Manila is groggy, deserted. Schaer stayed home, Elzingre didn't show, even Romiro hasn't asked me for news. Tempers are short. Drop a rumor now and it would freeze immediately to death. Good news travels fast, bad news gets bogged down quick, and the news on Stalingrad and the Solomons is not good. In times like these, people lose their perspective and emotions swing wide before rebounding.

As expected, the Constabulary is heading south to fight the guerrillas. A captain was told to just change sides when he gets there. The problem is that his family here had to sign a guarantee.

. . .