The smell of damp carpet came drifting up from the basement door at the far end of the hall, cold and heavy.

I went to the front hall, where my green canvas duffel was leaning against the wall.

The heavy black garbage bag with my combat boots and uniforms felt rough in my hand as I bunched the plastic neck into a tight grip.

I picked up the garbage bag of clothes in my left hand, swung the canvas duffel over my right shoulder, and headed for the basement stairs.

The wooden steps creaked under my combat boots as I carried the black trash bag down into the dark.