73

A hawk glided effortlessly in the sky and Carter paused to watch as it flew over. He was on his way to deliver an urgent message to the commander, but it would wait a few seconds. The hawk dropped and disappeared into the forest and Carter continued on with his job.

They'd stopped for a two-hour lunch that day and were still in the middle of it. The convoy was making good time and, with the good weather they'd been having, spirits were high, especially after the successful strike on the Third Battalion base. Sure, they hadn't caused much obvious damage, but they were sure the locals were now quaking in their boots, or at least Carter thought so.

Carrying the scrap of paper that held the transmitted message, he went to a circle of chairs around a firepit and saluted. Out of the five chairs, only two were occupied.

"What is it?" asked the man sitting to Carter's right.