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Then another thought struck him.

In the unlikely chance that he could break free, how could he possibly devise a plan for all three of them to escape? Even if Kailea or Yigal or both were alive, were they in any condition—mentally or physically—to run? It was possible that they had been wounded during their capture. Maybe seriously. What then?

Focusing once again on that SERE manual, Marcus tried to recall the code of conduct he had been required to memorize. It had been years since he had recited it aloud. But to his surprise, the code began to come back to him, slowly at first and then in a rush, and his resolve grew as he silently mouthed the words.

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them in every way.

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

For several minutes, Marcus thought about those last two sentences. The more he did, the more encouraged he felt. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head and said a silent prayer of thanks that the Lord had chosen to keep him alive. He asked for courage and the wisdom to know what to do next. Then he prayed for Kailea and Yigal, resolving in that moment that he would operate on the assumption that they were alive, unless or until he knew for certain that they were not. It occurred to him that if they were alive, they would likely have been taken by the same operatives. Thus, they might very well have been brought to the same place. Could it be their voices—or the voices of their interrogators—he was hearing in a nearby room?

In time, another section of the SERE manual came to mind. It had been an appendix, tucked away in the back, called something like “Having the Will to Survive” or “How to Maintain the Will to Live.” Suddenly it was as if he were right back at Camp Lejeune, sitting in those classes, not just studying the manual but listening to his instructor—Connolly, he now recalled.

“If, God forbid, you are ever trapped behind enemy lines,” Commander Connolly, an Alabama native, had told Marcus and the other Marines in his distinctive Southern drawl, “you have to know your capabilities and limitations. Keep a positive attitude. Develop a realistic plan. Learn to recognize and combat your fears. You have to anticipate injury, fatigue, illness, adverse environmental conditions, hunger, and isolation. Do not allow yourself to be overcome by fear, anxiety, guilt, boredom, depression, or anger. Be aware of signals of distress. Watch out for indecision, withdrawal, forgetfulness, carelessness. All these things lead to mistakes.”

Someone had asked how a soldier might strengthen his will to survive after capture.

“Keep reciting the code of conduct,” Connolly had insisted. “Say the Pledge of Allegiance every day, aloud if you can. Sing patriotic songs. If you stink at singing, do it anyway. If you’re hiding in enemy territory and can’t make a sound, recite the lines to yourself. And above all, think about what life is going to be like when you get back to freedom and how it’s going to be when you’re back in the companionship of family and friends and in the arms of the girl you love.”