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           HewasgrantedleavetoflytoPortMoresbywithhisbrother,andtostayuntilPatsywaspronouncedoutofdanger.Theinjurieswerelittleshortofmiraculous.Bulletshadscatteredallaroundthelowerabdomenwithoutpenetratingit.ButtheNinthmedichadbeenright;lowerpelvicsensationwasbadlyimpaired.Howmuchhemightregainlateronnoonewaspreparedtosay.

           "Itdoesn’tmuchmatter,"saidPatsyfromthestretcheronwhichhewastobeflowntoSydney."Iwasnevertookeenonmarrying,anyway.Now,youlookafteryourself,Jims,doyouhear?Ihateleavingyou."

           "I’lllookaftermyself,Patsy.Christ!"Jimsgrinned,holdinghardontohisbrother’shand."Fancyhavingtospendtherestofthewarwithoutmybestmate.I’llwriteandtellyouwhatit’slike.SayhellotoMrs.SmithandMeggieandMumandthebrothersforme,eh?Halfyourluck,goinghometoDrogheda."

           FeeandMrs.SmithflewdowntoSydneytomeettheAmericanplanewhichbroughtPatsyfromTownsville;Feeremainedonlyafewdays,butMrs.SmithstayedoninaRandwickhotelclosetothePrinceofWalesmilitaryhospital.Patsyremainedthereforthreemonths.Hispartinthewarwasover.ManytearshadMrs.Smithshed;buttherewasmuchtobethankfulfor,too.Inonewayhewouldneverbeabletoleadafulllife,buthecoulddoeverythingelse:ride,walk,run.Matingdidn’tseemtobeintheClearyline,anyway