"I've also been told Captain Remington is en route," Mkchian said.

Goose said nothing.

"My spies, you see," Mkchian said, "are everywhere." He grinned as he said it.

Goose knew that the statement was offered in jest, but he also knew that the Turkish captain would have been a fool not to monitor the activities of the Rangers.

"So I had to ask myself," Mkchian said, "what Captain Remington would be doing out here. He has been very adroit at managing intelligence, supply, reinforcements, and renegotiating satellite reconnaissance even though it involved the introduction of the OneWorld NewsNet people among my men."

Goose shifted uncomfortably on his injured knee. Neither sitting nor standing helped with the pain. Only being in motion to some degree helped alleviate the gnawing sensation and the throbbing.

"The only answer I came up with," Mkchian continued, "was that Captain Remington wasn't happy with the events that are currently taking place here."

Goose didn't comment.

"I, on the other hand," the Turkish captain said, "was raised Christian. That's surprising in a country that is 98 percent Islamic. However, many people don't know that Christianity was the chief religion in this country before Islam came in with the Seljuks when they took Jerusalem in 1071."

"Their taking Jerusalem precipitated the Crusades," Goose said. Mkchian smiled as if in pleasant surprise. "A student of history, Sergeant?"

"My dad was a Sunday school teacher back home, and after the Korean War, he got his doctorate in history and taught college for a while." The university job didn't keep Wes Gander from being a simple man, though. "My dad showed me how Bible history intersects what they teach in public schools."

Mkchian nodded. "My family-according to my father, who takes great pride in these things-insists that we can trace our Christianity back to the early people who first lived in these lands." He looked toward the stream. "This event is an unexpected thing, Sergeant, but I believe it is a good thing."

"Yes, sir."

"But your captain doesn't think so?"

"You'd have to ask him, sir."

"I'll do that, Sergeant." Mkchian looked at Goose. "In the meantime, I've noticed that your leg is troubling you."

"I'm getting by."

"Nonsense. You're in pain. I noticed that earlier and took the liberty of getting a medical kit. Have you ever had a cortisone shot before?"

"Yes." In the past, he'd needed a few cortisone shots to keep that knee functioning.

"I have cortisone. If you'll allow my aide to treat you. I assure you that he's trained to deliver shots like this." Mkchian smiled. "I took a round through my left shoulder a few years ago. The shoulder had to be reconstructed. It still troubles me from time to time, and I have found cortisone to be a good thing." He gestured to the jeep driver. "Tonight, when we pull back from this border, I would like knowing that you are as able as you can be. To me, such a course of action makes sense because I will in part be relying on you. What do you think?"

Goose hesitated only a moment. "Yes, sir." He knelt with difficulty and unlaced his boot. He pulled his pant leg up and bared his swollen knee.

Mkchian frowned as Goose hoisted himself up on the Hummer's rear deck so his leg would dangle freely. "That knee is in horrible shape, Sergeant."

"Yes, sir. It's not the first time I've damaged it." Goose breathed out and then took slow breaths, pushing his mind past the pain that felt like a rusty bear trap had seized hold of his knee when the corporal gently worked his leg. He continued breathing through the pain of the shots as the man stabbed the needle deep into his knee. Thankfully, the cortisone was mixed with a local anesthetic and the pain relief was immediate.

"You realize that the cortisone will take the pain away," Mkchian said, "but does not reduce the damage or the amount of damage you can unknowingly do to it."

Goose lowered his pant leg, tucked it back into his boot, and pulled the laces tight. "I know that from past experience, Captain. Thank you."

"It is my pleasure. When we get to Diyarbakir, you should have that knee looked at."

"I will, sir." Goose stood on the leg and tested it. The knee felt numb, like it was a long way away, but he felt his foot just fine.

An engine sounded over the ridgeline. A handful of seconds later, Cal Remington arrived in an RSOV with a full complement of Rangers.

Goose stood ramrod still and saluted. "Sir," he barked.

Seeing Remington in captain's dress still somehow seemed odd after all these years. Goose could remember when they were both coming up through the ranks, both of them breaking in one second lieutenant after another, only to see them go or transfer. But the recognition of the chain of command was immediate.

