"Well Jack, I fear we have missed the boat." Elliot raised the flask. Alcohol had flushed his face and slurred his voice. "The Russians have strengthened all their bastions, they have over three hundred heavy guns to defend Sebastopol, they"ve built a pontoon bridge across the south bay of the harbour, and they"ve brought in thousands of veterans."
Jack nodded. "I knew all that," he said. Rumours and stories spread around the trenches nearly as quickly as cholera. "Your pigeon was late with that news."
"Ah," Elliot said, "but did you hear the latest? The Russians have been sending out raiding parties to capture prisoners."
"I did hear that, too," Jack said. He stood up to survey his men. Wagons sprinkled the road to Balaklava; most were empty as they returned to the ships in the harbour
