The vehicle park at Ardee was all engines and torches.
"Second platoon, trucks six and seven! Six and seven, not eight!"
Ammunition went up into the trucks hand to hand. An armoured vehicle coughed and caught down the line, and its exhaust came across the wet ground.
An ambulance came in through the gate. The talk round James stopped while it passed, then started again.
"—through two companies, I'm telling you. One fella."
"That's what they're saying. Nobody saw him properly."
"Is Gerry on our truck? Did anybody see Gerry?"
Declan was waiting by truck four with his hammer and a kitbag. He held up his right gauntlet. There was a new rivet at the wrist.
"Good as new," he said. He winced when he did the strap up.
"Grand job," said Finn.
Niamh came across from the medical tent, and her face said what the doctors had told her.
"Four of mine," she said. "Not cleared. Two of them would go if I let them."
"And you won't," said Finn.
