"And naturally you're blaming yourself."
Valentine left that alone. "I did dig you up for a reason," he said. "I need your help. How would you like a change of duty?"
She brightened visibly. "The Bears? I know Lieutenant Nail's hurt again-"
"Sorry. Hanson isn't confident in his ability to run the battery. I want to put you in charge of it."
Styachowski pursed her lips. "I only know mortars."
"But you know the theory, right?"
"Of course."
"You've done everything I've asked you. You can do this, too. Those guns have to be kept good and lethal. They're the reason the Quislings are all corked up."
"Major Valentine, I've got a question for you, if you don't mind."
"Shoot."
"Last night, you sent me down into the communications bunker. That's the safest place on this hill. Even a Reaper would have trouble clawing through that door Solon had put in. Why did you want me there of all places?"
"I notice you didn't stay. You're my second in command. I couldn't risk us both being killed."
"I'll take over the battery if you take my place in the headquarters. I heard what you did last night, running around in the dark with Reapers everywhere. I've been scared all day thinking about it."
"Are you afraid of having to take command?"
"Not that. I-"
"Courier, Major Valentine," a staff soldier called. "A courier's come in. She's asking for you, and she said for you to hurry."
"She?"
"Yes, popped up on the west side. Pretty gal, red hair, says she's your mama but she's too young for mat. I think she climbed the cliff, just like the Reapers."
"Where is she?"
"Eating in the main galley."
"Thanks." Valentine turned to Styachowski. "Sounds like we're getting intelligence. Want to come?"
"For news? Naturally."
They found Alessa Duvalier shoveling rehydrated scrambled eggs into her mouth. She had changed into an outfit Valentine knew as her "traveling clothes." She wore a long, deep-pocketed riding coat, wide-brimmed hat, hiking boots and a backpack blanket-roll combination.
"Hello, Ali. Tired of the showgirl routine?" He and Styachowski sat down opposite her. The cook brought a plate of fried potatoes and Duvalier loaded them with salt before digging in.
"They've got you boxed in tight here, Val. I had to wade across a swamp to even get to mat damn cliff. This sort of reminds me of the day we met."
She still had her fast, deft hands, now working knife and fork instead of tying dressings. Both of them had added a few pounds since men. They shared a smile at the memory.
"Then it must be important."
"First, Hamm's back in town with his whole division. Another is moving for Pine Bluff. They won't be there for a couple days maybe; bad roads, guerillas, mines and no rail. Hamm's going to be going across the river in small boats to get south."
"You're not going along?" Valentine asked.
"He's always been unpleasant. Last night he was a bastard. Mean as a stuck pig. The Trans-Mississippi is crashing down around his ears, he's angry at everyone. Executed a junior officer himself."