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“What do I call you?”

“Sergeant Schulterman” She wants to set the tone of their relationship at the start

“Okay, Sarge, have it your way,” he says, s her

It amazes Rainy that the uniforood job of transfor woman into someone who can shut down a ht thatto extend even after the war is over For all its incessant hostility toomen soldiers, the army is one place t

hat a bright but uneducated young woman can do important work

But as soon as that thought pops into her head she quashes it Good grief, beco a lawyer or a teacher or starting a business None of those careers involve risking life and limb

To which another part of hera very different tone, answers, Exactly: none of those careers involve risking life and lier She’s ju tail Having walked so close to danger, some part of her wants to return, to see whether she has the courage to take it further still

Withinto level, and the noise froives way to the whine of electricthe wheels into the underbelly of the plane

The sergeant, who explains that he is the “loadmaster,” a term Rainy has not heard before, shouts the itinerary and the rules

“Okay, folks, here’s the deal First stop is St John’s, Newfoundland That’s 1,130 ure six, six hours and change, depending on tailwinds We top off the fuel tanks—our range is just 1,600 miles, so we top off in Newfoundland and then head to Lajes base in the Azores, which is 1,420 e, but there’s sos e approach the point of no return”

“The point of no return?” Cisco says, skeptical

“Halfway It’s the place where it takes the saet back as it does to continue,” the loadet cocky’ The Atlantic is a big ocean, and I’ood a swimmer”

“Point of no return,” Cisco repeats in a ood I’ll have to remember that”

“We’ve rigged a chemical toilet behind that draw curtain back there It’s aard, but at least you get a little privacy I’ll bring you a thermos of coffee and so altitude you can unbuckle and sack out on the floor if you want, but it’ll be plenty cold”

“Thanks,” Rainy says