A Crying Shame (130 page)

I'm sure you have.” She took a step closer.
Have you known Karl long?”

Years. We were legionnaires together.”

She seemed stunned at Jon's remark. Her expression showed that she found this difficult to believe.
But he's a world-renowned scientist!”

His return glance was amused.
He is also a warrior—of the genuine kind. And if I have to explain that I'll be disappointed.”

Debra had told her in confidence that Jon Badon viewed a hero as a man who won the title either in combat, or risking his life by some act of heroism. Referring to any other type of noncombatant or non-life-threatening action as heroic was, Badon thought, insulting to the real article. And a warrior was a warrior. There was only one way to earn that title, and it was not judged by men in striped shirts blowing whistles.

Jon was quite adamant on that subject.

Debra had told her that Jon had given thousands of dollars and many months of blood and sweat, personally risking his life many times, without monetary gain being the goal, to help starving people in Africa and to further a democratic form of government in those countries. She had concluded by wondering aloud how many civilians had given just a tenth of what Badon had given in his lifetime.

Very few, Linda had said.

I've talked with Debra about you,” Linda said.
Extensively.”

A very stimulating and enlightening topic, I'm sure,” Badon said dryly.

You feel the words ‘hero' and ‘warrior' and ‘tough' are grossly misused, don't you?”

Quite.”

Do most men of your ... caliber—wrong choice of word—vocation ... feel the same?”

A goodly number.”

She sensed she was in an area filled with invisible danger signs. She fell silent.

I think I'll take Karl with me when I go into the swamp. He'll grouse a bit, but secretly, he loves a good fight. And with Karl, one never has to worry about one's back. He'll stand solid.”