"That's the way I see it," Zen answered.
"But goddammit—Are you hurt, Kurt?" The general's voice was suddenly solicitous. "Are you all right?"
"Damn it, I'm in my right mind," Zen answered. "I was in a prospect hole when the blast went off. Don't you think I've got enough sense to take cover?" Stocker's suddenly solicitous attitude irritated him. "Sorry, sir," he apologized an instant later.
"It's quite all right, boy. I know that nerves get frayed in combat. But this nurse—"
"That's the way I see it, sir," Zen said doggedly. "I request permission to follow her."
"If she comes back alive, you mean?"
"I would appreciate it if you would stop reminding me of that possibility."
"Oh. So you are emotionally interested in her?"
"Well, what if I am? She's a nice kid."
"They all are, boy. They all are—until you get to know them. As to permission to follow her, you've not only got it, but it's an order. We've got to find out about these new people. One of them appeared in President Wilkerson's private office this morning and told him to call off a planned landing in Asia."