The next morning found the POU camp astir before sunrise. For some thirty people waking, having their morning coffee or tea, and gearing up to go out, Clay noticed they created a minimum of fuss. Most used Sterno tablets or small propane or kerosene stoves to heat their beverages. No smoke rose from the site. When any spoke, they used hushed voices and few said one word more than they must.
The sun had barely peeked over the rugged hills to the east when the group gathered at the center of the encampment circle for their orders. Most already formed up into groups of two or three, men and women who were used to working together and had built a level of rapport and trust so essential in dealing with danger.
Clay glanced around the group, a sudden powerful mixture of emotions washing over h
