When we got over to the BDOC, there were two packages and three letters, all of them mine. As we walked across the open area back toward our tent, I smelled a whiff of sweet perfume in the air.

"Do you smell that?" I said, as I looked around. The wind was blowing lightly, so I looked upwind. On my team I am known for my strangely acute sense of smell. In the past, I have been able to tell Capt. Wilde and the other members when one of the females on the FOB had entered or left a room or other space. Sometimes, I have even been able to say which one it was. Out here, simple games can be infinitely entertaining.

"No, what is it?" Capt. Wilde asked.

"Perfume. There it is again," I replied, now looking all around.

"Oh, now I smell it," Capt. Wilde said, smiling, and he began to look all around too as he walked.

"Where the hell is she?" I said.

"I don't know. Oh yeah, I just got a big whiff," Capt. Wilde added.

At this point we were passing through some openings in the concrete barriers, past a few brick buildings. We were each carrying a large box with both our hands, turning and looking all around as we walked, no doubt looking like a couple of perplexed idiots.

We were almost to the tent now.

"Damn. I still smell that. Where the hell is she?!" I said, bewildered. The thought crossed my mind that this heavily scented person may have gone into our tent but as I set the box and the cards down on a table just inside, I discovered what it was. My wife had sent Valentine's cards sprayed with perfume.

"Narcisse!" I thought. "I knew no one here wore Narcisse."

I laughed out loud and stood there sniffing the card.