"Maker, no. I would have come to either better-dressed." A spindling gesture. "I hoped for your advice on where to go."

One finger ticks —

"I'm a terrible coward," As if that were a joke. (Would a coward be on the Ghislain frontlines?*) "So our Forces are quite out. And I've not seen Scouting accomplish much —"

A second, belated finger.

"— Which I can only take to mean they've done their job well. Perhaps too well for a fellow like me."


* Yes.