risertwv

@@@@@ On the last day of the week, Croft and Red and Gallagher filed down their hill, wove through the six-foot kunai grass in the valley beneath them, emerged into a bamboo grove, and from there followed the trail that led to A CompanyThey filled their empty water cans, strapped them to pack boards, and talked for a few minutes with some of the men in A Company before starting backCroft was leading them, and when he reached the beginning of the trail he halted, and motioned to Red and Gallagher to come forward "Listen," he whispered"You men were making too goddam much noise coming down the hillJust 'cause this is a short distance and you got a little weight on your back don' mean you're supposed to wallow round like a bunch of goddam pigs "Okay," Gallagher muttered sullenly "C'mon, let's go," Red mutteredHe and Croft had hardly spoken to each other all week The three men filed slowly down the trail keeping a distance of ten yards between themRed found himself treading warily, and he realized with a trace of anger that Croft's command was influencing himHe walked along for many yards trying to determine whether he was afraid of Croft's anger or his caution came from habitHe was still debating this when he saw Croft stop abruptly, and creep through some bushes on the side of the trailCroft turned around and looked at Gallagher and him, and then waved his arm forward in a slow silent motionRed looked at his face