"Sergeant," Remington said gruffly and fired off a salute while on the move. He looked over Goose's shoulder, and Goose knew exactly what the captain was looking at. "I didn't know we were hosting a revival."

"No, sir," Goose replied. Ever since Remington had gotten hold of him, told him he was coming out, Goose had known what the captain was going to want to discuss.

"If we're not," Remington snapped, "then tell me why I've got a Ranger corporal and three army chaplains hip deep in water handing out baptisms like there was a fire sale."

"Things got out of control, sir," Goose responded.

"Out of control? Sergeant, when things get out of control, you're the first man I expect to put them back under control."

"Yes, sir."

"That's lip service, mister." Remington stood toe-to-toe with Goose, glaring down at him.

Goose knew anger was the most volatile emotion Remington had. In every other department-love, fear, curiosity-he seemed cool, almost dispassionate. Remington and Bill had never gotten along, and Goose had often had to argue on Bill's behalf to keep him with the 75th.

"Who assigned those chaplains to be there with Baker?" Remington asked.

"I did, sir."

"Why?"

"Because I thought it would speed up the process, sir."

"How about ending the process, Sergeant? Did that cross your mind?"

"Yes, sir, it did. However, that seemed to be an unattainable objective, sir."

"First Sergeant," Remington growled, "that's the last thing I want to hear from the man I put in command of my troops."

"Yes, sir."

Remington glared out at the stream. "Those men are slowing down my operation."

"No, sir," Goose said immediately.

Remington turned on him in an instant, shoving his face within inches of Goose's. "What?"

Goose met Remington's gaze full measure. For a moment, just the barest hint of a moment that didn't last long enough to cross the line between non-com and officer, they were just two men again.

"The operation has not been slowed, sir," Goose said. "If the captain will check the ops parameters on the mission he has assigned, he'll find that the 75th-despite the loss of manpower and materials-is forty minutes ahead of schedule. The rifle companies are going to be ready to bed down before sunset, sir, instead of working into the night as we had predicted. We will be able to cover the noman's-land much more effectively."

Remington cursed and drew back. "Those men need to be removed from that stream, Sergeant."

Before Goose could reply, before he could even figure out what he was going to say, Captain Mkchian spoke up.

"Captain Remington, if I may interject."

"You may not," Remington said, turning on the Turkish captain.

Immediately, the men with Mkchian spread out around their commanding officer. Mkchian appeared to take no offense.

"This is a United States Army matter," Remington snarled.

"And this is Turkish soil," Mkchian stated in a calm, even voice that carried naked steel in each word. "You and your men are here at the invitation of my country, because your president believes he has a vested interest in the outcome of things that happen here. I represent the government that invited you here, and as their representative, I'll suffer no disrespect. Is that clear?"

Remington glared at the man. "What do you want?"

"I want this operation to continue, Captain Remington, until it is done. For as long as it takes. You have not seen the effect this is having on the men. Tonight they are going to have to fight for their lives. I would rather they went into that fight believing they could win, or at the very least, survive."

"Getting dipped in holy water and having the name of God spoken over you isn't going to save your hide," Remington said.

Mkchian smiled coldly. "Perhaps their hides aren't what these men are worried about. These men aren't fools. I have talked with many of them. They believe God has called them to this place and to those men in the water."

"Don't give me the God mumbo jumbo. Maybe dipping Achilles in the River Styx made him invincible, but it's not going to do that for those men."

"I don't think they expect that. But I have noticed that many of the men come away from that stream a little braver, a little more clearheaded."

"It's water!" Remington growled.

"It's belief," Mkchian said.

"I'm not going to allow this to happen," Remington said.

"And I'm not going to allow you to stop it." Mkchian held his ground.

Remington turned on the captain. "You can't stop me from taking my men.

The Rangers behind Remington, all of them handpicked and all of them discipline problems for everyone but the Ranger captain, flared out, both hands on their weapons.

