"If it's going to be much of a wait, I need a trip to the John. And I could really use a hot meal". Valentine couldn't remember when he'd last been so hungry, and wondered if Sir had permanently accelerated his metabolism or if he'd adjust in time.
"Understood, sir. We'll have to watch you, though. As to a meal, if you get taken Inside, the food's better than what we can give you out here".
After seeing to his comfort, they started making small talk about the gyro. A five-stripe came out to observe.
Valentine heard bicycle tires and a driving chain. A tall pipe cleaner of a man in civilian clothes, brown wool trousers topped by a khaki shirt, pulled up and removed his helmet and hung it on a hook on his belt. He took a courier bag off the bike's handlebars and trotted up to the soldiers, a holster bobbing at his hip.
"My name's Patterson", the man said, kneeling so his eyes were level with Valentine's.
"Valentine", Valentine replied.
Patterson took out a neatly printed card. "I'm your Professional Military Surrender Resource. I'm completely outside their chain of command, and my only concern is for your behalf. I'm here to see that you get food, medical care, legal representation, and religious or
social comfort between now and your release or execution. Do you understand?"
Valentine wondered how the title looked on the paperwork and smiled. "I just need to speak to the liaison officer".
"You should see him do this with Grogs", one of the older waiting soldiers told another, sotto voce. "Oooks and bobs his head and rattles beads until they head-butt him".
Patterson ran through a flow chart of questions regarding his treatment. Valentine denied being harmed or humiliated after his surrender.
"Captain Sagamoto is on his way", the lieutenant reported. "He'll verify your credentials and then we'll be done with you. Hope you're telling the truth, because otherwise..."
"Lieutenant, don't terrify the prisoner", Patterson cut in. "I'll have to log that".
"Beg your pardon", the lieutenant said, whether to him or Patterson Valentine couldn't tell. He backed off, and a five-striper nudged him.
"Don't let it bother you, sir. Just a bunch of papers".
Patterson had the lieutenant sign a piece of paper, and while they were so occupied the sergeant knelt down behind Valentine and checked his bonds.
"Inside, ifs they asks you where you comes from, say Canada. Make up some small place nobody's ever heards of like Moose Dick or Fragileoshus", the sergeant whispered.
The sergeant stood up as soon as the officers turned. "Just making sure I could wiggle a finger through", he said to them.
Valentine's ears picked up a faint whine and wheels turning on the landing strip. A golf-cart-like vehicle emerged from between two fuselages and joined the party, parking next to the autogyro. Like Patterson, the driver was on the lean side. His margarine clothes were thin and seemed hardly enough to keep out the dry wind. They reminded Valentine of the hospital gowns he'd seen at Xanadu.
He had faintly Eurasian features and a growth of beard that made
him look like a model from one of the old magazines trying to look rugged and fresh off a mountain.
"I'm Captain Sagamoto", he said. He nodded to the lieutenant. "Patterson, I don't think this'll concern you. Can the newcomer and I have a moment?" He squatted down opposite Valentine as the others moved away. Valentine ran through the signs and countersigns he'd memorized back at Nancy's in his head.
"Red to blue?" Sagamoto finally asked, extending his left fist.
"Negative negative negative", Valentine said. "Sorry I can't lock knuckles".
Sagamoto smiled. "I can see that. Prefix two oh nine".
"Suffix V April twenty-seven. I'm here to see Senator Bey from the illustrious state of Oklahoma".
Sagamoto stood. "Lieutenant, he's cleared. I'm going to ask you to use your comset. I'm taking him to the Inside. Patterson, aren't you needed in the marshes? I heard a team of Grogs got captured after the fighting. You pedal hard, you'll be there to make sure they're tucked in tonight and get properly exchanged. Might win you that promotion back to the Inside".
"Barbarians", Patterson said.
The sergeant cut Valentine's bonds and he and the corporal lifted him. Everyone watched Patterson bike away.
"I didn't knows about no fighting in the marshes", the sergeant said.