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Sergeant Cole is the oldest member of the squad, in his midtwenties

but with the air of an oldersandy hair, a gap-toothed grin, and the stub of an unlit cigar in the corner of his mouth

The young man with hie his existence

“I got good news, and I got kinda good news,” Cole announces

“Oh, I do hope it’s a five-ests He’s just about Rio’s height, with sparkling eyes, reddish-blond hair, and a grin that practically defines the word devilish Jack is a displaced British boy with the luck (either good or bad) to have ended up in the American army

“First, the not-so-good news,” Cole says “We got a replacement for Cassel”

A replacement? For Cassel?

“This isWho are you?” There’s so anticipatory in Cole’s voice

“Private Ben Bassingthwaite,” the young man says

“Tell ’e a sudden interest in the ground

The private suppresses a sigh “I’on”

“The hell?” Geer demands rudely

“That’s right,” Cole says, struggling to keep a straight face “He’s Private Benjathwaite froh various possibilities

“Call hiests

“But that’s what I call Castain,” Tilo says, grinning at his oit and batting his adeous eyelashes at Jenou