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ying hare and hounds with Rommel in the Western Desert。 Dreadful place； the desert。 Left me with a permanent thirst。〃
They never lose it； Ryan thought。 They never lose the look； not the real professionals。 They get older； add a few pounds； mellow out a little； but beneath all that you can still see the discipline and the essential toughness that makes them different。 And the pride； the understated confidence that es from having done it all； and not having to talk about it very much； except among themselves。 It never goes away。
〃Do you have any Marines in here？〃
〃Two；〃 Hallston said。 〃We try to keep them from holding hands。〃
〃Right！ Be nice； I used to be a Marine。〃
〃No one's perfect；〃 Hallston sympathized。
〃So； what's this Key Ceremony？〃
〃Well； back in the year 1240； the chap whose job it was to lock up for the night was set upon by some ruffians。 Thereafter； he refused to do his duty without a military escort。 Every night since； without interruption； the Chief Warder locks the three principal gates； then places the keys in the Queen's House on the Tower Green。 There's a small ceremony that goes along with this。 We thought that you and your wife might like to see it。〃 Hallston sipped his beer。 〃You were in court today； I understand。 How did it go？〃
〃I'm glad it's behind me。 Dan says I did all right。〃 Ryan shrugged。 〃When Mr。 Evans showed us the block topside I wonder if it still works；〃 Ryan said thoughtfully； remembering the look on that young face。 Is Miller sitting in his cell right now； thinking about me？ Ryan drank the last of his beer。 I'll bet he is。
〃Excuse me？〃
〃That Miller kid。 It's a shame you can't take him up there for a short haircut。〃
Hallston smiled coldly。 〃I doubt anyone here would disagree with you。 We might even find a volunteer to swing the ax。〃
〃You'd have to hold a lottery； Bob。〃 Murray handed Ryan another glass。 〃You still worrying about him。 Jack？〃
〃I've never seen anybody like that before。〃
〃He's in jail。 Jack；〃 Cathy pointed out。
〃Yeah； I know。〃 So why are you still thinking about him？ Jack asked himself。 The hell with it。 The hell with him。 〃This is great beer； Sar…major。〃
〃That's the real reason they apply for the job；〃 Murray chuckled。
〃One of the reasons。〃 Hallston finished his glass。 〃Almost time。〃
Jack finished off his second glass with a gulp。 Evans reappeared； now wearing street clothes； and led them back out to the chilled night air。 It was a clear night； with a three…quarters moon casting muted shadows on the stone battlements。 A handful of electric lights added a few isolated splashes of light。 Jack was surprised how peaceful it was for being in the center of a city； like his own home over the Chesapeake。 Without thinking； he took his wife's hand as Evans led them west toward the Bloody Tower。 A small crowd was already there； standing by Traitor's Gate； and a Warder was giving them instructions to be as quiet as possible； and not； of course； to take any photographs。 A sentry was posted there； plus four other men under arms； their breath illuminated by the blue…white floodlights。 It was the only sign of life。 Otherwise they might have been made of stone。
〃Right about now；〃 Murray whispered。
Jack heard a door close somewhere ahead。 It was too dark to see very much； and the few lights that were turned on only served to impair his night vision。 He heard the sound of jingling keys first of all； like small bells rattling to the measured tread of a walking man。 Next he saw a point of light。 It grew into a square lantern with a candle inside； carried by Tom Hughes； the Chief Warder。 The sound of his footsteps was as regular as a metronome as he approached； his back ramrod…straight from a lifetime of practice。 A moment later the four soldiers formed up on him； the warder between them； and they marched off； back into the tunnel…like darkness to the fading music of the rattling keys and cleated shoes clicking on the pavement； leaving the sentry at the Bloody Tower。
Jack didn't hear the gates close； but a few minutes later the sound of the keys returned； and he glimpsed the returning guards in the irregular splashes of light。 For some reason the scene was overpoweringly romantic。 Ryan reached around his wife's waist and pulled her close。 She looked up。
Love you； he said with his lips as the keys approached again。 Her eyes answered。
To their right； the sentry snapped to on…guard： 〃Halt！ Who goes there？〃 His words reverberated down the corridor of ancient stone。
The advancing men stopped at once； and Tom Hughes answered the challenge： 〃The keys！〃
〃Whose keys？〃 the sentry demanded。
〃Queen Anne's keys！〃
〃Pass； Queen Anne's keys！〃 The sentry brought his rifle to present…arms。
The sentries； with Hughes in their midst； resumed their march and turned left； up the slope to the Tower Green。 Ryan and his wife followed close behind。 At the steps that capped the upward slope waited a squad of riflemen。 Hughes and his escort stopped。 The squad on the steps came to present…arms； and the Chief Warder removed his uniform bonnet。
〃God preserve Queen Anne！〃
〃Amen！〃 the guard force replied。
Behind them； a bugler stood。 He blew Last Post； the British version of Taps。 The notes echoed against the stones in a way that denoted the end of day； and when necessary； the end of life。 Like the circular waves that follow a stone's fall into the water； the last mournful note lingered until it faded to nothingness in the still air。 Ryan bent down to kiss his wife。 It was a magical moment that they would not soon forget。
The Chief Warder proceeded up the steps to secure the keys for the night； and the crowd withdrew。
〃Every night since 1240； eh？〃 Jack asked。
〃The ceremony was interrupted during the Blitz。 A German bomb fell into the Tower grounds while things were under way。 The warder was bowled over by the blast； and the candle in his lantern was extinguished。 He had to relight it before he could continue；〃 Evans said。 That the man had been wounded was irrelevant。 Some things are more important than that。 〃Shall we return to the pub？〃
〃We don't have anything like this at home；〃 Cathy said quietly。
〃Well； America isn't old enough； is she？〃
〃It would be nice if we had something like this； maybe at Bunker Hill or Fort McHenry；〃 Jack said quietly。
Murray nodded agreement。 〃Something to remind us why we're here。〃
〃Tradition is important；〃 Evans said。 〃For a soldier； tradition is often the reason one carries on when there are so many reasons not to。 It's more than just yourself； more than just your mates but it's not just something for soldiers； is it？ It is true or should be true of any professional munity。〃
〃It is；〃 Cathy said。 〃Any good medical school beats that into your head。 Hopkins sure did。〃
〃So does the Corps；〃 Jack agreed。 〃But we don't express it as well as you just did。〃
〃We've had more practice。〃 Evans opened the door to the pub。 〃And better beer to aid in our contemplation。〃
〃Now； if you guys could only learn how to fix beef properly 。 。 。 〃 Jack said to Evans。
〃That's telling 'em； ace；〃 the FBI a