” said Chen.

But before he could take off, the Russian laid a firm hand on his shoulder. “It is for the better, my friend.”

“No fucking way, dude. I think she’s gonna cap them.”

“Probably,” agreed Rogas. But he made no move to interfere, either.

“I can’t let her,” said Chen. “It’s my responsibility.”

“Let it be, Lieutenant,” said Rogas, laying a hand on the body armor over Chen’s heart. “Just let it be.”

He sounded like a father soothing a distraught child.

Julia watched the marine surgeon as though she were underwater. Everything seemed indistinct and slow.

“Some things are meant to be,” Ivanov said gently.