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"Sounds like a day in high school"

Kittridge had to laugh "Touche"

Their gazes ht One hts, the next so who seemed to know the deepest part of you, who could open you like a book He couldn’t have said how long they’d been looking at each other It see the will, or the courage, or even the desire, to look away How old was she? Seventeen? And yet she didn’t seee at all An old soul: Kittridge had heard the term but never quite understood what it meant That’s what April had An old soul

To seal the deal between thee removed one of the Glocks from his shoulder holster and held it out to her "Kno to use one of these?"

April looked at it uncertainly "Let e dropped the e fro her fingers with his own

"Don’t pull the trigger with your knuckle, the shot will go low Just use the pad of your fingertip and squeeze, like so" He released her hand and tapped his breastbone "One shot, through here That’s all it takes, but you can’t un and handed it back "Go on, you can have it Keep a round chambered, like I showed you"

She s for you"

Kitteridge returned the smile "Maybe next time"

Athe weapon around in her hand, exa it as if it were some unaccountable artifact "What the father said Anta-soure out what it e nodded " ’You did this’ "

Another silence fell, though different from the others Not a barrier between them but a shared awareness of their lives, like the walls of a rooht Kittridge, to say those words Anta al-, you know," April said "You would have been killed, too"

"There’s always a choice," Kittridge said

"What else could you have done?"

The question was rhetorical, he understood; she expected no reply What else could you have done? But Kittridge knew his answer He’d always known

"I could have held his hand"

He kept his vigil at thethrough the night Sleeplessness was not a probleet by on just a feinks April lay curled on the floor beneath theKittridge had rehts anywhere The view from the as of a world at peace, the sky pinpricked with stars As the first glow of daylight gathered on the horizon, he let himself close his eyes

He startled awake to the sound of approaching engines An Ar He unsnapped his second pistol and passed it to April, as sitting up noell, rubbing her eyes

"Hold this"

Kittridge quickly h the door, the convoy was less than a hundred feet away He jogged into the street, waving his arms

"Stop!"

The lead Humvee jerked to a halt just a few yards in front of hi his movements with the fifty-cal The lower half of his face was hidden by a white surgical e’s arms were raised "I’m unarmed"

The soldier pulled the bolt on his weapon "I said, keep your distance"

A tense five seconds followed; it seeer door of the Hued and walked toward him Up close her face appeared worn and lined, crackled with dust An officer, but not one who rode a desk

"Major Porcheki, Ninth Combat Support Battalion, Iowa National Guard Who the hell are you?"

He had only one card to play "Staff Sergeant Bernard Kittridge Charlie Company, First MP Battalion, USMC"

Her eyes narrowed on his face "You’re a Marine?"

"Medically discharged, lanced past hi that the others atching from the s

"How many civilians do you have inside?"

"Eleven The bus is alas"

"Any sick or wounded?"