Crouching low to hide himself in the tall grass and boulders alongside the road, Hawker began his awkward run from the scene of the battle. Home base was more than fifty kilometers away, but he didn’t think he’d have to travel that far on foot; there were advance patrols out constantly, and if he could hook in with one of them he could ride the rest of the way home. Everything depended, though, on his staying alive between here and there.
He tripped over something lying hidden in the grass, and nearly went sprawling; only quick reflexes and a good sense of balance kept him on his feet. He looked back to see what had upset him, and saw that it was a body dressed in a U.S. uniform. That in itself was no indication—rebel soldiers frequently dressed in captured uniforms to fool the loyalists—
