"My buddy didn't come back from the battlefield, sir.
I'm asking for permission to go look for him."
"Permission denied," said the officer. "I don't
want you to risk your life for a man
who is probably dead."
The soldier went nevertheless, and came back an hour later
mortally wounded, carrying his friend's body.
"I told you he was dead. Now I've lost both of you.
Tell me, was it worth going to bring back a dead body?"
"Oh, it was worth it, sir.
When I got there, he was still alive, and he said to me,
'Jack, I was sure you would come.' "