June 24th, evening: Having dinner with the Engineer

Not if I can help it, thought Hunter to himself, but made sure not to let the thought show on his face. He stuck to the traditional soldier- in- trouble reply: "Yes, sir."

Edward knew it was rather unfriendly to hope that the general would gone in a minute, but he couldn't help himself. He had been reasonably poised at the beginning - after all, they really hadn't done anything wrong - but it seems that even a mostly clear conscience was no adequate defence against Sir Arthur's sharp tongue. He hadn't quite believed the stories, but now he knew better.