"I think you need to clean your boots." She nudged them with one of her own, a brief moment of contact when their legs knock together. She still felt that little electric jolt around Plourr, that sense of connection and she doubted that would ever change.

But it wasn't the same. They were both glad of that; moving on. It had been a long while since she'd considered such things.

"John went back. Without me. He returned, but I feel..." She shook her head, mouth clamping down firmly over clenched teeth. A soldier didn't talk about feelings, they weren't important and the subject was too awkward for her to continue with.