The column moved slowly, alert, searching, the earth became steeper and more slippery and the rucks seemed to gain weight on the unsure footing. The only sound most boonierats could hear was their own breath exhausting harshly from their lungs and hissing over their teeth. Occasionally the swish of tree branches or palm fronds brushing on their helmets or clothes caused them to move even more lightly under the heavy loads. The artillery batteries on Barnett began pumping out rounds. Now explosive rumbling from the big shells rolled across the column. In the enclosure of the valley the thunder echoed and ricocheted.
At point Whiteboy slowed further. With each pace he looked twice from side to side for traces of enemy. He searched up and down for booby trap trip wires. He examined the trail
