It was an impossible place for a young and beautiful woman unprotected.

If Joanne had known any one among the engineers or contractors, or had she possessed a letter of introduction to them, the tense lines would not have gathered so deeply about the corners of Aldous' mouth.

But these men whose brains were behind the Horde--the engineers and the contractors--knew what women alone and unprotected meant at Tete Jaune.

Such women floated in with the Horde.

And Joanne was going in with the Horde.