Carter didn’t say anything, but the blood drained from his face until his cheekbones stood out stark white.

I stood next to the desk, straightening my dress uniform collar with my right thumb.

General Vance reached into his jacket pocket and took out my original paper travel orders.

He unfolded the sheet and laid it flat next to the battalion file.

“Take a good look at this paperwork, Lance Corporal,” General Vance said.

Carter dropped his eyes to the desktop, his neck stiff and strained.

General Vance set his right index finger on the red ink seal in the top right corner of the page.