MAD WATCHED NUMBLY as each of the ten bodies was pulled away and buried deep into the snow. The tenth was Hack's. The sniper's bullet had wrecked most of his face, but Mad recognized his sturdy frame lying limply under the ridge where he'd died.

Taps Cobb and Joe Gil, another squad member, hoisted him up and carried him over to a hole a few of the squad had volunteered to dig. They carefully lowered him down and respectfully took a step back.

Cobb brushed a dusting of ...