Unexpectedly, Mkchian clapped his hands and said, "Bravo. Now wouldn't this be a fine finale to the United States Army Ranger involvement in Turkey? My government reluctantly brings you in, and you end up in a Wild West gunfight with the very army you're supposed to be helping. Out of purely humanitarian reasons, of course, as your President Fitzhugh claims."

"No one stands between my men and me," Remington growled.

"Of course not, Captain." Mkchian waved generously toward the stream. "Take your men. By all means. But are you prepared to arrest all of those men you will incite to riot?"

Goose breathed shallowly, stunned by the events taking shape. He'd never seen Remington more on edge.

"And they will riot, Captain," Mkchian said in a softer voice. "Those men are trapped here, and they need something to believe in. Something more than merely military rank and file. A lot of them are dead, but a lot more of them disappeared today without explanation." The Turkish captain raised an eyebrow. "Unless you're prepared to explain that to them?"

Remington didn't answer.

"I didn't think so." Mkchian looked at Goose. "I came here prepared to stop your sergeant, because I fully expected him to try to put an end to these baptisms. He would have tried, despite what you think. He's a good man. I'm glad I caught you at the same time so I don't have to order you restrained."

"If you had done that-"

"I would have," Mkchian said. "You have my promise on that. These men will have their peace, Captain Remington. It is within my power to give them that, and I will." He paused. "Furthermore, if you decide to follow through on this course of action, I will seek out Danielle Vinchenzo, the OneWorld NewsNet reporter that you have sponsored in this area, and tell her exactly what you have done."

A nerve twitched on Remington's jaw. His eyes looked like cold glass as he gave a small, imperceptible nod. "Fine, Captain Mkchian. We'll let you have your little praise party. But I want it over soon."

"As long as it takes, Captain," Mkchian said. "God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. You have your satellites and we have ours. The Syrians won't come this way without being noticed. We'll have time to get into position." He smiled. "There's something you're forgetting, though."

Remington didn't ask.

"Most of Syria is Muslim. Doubtless, they are watching these proceedings on television. In the Koran, it says that the spirits of soldiers who fall in holy battle will immediately go to heaven and be granted special privileges for their sacrifice." Mkchian looked out on the stream where the baptisms continued. "Those Syrian soldiers will see this, and they will think that these men are preparing to make that same sacrifice." He looked back at Remington. "The Syrian soldiers will fear us more for this. They will be afraid because they will think we will know no fear."

The song coming from the men standing in the lines swelled to fill the tense silence that stretched between the two captains.

Turning away, Remington fixed Goose with his gaze. "This is your fault, Goose. You should never have let this go this far. You stay with these people until this is finished."

"Sir," Goose objected, "I should be back at the base."

Remington cut him off. "You should. When this is finished, if you decide you want to be a Ranger again, you come back then."

Before Goose could even attempt a reply, Remington turned and walked away. He boarded the RSOV and didn't look back as the vehicle headed back toward the Ranger encampment.

Goose felt torn. He couldn't disobey an order, but he didn't feel right. He needed to be at the Ranger base to make certain everything was getting done.

"Your captain," Mkchian said, "is making a mistake by punishing you this way."

"I knew he wouldn't want the baptisms going on," Goose replied. "I should have stopped them."

Mkchian gazed at him in open speculation. "Then why didn't you?"

For a moment Goose thought the Turkish captain was faulting him as well. Then he saw that Mkchiari s gaze was open and honest, without challenge or accusation.

"I didn't stop it," Goose said, "because it felt right."

Mkchian tapped Goose on the chest. "God has touched your heart, too, First Sergeant Gander. No matter how much pain you have to go through to endure, you will be a better man for it. You cannot avoid His touch."

"I don't know, sir. I could have been mistaken about this whole thing."

Mkchian pointed his chin at the men being baptized. "If you are, there are a lot of men with you." He looked back at Goose. "In the meantime, you should know that you have made a powerful enemy today."

Goose shook his head. "The captain's angry, but he's my friend. Not an enemy."

"Sometimes they are both, Sergeant. Just be careful."

Goose tried to find something to say to defend Remington. They had been friends for years. They would be friends forever. He just didn't know how to explain that to Mkchian.