"Now we wait," he said to Mary.
"And Packer?" Mary asked.
"We hope."
Mary nodded, touched his arm and searched for the closest shade. She knew he was worried about his missing man.
One by one, the patrols returned, all with grim faces and a shake of the head. "The pandies have gone," they reported.
"And Packer?" Jack asked, already aware what the reply would be.
"There is no sign of Packer."
Jack swore. He hated leaving a man behind.
"We beat them off, sir!" Wilden put a more optimistic slant on the encounter.
"You did well," Jack said. "You stood with your men and did your duty. That"s what soldiers are supposed to do." He turned away, knowing that his few words would have boosted Wilden"s morale more than a hundred brass bands or long speeches.
"Forward!" Taking his place in fr
