Kyle? The man turned toward her. No. But I recognize him... I'd see him at Barrack Four all the time.

"Hey, Shira," the man called, a strange drawl in his voice. "What're you doing here?"

"I'm walking between squad sites. I'm looking for Kyle. You're in his squd, right? Have you seen him?"

The man laughed. "Not in a while. I saw him, though, all right. He was with us when we chased the last of the soldiers into this groupa farmhouses and barns. Lemme guess, you've been looking among the wounded and dead and everything while you were working, right? Worrying yourself sick?" He chuckled dryly.

"Nah, he came with us when we raided a farmhouse real near here, had a funny metal rooster on top of the barn. After we got the last few soldiers- damn them stubborn guys, wouldn't surrender or anything- we found some nice whisky in the basement, he got a load of it too, I expect. Wasn't paying much attention at the time, I wasn't." The man chuckled again.

"I asked his squad leader about him. He checked in last night but I couldn't find him anywhere."

"I'm guessing he found the whisky a bit much for him, young as he is." The man winked at Shira. "He might've left to be sick somewhere, or find a dry place to sleep it off, or even have gone back to look for some more drink. Who knows."

"Thank you."

I saw those buildings last night, while I was carrying wounded. Please let him be there. Shira passed a sleeping guard and walked quickly away from the camp area.