“When he reached the last hole he saw, far to the west, a series of rockets bloom in the sky. He watched their green and yellow and red petals arch across the horizon, and fade into the gloom of the earth. It was very beautiful, but he recognized them for Chinese rockets.”

“His ears were attuned for the steady firing of Couzens' heavy machine guns, which he knew should now commence, and the thud of his carefully sited mortars, but he did not hear them and he realized, suddenly and sickeningly, that the Chinese had not attacked across the spit of land. They were pouring across the ice, and had taken Dog Company in the rear.”

“If Man retained faith in God, he might also retain faith in Man.”

“He was tough as an antique ivory figurine, which has withstood the viscissitudes of centuries and can accept more.”

“The white flashed back into a red ball in the southeast. They all knew what it was. It was Orlando, or McCoy Base, or both. It was the power supply for Timucuan County. Thus the lights went out, and in that moment civilization in Fort Repose retreated a hundred years. So ended The Day.”

“You're Beautiful Like the green romance of a budand lily's pink, gentle sway.You: more beautiful than yesterday. Wildflower's blue surprise.Daisy's white, sunny play.You're more beautiful than yesterday. Orchid's purple mysteryMum's bronze ole`You: more beautiful than yesterday.Rose's orange perfume,even tulip's yellow secrets say:You're more beautiful that yesterday.Poppy's red, teasing lips,but YOUR beauty will never fade. You: more lovely than yesterday,You: my dazzling bouquet.”

“I love you. I worry about you. I wonder whether I tell you enough how I love you and want you and need you and how I am diminished . . . when you are not with me and how I am multiplied when you are here.”