‘Sergeant Fletcher!’
‘Sir?’
Alex looked along the trench. There was no one else about, at least as far as he could see through the clammy air. The fog distorted sound too, making a thickened growl of close voices and a thin waif of far ones. He reached out and grabbed Harry’s hand. ‘Good to have you back, Harry.’
Harry grinned. This handshake business was getting to be a joke between them. Harry reckoned that when Alex made general, he’d still be reaching down to shake hands with the clumsy NCO who’d forgotten his manners the first time they met. Then he noticed that the captain had a black eye.
‘What’s this? Have I missed some raiding?’
‘No, worse luck. Rugger. Much more dangerous.’
They shared a laugh. ‘So, how was training? How does it feel to be a sergeant?’ Alex asked.
‘Don’t k
