Chapter 10
Near London
March 30, 1944They sat for about ten minutes after the train stopped. Del remained slouching on his little bench, his eyes closed, and the corporal sat—Del assumed—across from him, guarding him, from his own little bench.
Then the corporal stood up. “Well,” he said, “I don’t think we’re there yet.”
Del didn’t bother opening his eyes. The corporal was an i***t, unable to think anything without saying it. The train had barely begun moving out of the station when it slowed abruptly and stopped.
“Think I should go see what’s the trouble?” the corporal asked. He had been travelling with Del for a few hours and Del had barely spoken the whole time, yet the corporal—Del did not even know the man’s name—prattled away as though they were off on a seaside excursion.
Afte
