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Cole sends her a sidelong look “You know, Richlin, you won’t be a private forever”

That thought bothers Rioto follow orders; it is quite a different thing to take responsibility

Cole quickly decides theThis they do, running in ninety-degree heat without shade, running with gear rattling, with troops panting and tripping and cursing under their breath It’s worse for Stick, who still carries the big BAR

Now the pain in Rio’s leg is doubled Every i up her thigh into her belly She grits her teeth, deteresting the way Jenou looked at her, the way she refused to look at her, the way the usually protective Jenou failed to speak up in Rio’s defense

Jenou has known her longer than anyone but her parents Does Jenou honestly believe Rio enjoys killing?

I could prove her wrong I could fall out I could go find a nice clean cot in an aid station back on the beach

But she runs on, her M1 held chest high, canteen bouncing, boots pounding dust

“So this is e had all those five-

Why didn’t Cole ask Jack? Jack’s a good soldier

When they e their uniforms, they see the barn froht tank behind it

Cole stares at his watch “Threeup a mortar” On this side of the barn is a hole like aexcept that it was clearly punched out fro scattered beneath it

“They’ll have their MG on the road,sot a second MG” Again he consults his watch “If we jump off a minute early maybe the Eye-ties shift their fire toward us” He points “We go straight across toward those prickly pears We run like hell and hope they don’t spot us If we reach the prickly pears, we can put soht tank, et that thing started up” He shrugs and shakes his head at that prospect

Cole is putting them at risk in order to save other lives And that, Rio thinks, is why I’ a private

“All right Drop your packs We’ll go in two groups Stick, you take Richlin, Castain, Pang, and Geer Keep your heads low and run like hell,” Cole says “Keep some space between you We’ll follow on a ten count On three One Two Three!”

They break into a, and Geer bringing up the rear