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“Not at all”

“Me neither”

Both laugh, and Jenou says, “My God, we’re starting to sound like men”

“I used to worry I’d seem mannish,” Rio says

“Because of your” And this ti look she aims at Rio’s chest

“No,” Rio says, outraged She gives Jenou a shove “No Because of reat, manly muscles, that’s why, you catty witch”

For a wonderful olden suspended moment, they are Jenou and Rio once more Rio feels it, feels herself back in Gedwell Falls, back at the diner stealing Jenou’s fries, and vice versa

I was a girl I was just a girl And after a moment’s reflection, she silently adds, Past tense?

She is on the edge of saying to Jenou that Strand seeure and in fact spent quite soht, not even theso vulgar, kills the fine nostalgic feeling

Okay, Jenou: yes, I’ve changed Happy?

This thought in turn sends Rio’s ed She’s drunk alcohol with serious intent She’s cursed She’s killed And she’s had sex She strives to connect those facts to o? Back then the only connection she had to the as via her big sister, Rachel Even after Rachel joined the navy it had all just seemed like some distant adventure to Rio It had not been until that terriblewhen news of Rachel’s death had reached the Richlin family that it hit home

She re She remeainst the innocent sunlight beyond the door, slu an ex-soldier? Will it be different for us, as Marr suggested? Or e have to turn into theh this?

The two friends sit side by side, each lost in related but separate eants O’Malley and Cole penetrates Rio’s reverie

“We’re infantry, not search and rescue,” Cole says to O’Malley

“That’s what I told Vanderpool, and he said that’s exactly what he radioed to the colonel, but the colonel explained that this was the godda circle, whatever the hell that is, and he was to follow orders” He spat undiplomatically and added, “Officers Jesus wept”