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But of course they weren'tThere was going to be trouble ahead, and they refused to accept itFor a moment Cummings thought of the reconnaissance patrol he had sent to the other side of the mountain, and he shruggedIf that came off, if they brought back a report of some value, if indeed he could manage to send a company over their route, and pull off the Botoi Bay invasion that way, it would be fine, impressiveBut there were too many chances against itThe best thing was to dismiss Hearn's patrol from his calculations until it returned
Despite all his internal objections he had been busy, he had given all his attention to the advance, concentrated on all the reports that came inIt had been exhausting, demanding work, and by nightfall he was tired, needed some diversionAlmost always when the division was in action he found it stimulating to tour the front daily, but at night now it would be impossible for him to inspect the infantry positionsHe decided instead to visit his artillery bivouacs
Cummings phoned for his jeep and driver, and about eight Phe set out on the roadThe moon was almost fullHe relaxed in the front seat of the jeep, and watched the play of the headlights against the jungle foliageThey were far enough behind the lines to avoid blacking out, and the General smoked idly, feeling the wind wash pleasantly against his faceHe felt drained, yet still tense; the passing sentient traces of the ride, the sound of the motor, the jouncing against the seat cushions, the smell of his cigarette, lulled him, caressed his nerves like a warm lapping bathHe began to fell cheerful and pleasantly empty
After a fifteen-minute ride, they reached a battery of 105s off the side of the roadOn an impulse he told his driver to turn in, and the jeep jounced over a crude culvert made by aligning empty gasoline drums in a ditch and covering them with earthThe wheels sloughed through the mud of the motor pool, and they came to a halt on a stretch of relatively dry earthThe guard at the entrance had phoned the Captain, who came up to the jeep to meet the General
"Sir?"
Cummings noddedHow's the battery coming?"
"Fine, sir
"Service battery was supposed to bring up two hundred rounds about an hour agoYou get them?"
"Yes, si
