How well they all knew each other now, he thought. In twelve weeks James felt he had come to know more about these three men than any of the so-called friends he'd known for twenty years. For the first time he understood why his father continually referred back to friendships formed during the war with men he normally would never have met. He realised how much he was going to miss Stephen when he returned to America. Success was, in fact, going to split them up.
James reflected on how quickly he had gained a deep understanding of three men within just twelve weeks, feeling closer to them than many lifelong friends. This experience illuminated for him why his father valued wartime friendships, which often surpassed those formed in everyday life, because of the bonds created through shared hardship.
He also recognized that his growing relationship with Stephen would soon come to an end as Stephen headed back to America. The success they were experiencing together threatened to separate them, making James realize how fleeting and precious such connections can be.