57
A Blessing and a Curse
Iris and Buffer were in the back seat of the taxi. She was only vaguely aware of how she got here. At least Buffer was by her side. An older man who was oddly familiar waved at her through the window. She still had her red hat. She was sure she’d tossed it into the ocean.
There was an ear-piercing shriek as an army jeep blocked the path of the taxi, and a man leaped out and ran toward them.
Buffer bristled, then settled as his mistress recognized the man who’d yanked open the back door.
“Sergeant Rogers?” In Durban? Forty miles from camp? Iris was so confused.
“He’s in hospital.” Rogers was panting, like he’d run all the way from Maritzburg.
“What? Who? How?” asked Iris, shaking her head.
“Your Pietro. He jumped off the truck. His appendix burst.”
“Jumped
