Gary stared at him, his bearded face a carefully framed picture of disappointment. “I can't… ? But sir, I…”
“No!”
Gary shuffled his feet, made as if to leave and then turned back once more. “Say, Lieutenant, got anything to eat?”
“None to spare, Corporal; I'm sorry. Our supplies must last out the trip. And now move down the road, please. We have to replace that tire.”
Eagerly he said, “I'll fix it for you, sir. If you can let me have something to eat.” He waited for a moment and then added, “Please, Lieutenant — food is damned scarce.”
The officer examined him, his thin body and ragged clothing. He turned once to exchange glances with the other man in the car and then faced Gary again. He struggled to keep his face emotionless.
“All right, Corporal. We haven't too much ourselves but I dare say you need it worse than we do. Now — the tire.”
“Yes, sir.” He started forward. “Give me the jack.”
“Stop right there! Don't approach the truck, man, you're contaminated. We haven't our suits on. We'll throw the jack out to you.”
“Suits?” Gary repeated stupidly.