Shephard nods, and sets aside about a third of his stew. The bread he's keeping to himself. That's damn good bread.

When it's all over he pushes his dish away some and nods. "Yes, sir," he says. "Not that there ain't plenty of ways of makin' do without what I used to have, but I'd be a fair little bit more effective of a Marine if I had two proper hands again than I would if I was just makin' do with the one."