André asked curiously, “Good news?”
Weller almost shouted, “Our armies are cleanin’ up St. Sauveur, and the 47th’re movin’ on past—headin’ for the coast an’ then Cherbourg.”
“Good,” said Dobie. “Is that all?”
“Nope.” Weller grinned. “The colonel says the 82nd won’t be goin’ on to Cherbourg with the 9th Division. We’re ordered to take the marshy country south of St. Sauveur. An’ after that we’ll get relieved.”
“The 82nd will be out of the war?” Dobie asked.
“Every bloomin’ man of us,” Weller replied. “An’ that means you, too, Cap’n.”
Slim winked at André. “I guess that means you, too, kid,” he said.
Captain Dobie rubbed his hand across his eyes, and said, “After over two weeks of steady fighting I guess the 82nd deserves a rest. Well, give me that phone, Weller.”
When he had finished his call he said to Pierre, “I have sent for a jeep to take you home, M. Gagnon. Do you think you can hang onto André till the jeep gets here?”
Pierre threw back his head in his great, bellowing laugh. “I think so, mon Capitaine,” he roared.