The Lines he was referring to was the Stirling Lines army garrison in Credenhill, Herefordshire, home of the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, Britain’s premier special operations unit. It must have been a three-hour drive to London, Nate thought, a distance that was not sustainable. With Hannah unwilling to leave her career behind and Wally fully committed to the army, it was no wonder the marriage had failed.
“Are you guys still married?”
“Nah, divorce was finalized over a year ago. We talked at first. Then less. Now? It’s been months. And like I said, she’s moved on.”
“And you?”
Wally smiled. “Let’s just say I’m working on it. What about you? Any special lady friends yet?”
“There’s been a few,” Nate said. “Nothing serious, though.” He thought about it for a minute, then decided to tell him what had happened with Paige.
“She ran out on you, then?” Wally laughed after Nate had relayed the story.
“Well, you don’t have to make it sound like there’s something wrong with me,” Nate countered.
“Maybe she found out you’re a trained killer and ran for the hills,” Wally joked.
“Yeah, maybe.” Nate stared into his beer.
“To the single life, then,” Wally said, raising his glass, and they toasted.
“You talk much to the other guys?” Nate asked, referring to the men, both American and British, who had been with them in Yemen.
“Not really. I still keep in touch with a couple of blokes from the regiment, but I don’t exactly get up that way anymore. Haven’t talked to Tim or any of the other guys in years. How about you?”
“A little bit,” Nate responded. “I talk to Shane every now and then. Some other guys. Haven’t seen them, though. It’s just been…”
“A bit different, yeah?” Wally finished his thought.
“Yeah,” he said, nodding in agreement. “Different. Since Yemen.”
“Aye, I know what you mean. That was a tough one to swallow. We lost a lot of good men that day.”
“Yeah, we did.” The two sat stewing in their memories for several moments before Nate offered a toast of his own. “To fallen comrades.”
“To fallen comrades,” Wally agreed, and they drank. There was another long pause. “Have you talked to Tim?”
“No,” Nate said, shaking his head, “I haven’t.”
Wally knew, just like the rest of them, that the two had fallen out after he left. The worst part of it was that there didn’t really seem to be a reason. Nate left the army, and Tim stayed. Things were fine at first, but then Tim had gotten angry at him for leaving. They had onecolorful argument over the phone and that was it. They hadn’t spoken since.
“Well, you know how these things are. I’m sure he’ll come around.”
Nate didn’t respond, just nodded.
They finished their beers and the server came by to bring them another round along with their food. Nate was famished and he tore into the beer-battered haddock and chips while Wally went to work on his burger. They were quiet for several minutes, feasting on their meals. Finally, Wally broke the silence.
“So you really think you can find this lost city, then?”
“I know it sounds crazy,” Nate replied.
Wally held his hands up. “I’m not saying that. You’ve sold me, mate, but how do you expect to find something that nobody has been able to for thousands of years?”
There was that question again. Dr. Martinez had brought it up during his thesis proposal, and now Wally had raised it. Nate would have to be naïve to just assume that he would succeed where others had failed through sheer motivation alone, but there was more to it than that.
“For starters, those who searched before me didn’t have the benefit of collective knowledge. I don’t think anybody has reasonably put all the pieces together. Maybe T. E. Lawrence had a chance, but he died before getting the opportunity.”
“All men dream, but not equally,” Wally muttered, quoting the writings of Lawrence.
