The huge room grew darker as the automatic lights powered down for the evening.

The air inside the cadet barracks smelled like floor wax and brass polish.

My assigned room was at the end of the third-floor corridor.

Sarah stood next to my metal bunk bed.

She rolled her shoulders back and stretched her arms.

Two huge olive-green canvas duffel bags sat open on the floor.

“The adjutant just posted the final orders,” Sarah said.

“We report to the base in seventy-two hours.”