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int saber was laid on her body so that her clasped hands； which might hold a cross or rosary beads depending on one's religion； held； instead； the hilt of her sword at her midriff。 The sheathed blade disappeared beneath the half…lid of the casket。
It was quite a striking sight； to be honest： the beautiful face； the golden hair； the gold braid； the glittering brass and steel of the saber； and the snow…white uniform against the pink satin lining of the casket。
I took all this in very quickly； of course； no more than five seconds； then； good Catholic that I am； I made the sign of the cross and moved around the casket and started down the center aisle。
I saw the Campbells in the first two rows on the right： the general； Mrs。 Campbell； a young man whom I recognized from the family album in Ann Campbell's house as their son； and various other family members； old and young； all wearing black outfits and black mourning bands； which are still customary in the military。
I avoided eye contact with any of them and proceeded up the aisle slowly until my coterie caught up with me。
We found three seats together in the same pew that held Major Bowes； whom I knew only from his name tag； and a woman I presumed to be Mrs。 Bowes。 Bowes nodded to Colonel Hellmann； who failed to acknowledge the presence of an adulterer and jackass。 Mrs。 Bowes； incidentally； was rather attractive； proving once again that men are basically pigs。
Despite having just viewed the mortal remains of a young woman； I was feeling slightly better； as people do who consider their position relative to less fortunate souls； such as people with big career problems； like Bowes； murder suspects； like Kent； or married people in general； and the sick； dying； and dead。
The chaplain； Major Eames； wearing only the green dress uniform with no ecclesiastic vestments； came to the pulpit； and a hush fell over the crowd。 Major Eames began； 〃Dearly beloved； we are gathered here in the presence of God to bid farewell to our sister； Ann Campbell。〃
A lot of people sobbed。
I whispered to Karl； 〃The chaplain fucked her； too。〃
Karl's jaw dropped this time。 The day still had possibilities。
CHAPTER THIRTY…FIVE
The simple service proceeded with prayers； organ music； and a few hymns。 Senior military officers are great churchgoers； of course； it es with the territory of God and Country。 But they tend to be nondenominational； which is safe； gray； and nondescript； like most of their careers。
The upside of this at military weddings and funerals is that you get to pick and choose the best aspects of each denomination's liturgy； hymns； and prayers； and you can make it short。 I can tell you from experience that a Catholic funeral mass can be long and arduous enough to kill off a few of the old folks。
Anyway； at the designated time； Colonel Fowler mounted the lectern to deliver the eulogy。
Colonel Fowler acknowledged the presence of family； friends； fellow officers； coworkers； and Midland dignitaries。 He said； 〃In our chosen profession； more than in any other profession； we see and hear of the untimely deaths of young men and women。 We do not grow accustomed to death； and we do not bee hardened to death； but rather we cherish life more because we know and accept the fact that Army life puts us in harm's way。 When we took the oath； we fully understood that we could be called upon to risk our lives in the defense of our country。 Captain Ann Campbell understood that when she accepted her mission from the Military Academy； she understood that when she went to the Gulf； and she understood that when； at an hour when most people are safe in their homes； she volunteered to go out and see that all was secure at Fort Hadley。 This was a pletely voluntary act； not specifically related to her duties； but the sort of thing that Ann Campbell did without being told。〃
I listened； and it occurred to me that； if I didn't know better； I'd buy it。 Here was a gung…ho young female officer volunteering for night duty officer； then taking the initiative to go out to check the guard and being murdered while she was doing a good deed。 How sad。 That's not the way it happened； but the truth was even sadder。
Colonel Fowler went on； 〃I'm reminded of a line from Isaiah 21：11…'Watchman； what of the night？' 〃 He repeated it； 〃 'Watchman； what of the night？' and the watchman replied； 'Morning is ing。' And aren't we all watchmen？ This is our calling in life； as soldiers； to stand the watch； each day； each night； eternally vigilant so that others may sleep peacefully until morning； until the day when it pleases God to call us into His Kingdom； and we need not stand the watch； nor fear the night。〃
Fowler had a good； deep speaking…voice； and his delivery was flawless。 Clearly； the man could have been a preacher； or a politician； if he weren't so obsessed with right and wrong。
I'm not a good public listener； and I tend to drift。 So I drifted to Ann Campbell's open casket； her face； the sword； and her folded hands around the hilt； and I realized what was wrong with that picture： someone had slipped a West Point ring on her finger。 But was it her ring？ And if it was； who had put it there？ Fowler？ General Campbell？ Colonel Moore？ Colonel Kent？ Where did it e from？ But did it make any difference at this point？
Colonel Fowler was still speaking； and I tuned back in。
He said； 〃I knew Ann as a child…a very precocious； high…spirited； and bratty child。〃 He smiled； and there was subdued laughter。 He became serious again and continued； 〃A beautiful child； not only physically but spiritually beautiful； a special and gifted child of God。 And all of us here who knew her and loved her 。。。〃
Fowler； smooth as he was； couldn't slide over that double entendre； but it was only a momentary breath pause； noticed solely by those who had known her intimately and loved her well。
〃。。。 all of us will miss her deeply。〃
Colonel Fowler had a lot of people sobbing now； and I could see one reason why the Campbells had asked him to deliver the eulogy。 The other reason； of course； was that Colonel Fowler had not slept with the deceased； putting him on the short list of potential eulogizers。 But I'm being cynical again。 Fowler's eulogy was moving； the deceased had suffered a great wrong； a wrongful and untimely death had occurred； and I was feeling like crap again。
Colonel Fowler did not mention specifically how she died； but did say； 〃The battlefield； in modern military jargon； is described as a hostile environment； which it most certainly is。 And if you expand the meaning of battlefield to include any place where any soldier is standing and serving； then we can truthfully say that Ann died in battle。〃 He looked out over the crowd and concluded； 〃And it is only proper and fitting that we remember her not as a victim； but as a good soldier who died doing her duty。〃 He looked at the casket and said； 〃Ann； that's how we'll remember you。〃 Colonel Fowler came down from the lectern； stopped at the casket； saluted； then took his seat。
The organ began playing； and the service continued for a few more minutes。 Chaplain Eames led the mourners in the Twenty…third Psalm； everyone's favorite； and concluded with a ben