"Me, for the moment," says the man. "The other fellas're out sweeping the perimeter. RED don't usually try anything before the sun comes up, but it sure doesn't hurt to be sure."

He slides the helmet back a touch and scratches his scalp with the business end of a formidable wrench that he'd been carrying in his belt.

"We got spares of pretty much all the uniforms right now, tell you the truth. You ever handled a gun before, boy?"