13
“Tayanita!” MacKim said, reaching out, only to grasp at air. Tayanita had vanished.
“Are you all right, Sergeant?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes, sir,” MacKim said. “Parnell, Waites, Chisholm and Butler; you’re with me.” All four men were veterans, and three had grown up in the North American backcountry and had vast experience in forest warfare.
“We’re not going to fight,” MacKim said. “We’re only looking at the French dispositions.”
Chisholm touched his burned face, a sure sign he was thinking. “The Canadians may think otherwise.”
MacKim grunted. “That’s why we have Parnell and Waites here,” he said. “They can out-fight and out-manoeuvre any Canadian.”
Chisholm nodded. “I hope so, Sergeant.”
Waiting until dark, MacKim eased them forward, moving very slowly and frequently stopping to lis
