At breakfast the following morning Lieutenant Hauser rapped for attention with her knife. Expectant faces turned quickly toward her, for the feeling that important changes were just ahead had swept the camp like a tidal wave.
“I have good news for you,” said Lieutenant Hauser.
The nurses waited for no more. Their eager exclamations swelled into cheers that swept the mess tent.
An odd expression tightened their commanding officer’s face a moment before she continued, “I see our enemies are not the only ones who get a foresight of our movements.”
This brought an alarmed silence. But Miss Hauser quickly relieved their tension by smiling as she said, “Naturally you’ve been looking forward to, and preparing for this news. We have been ordered to a port of embarkation.”
This really brought cheers that rang through the pine woods.
“When? Where?” Two thoughtless ones asked eagerly.
“Those are sealed orders,” replied Lieutenant Hauser. “We’ll know where only when we get there. My immediate orders are to tell you to be ready to roll out of this camp in an hour.”
Those who had not eaten all their breakfast forgot to finish, as they hurried off to pack and roll up their tents.
“Just a minute,” she called after the too-eager ones. “The orders I have already given about writing of our activities are more binding than ever. If you must write home merely say you’re well and busy. There was one train wreck not so long ago when someone let it slip about troop movements. You don’t want to invite any such disaster again.”