“It hasn’t been an easy position,” Nancy admitted.
“We’ve been fully aware of that. But when you stop to realize you’ve probably saved our convoy from some horrible disaster what does any of that matter?”
“Are you sure it’s not too late?”
“I hope so. Your prompt action has always been taken just in time. You’d better go back to your room now, or your other roommates may rouse and be curious.”
“I’m afraid I’ll never sleep, not knowing what’s happening.”
“You deserve a full explanation, Nancy, but it probably won’t come before sailing. I’m not at liberty to say more. Major Reed will have to do that.”
With what composure she could command, Nancy went back to her room and crept to her cot without rousing the others. She strained her ears at the sound of the elevator gliding up and down several times, but it told her nothing of the stark drama being enacted on the floor below. Never before had she felt so like a small cog in a gigantic machine. She must perform her function efficiently, leaving to a greater mind the finished product that the machine turned out. Toward dawn she finally went to sleep and didn’t rouse till her two friends were ready for breakfast.
“Tini must be hungry this morning,” said Ida Hall. “She’s already gone down.”
“But she left her coat and cap,” Mabel observed.
Nancy said not a word as she touched up her lips. When they returned to their room an hour later all the things Tini had left on her bed, musette bag, pistol belt, canteen, short coat and overcoat, were gone.