“Niva?” Stan asked.
“Yes,” Kirby answered and his smile changed to a frown. “That rat, Munson, came out to the stockade several times. He sentenced me to be shot and the way he talked to that girl made me want to get my hands on him. I think he’s just holding her there to torture her. He blames her for upsetting all of his slick plans.”
Stan’s lips pulled into a tight line. He sat very straight behind his desk and there was an icy gleam in his eyes.
“Thanks, Major Kirby,” he said. “Now run along and get some rest. I have some important work to do.”
Kirby got to his feet and saluted. “I’ll be ready for combat duty tomorrow, sir,” he said.
“You will not. Now get out,” Stan said gruffly.
He watched Kirby walk wearily out of the door. He was not seeing the slender boy, he was seeing instead a slender girl bending toward him, whispering a single word, “dacoit.” He stood for a long time studying the map on his wall. It was an accurate map of the area, and the temple and the Japanese base were well outlined on it.
Taking the map from the wall he folded it and shoved it into his pocket. He went across to the barracks to Kirby’s room. Kirby was already half-asleep, lying fully dressed across his bunk.
“Sorry to disturb you, Kirby,” he said.
“No trouble at all, sir,” Kirby said as he sat up.