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“That’s better,” Rio says

“Your leg is bleeding again,” Jenou points out “Why are you being stubborn, Rio? Fall out and go back to the aid station”

“It’s just a little blood,” Rio says

“She’s right, you know,” Jack says “You should get that attended to properly”

“Richlin don’t want to ht, Killer Rick? You want more body count”

“Shut up, Geer,” Rio snaps, not liking the nickname

“That’s why she won’t swap out that big old M1 for a carbine,” Geer says “Can’t shoot a man from half a mile aith a carbine”

This is too rabs his shoulder and spins him around to face her “What is it, Geer? You think I’m afraid to do it up close? Because it was pretty up close and personal e took out that Kraut mortar team”

Geer grins and holds up his hands in mock surrender “Don’t shootat any distance”

“I’ what I’m told, same as you”

“And no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy doing your job, right, Richlin?”

Rio is considering punching him in the nose, but she spots Jenou out of the corner of her eye Jenou is standing with head down, unwilling to show her face

My God, does Jenou believe that too?

“Knock it off,” Stick says with the authority of his new corporal’s rank “We got actual ene for more here in the squad”

The colu There’s what looks like an abandoned barn up ahead, a pile of stones with a collapsed roof Platoon Sergeant O’Malley raises a clenched fist, calling a halt The rest of the division is lost to sight behind a rise in the land off to their left GIs drop to a knee or sit right down in the dirt Rio squats and watches O’Malley, now conferring with Lieutenant Vanderpool