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“Stafford”

“I couldn’t hear a thing, not then Much better now”

“He said you were absolutely splendid Very English too They can say words like splendid and it doesn’t sound nearly as silly”

They carry their loaded mess kits to a spot where a tent side provides a scrap of shade It’s only h and hot Then, because she has to hear it again, Rio says, “What did he say? Exactly?”

“Well, onceyou were alive he said it was the finest thing he’s ever seen That you were bloody ”

“Oh”

“Oh?”

“What am I supposed to say, Cat? Hooray for me?”

Cat shakes her head “You are a pain in the ass, Richlin, you know that? Half the ti little miss milkmaid, and the next etting bitchy about it”

“I ah a mouthful of food

“You used to be fun, that’s all”

“I have to be fun too? What, aets up and knocks the remains of her food into a slop drum Then without a word to Cat she heads back

Cat trots after her “Jesus, Richlin, since when can’t you take a joke?”

“You knohat, everyone can drop dead!” Rio rages

“Yeah, well fug you too, Richlin”