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Rainy answers in that salances at her, looks away, frowns, and co apparently seen all he needs to see for now, he claps Cisco on the shoulder and in heavily accented but colish says, “Welcome, I am your cousin, Tomaso”

“Glad to meet you, Tom”

“Hoas your trip?”

“Fugging awful, and she’s responsible” He jerks his thuht? As your cousin, and as a un so I can shoot this Jew bitch in her smart mouth”

18

RIO RICHLIN—EAST OF NISCEMI, SICILY

“There’s a plane up-country, with survivors and wounded With our usual good luck, we are closest Pick three people to go with you,” Cole says “Vanderpool’s giving you a radioman named Petersen”

It’s a punch to the stomach for Rio She does not want the responsibility It is one thing to be chosen for a special patrol, that’s bad enough, but it was a very different thing to be left to decide who should go It iswho you’ll dance with: there is no way to avoidresponsible for whatever follows

It is a moment when Rio is suddenly called upon to offer an opinion on who is and who is not a reliable soldier And whose life she will risk, and who she will leave in relative safety

“Sarge, I,” Rio begins

“What?” he snaps

“Maybe”

“This is not a debating society, Richlin Got it?”

Rio just nods, and Cole leaves her alone with the decision On top of everything else, it’s a test of her judgs Rio wants less than to be found wanting by Sergeant Cole

In any other circu the patrol And if for soe reason the choice had still soo along on that patrol In her mind the hierarchy of who is and who is not a real soldier is clear: Stick, herself, Jack, Cat, and even the obnoxious Geer are soldiers now Tilo htshe doesn’t trust, Magraff is worse than useless, Beebee is an unknown and green, and JenouShe loves Jenou Jenou is her lifelong friend But in a fight?