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"I was never cut out for military life, even as a Bear. Hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait. Drove me crazy. Stand here, look there, turn your head and cough, bend over and pull 'em apart. Not my lifestyle at all. Mrs. O'Coombe keeps me busy out in the open where I'm alone, riding from post to post checking security. No one to piss me off that way."
He looked up from the mix. "Longshot, get over here," Stuck said. "What do you think of this color?"
"More water," she said.
"That's what I thought. Thanks."
She hopped down and bumped into Valentine.
Valentine found himself looking into the reversed-raccoon eyes of the girl. The face mask had left an odd pattern on her features. Dusky and dark, she reminded him a little of Malita, save that Longshot was a good deal shorter.
"You must love your bike," Valentine said.
"I was out scouting east of here this morning," she said.
"Longshot gets bored easily," Stuck said, watching her grab a washcloth and towel and head for the camp's showers. "She's a retired guerrilla from down Mexico way. Met her during Operation Snakebite. She's ridden at my side ever since."
"Full partnership, or limited liability?" Valentine asked.
"Nah. A Reaper yanked my gear off when I was captured in 'sixty-six. Didn't hurt as much as you'd think, but about all she does is keep me warm."
Valentine had a hard decision to make, and after consulting Lambert, he presented it to Mrs. O'Coombe the night before their scheduled departure.
"I'm afraid I'll have to commandeer your doctor for Fort Seng, Mrs. O'Coombe. Our remaining doctor is exhausted. He's worked seven days a week for over a month now."
"And just who do you suggest will look after my son or any wounded we recover?"
"We'll take our nurse. If they've lived this long, I doubt they'll need any more care than that."
"I'm sorry, Mister Valentine, but this is one time I must tell you no. I don't like the idea of traveling with wounded without a doctor."
"A nurse should be sufficient for travel," Valentine said. And that was that. He had rank, after all, and it would take months for Mrs O'Coombe to get her friends to exert their influence for or against him. And by then he hoped to have her son back.
Valentine passed the word and names for an officers' call and then arranged for food to be sent up to what was now being called the map room. Next to the communications center, it had formerly been a game room. Lambert had altered it so it featured everything from a large-scale map of Kentucky to an updated map of the Evansville area, river charts, and even a globe Lambert had colored with crayons to reflect resistance hot spots against the Kurian Order.
Lambert was a whirlwind. Somebody had a screw loose if they had just cast this woman aside as part of a political housecleaning.
Gamecock was there representing his Bears, Frat for the Wolves, and Duvalier just because she saw the others gathering and wanted to grab a comfortable armchair. Patel was present, of course, and Colonel Bloom's new executive officer, a Guard lieutenant who'd distinguished himself at the bridge where Bloom had been wounded on Javelin's retreat.
"You looking forward to your trip, suh?" Gamecock said.
"We won't be touring. I don't care how well equipped and crewed she is. If she's recovering Southern Command forces, we need Southern Command along. I think she's sailing into trouble."
"Isn't she a bit old for you, Val?" Duvalier asked.
"You can come along and keep an eye on me," Valentine said. He hadn't yet told her that he wanted her to as part of his command.
"No walking, I hope," Duvalier said, with a light laugh that did Valentine's spirits good. She'd been so moody lately. "Twice back and forth across the state is enough for me."
"Who would you like to bring, sir?" Patel asked.
Valentine looked at his notes. "I'd like to take two Bears-Chieftain and Silvertip-four Wolves, and a nurse."
"Who's bringing the beer and barbecue?" Duvalier asked.
"Do I have to remind you that this is an officers' call, Captain?" Valentine said, using her titular rank.
"Then I'll join the tour," Duvalier said.
