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civilian clothes. He didn't need this shit. What was Foreman going to do? Give him a dishonorable discharge?
    Thomas had the team's radio out. He talked quietly into the handset for a little while, then he worked on the radio, turning dials and maneuvering the antenna.
    “Damn,” Thomas finally said, throwing down the handset. “I can't get diddly on FM.”
    “Interference?” Flaherty asked.
    “Nothing I've ever seen. Like we're on the dark side of the moon. I can't even pick up Armed Forces radio and they blanket this part of the world from Vietnam to Thailand.”
    “Is the radio busted?” Flaherty asked.
    “It's working,” Thomas said with conviction. “Something's interfering, but I couldn't tell you what.”
    “FM Radios don't work here either,” Castle said.
    “The chopper pilots told you that too?” Flaherty asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Any other piece of information you could dribble over to us?” Flaherty demanded.
    Castle pointed to the west. “Our exfil bird is laid on for the PZ,” Castle said. “We have to go into the valley to get there anyway. I suggest we get moving if we're going to make it on time. Since radios don't work, there's no other way out of here unless you want to walk through five hundred kilometers of unfriendly territory.”
    Flaherty cursed. He had no options. “Let's move. Everyone stay alert. Dane, take point.”
    RT Kansas moved upslope, weapons at the ready. Once they were clear of the small opening, they were under the triple canopy of the rain forest. It was pitch black with even the faint light of the moon blocked out. Dane picked his way with care, moving uphill by feel. The other men followed, keeping their eyes on the small glowing dot on the back of the man in front's field hat.
    Flaherty checked the glowing face of his watch. At least dawn wasn't far off.
    Then he shook the timepiece. For all he knew, it wasn't working either.
    They made slow progress up the ridge. It took two hours before they reached the crest and the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten as they broke out of the jungle onto the rocky knife edge that overlooked the river valley. In that time, Flaherty confirmed that his watch had stopped working.
    Flaherty looked down. He couldn't see the river, it was too dark. On the far side the land sloped up but less steeply. As near as he could tell in the moonlight, there was a broken plateau stretching as far as they could determine on the western side of the river. Dane tapped Flaherty on the shoulder, pointing to the right, where the ridge went even higher. There was something large and blocky there.
    “Ruins,” Dane said.
    “Take ten,” Flaherty said and the team slid down to their stomachs, rucks in front, weapons pointing out. It was getting light fast. Flaherty could see that Castle was doing something with his ruck, his hands hidden from sight.
    “Never seen anything like that,” Dane whispered, still looking at the ruin. Large stone blocks were built up into a three-story structure, with apertures for guards along the top. The tower overlooked the valley. It was about thirty feet high and each side was almost forty feet long. The jungle had encroached on the stone, creepers climbing the side, but it was still an imposing structure.
    “Let's check it out,” Castle said.
    Flaherty looked at him. “This part of the mission? Checking ruins?”
    “It gives a good view of the valley,” Castle said. He got to his feet and headed toward the stones, a hundred meters away.
    Flaherty signaled for Thomas and Tormey to remain in place. Taking Dane with him, he followed Castle. The closer they got to the structure, the more impressive it was. The stone blocks were each about six feet high and wide. The stone was cut very smoothly. The joints were so well done that Flaherty doubted he could slide a knife between them. Flaherty thought of the staggering weight each stone represented and the effort required to get them to this place.
    There was an