As Jack inspected his ten-man patrol, he wondered how many departures he"d endured. How often had he marched out of an encampment or cantonment with the knowledge that he might never return, that he could leave his bones in some foreign place, the cold uplands of Inkerman, the fever-jungles of Burma or the baking plains of India? Jack thought this time felt worse, perhaps because he was leaving behind somebody he knew cared for him. He patted his pocket, with the emergency medical bag that had been Mary"s parting gift.
"You know how you always hurt yourself," she had said and kissed him. "Take care, Captain Jack."
Do your duty. The stern words brought Jack back to the present.
"All set, O"Neill?" Jack had selected his men with care. As well as Riley and Logan, he was taking Batoor, Cole
