by W. R. Benton
Dias said, “No, no rain yet. Grab the far end of the stretcher and we'll take her home together, Colonel. She's too good a woman to leave out here and besides, no one else left anyone. Hurry, sir.”
Picking up the litter, they began to move almost at a run and John said, “Thank you Mary, Joy is a good officer.”
“How long have you liked her, sir?” Dias asked, and then smiled.
“Liked? Oh no, you have this all wrong. She's my executive officer and no more.”
“I've never called a senior officer a liar before, but I'm not buying your line at all, sir.”
Silence as John gave thought to the Master Sergeants words. I do like her, and yes I'd date her if things were different. Hell, right now I don't even know if she'll live or not. Okay, so I like her and I'm interested, but I for sure don't love her, he thought.
“There is no love or affair between us, Sergeant. I've never been alone with her, never held her hand or kissed her. You can stop your match making right there. She is like you, just one of my troops that I like. You know as well as I do, if you and her were to change places I'd pack you out of danger too. I honestly care about everyone that works for me, male or female.”
“I know that, sir. I was teasing, but I think I hit a raw nerve. I suspect there is nothing between you two, not that it's any of my business, only there could be if you allowed it. I've spent a lot of time with Joy, who like me, is fluent in Spanish. We discussed many things, and she deeply respects you. I would pack this woman on my own back out of here if you weren't here. But, I saw your face when you learned she'd been hurt and just a few minutes ago I saw your eyes when we discussed packing her out. Relax with her and see what happens, sir.”
“Respect and love are different critters. I find her an attractive professional, with a good sense of humor and dependable. Now, let's stop discussing my lack of a love life and make tracks. I suspect napalm to hit these woods just minutes from now.”
They moved as quickly as they could holding the end of a stretcher. After covering about half a mile, they stopped for a breather and John suddenly said, “Look to the east. See that flash of light in the sun? That is a MiG jet. I'll bet ten dollars he is carrying napalm.”
“I'd be crazy to take your bet, sir.”
The fast mover lined up for a pass and seconds later he was zooming toward the woods. Two containers released from the bird and they contacted the trees, where they burst into flames. A huge wave, part of every napalm run, came up and then fell on those too slow or lazy to move earlier.
Screams were heard in the fire, but there was nothing John could do to help them, because the victims were in a raging inferno.
Suddenly, Dias screamed and, looking at her, he noticed a couple of small globs of the sticky napalm on her arm. Removing his jacket, he moved to her and smothered the flames. Pulling his knife he scraped the jell from her arm. He then pulled his first aid kit and applied a burn ointment on her wound. Both burns were about the size of an old silver dollar.
“Feel any better?” he asked.
“It still hurts, but nothing like it did. Where did you learn to treat burns like that?”
“I've been a partisan for over 8 years, so this is not my first rodeo. It will hurt until later in the day and then it will only ache when you touch it or roll on it in your sleep. It will blister too. We're lucky. If we'd been closer we might have suffocated because the fire sucks all the air into the flames. I've seen bodies with no injuries following napalm drops.”
“We need to move, he's lining up again and I expect missiles this time.” Dias said as she moved with the stretcher and the Colonel.
“Let's move as quickly as we did earlier. In about a mile we can slow down a great deal. We need to stop talking too, because the Russians will have troops out looking for us.”
“Let's go.”
They moved as quickly as they could, and in about a mile, John had them slow down. It was then he heard a noise in the brush beside where they'd stopped. Lowering the litter he pulled his Bison around and the moved toward the noise.
Parting the bushes, he looked down and spotted two partisans, one of which was wounded in the neck. The wound had been bandaged.
“Both of you get out of the brush. You're lucky we're with the resistance and not Russians.”
Once they were out of the brush, John saw one was a woman and the other a man. The woman had the neck injury.
“What are your names?”
The man gave a slight grin and said, “I'm Nathan Gomez and she is Sara Brown. We were with you, Colonel, until you told everyone to scatter. She took the injury when the attack choppers struck us. A bullet struck a rock or something and that is what struck her neck. It's not as bad an injury as it appears.”
“I need you two to pack the stretcher for a while. We've been running with it and we just barely got out of the napalm run alive. In a few miles we'll take over.”
“And, as we move no talking unless you see a threat, and then whisper a warning.” Dias added.
Hours later, John said, “We're nearing the base, so keep your eyes open for booby-traps and our troops. Both can kill us if we're not alert.”
“Off to our left, I see an entrance gate, or so it looks like to me. Maybe 100 yards to the left.”
The Colonel moved them to the edge of the woods and then walked out in the open. He waited to be challenged by the guard.
“Hold it right there and don't move. Who are you?” the guard asked.
“I'm Colonel Williamson, assigned here. You can call and make a security check if needed.”
“I'll make the check, but we've been expecting you and your people. Seems the Russians forced y'all to break up and return on your own. I've already had six two and three person groups approach me on this shift alone.”
“I have four others with me and three of them are wounded. I need an ambulance or something to take them to the base hospital.”
“Get your people as I check you out with my desk Sergeant.”
“I'll do that. Don't forget the ambulance.”
The guard waved, because he already had the phone in his hand.
The next morning John learned he'd lost about 60% of his people and as far as he knew, all were killed. He was depressed by the number, and after his staff meeting went to his tent for a cup of hot coffee and some rest. His whole body hurt and ached from the litter carrying.
He'd just taken his first sip of the bitter brew when he heard a knock on his entrance door, which was made of wood.
“Come in.”
In a minute, a cleaned up Joy Barnes stood in front of him and asked, “Do you have an empty cup, that is, if you want to share that great smelling coffee?”
“How are you out of the hospital? I would have thought they'd keep you in for weeks.”
“The x-rays showed I'd suffered a mild concussion from the bullet, which hurt like a bitch, but they decided I would heal as quickly if I returned to work as I would taking up a hospital bed.”
“Well, that is good news, Major. I want you to spend the day sleeping and resting. I was worried about you, because head injuries can easily kill a person.”
“Colonel, I want to thank you and Master Sergeant Dias for saving my life. I think by all rights I should have been left, but if I had been, I'd be dead right now. Thank you. I will never forget what the two of you did for me and I owe you both my life.”
“Good executive officers are hard to find.” John teased and saw her smile.
“I also want you to know I see you as one hell of a fine man, and wondered, uh, well, if we could share supper this evening?”
John started to say no, but he was lonely and tired of being alone, so he said, “Sure, if you don't mind eating Russian rations.”
She laughed and then said, “What we eat is not as important as having someone to talk with. I get so tired of being by myself at times I want to scream. I have women I can talk to anytime, but there are times a woman needs a man's co
mpany and I don't mean for sex either.”
“Please, sit down. Take the chair by my folding desk. Sex, hummm, I've heard that word, but forget the meaning.”
Joy broke out laughing.
Once she was seated, John said, “I'd be glad to share this evening with you. I know how you feel, and I think all of us that fight for the liberty of our nation are lonely most of the time. Oh, I have a few married couples fighting with me, but 95% of my troops have no one. I know all of us, at one time or another, just need a member of the opposite sex to talk to and spend time with. You can be comfortable with me, because I was raised a Southern gentleman. I believe in chivalry and treating all women like ladies.”
“I'm not worried about you, sir. I've discovered over time that you are a good man and an even better commander. For years I didn't want a man in my life, knowing one, or both, of us might die at any time. Fear of death keeps most folks from forming relationships. Finally, after about four years of being alone, I found a Sergeant I loved. I was so happy for almost two years and then he was killed in an attack on a train, after the mission his chopper flew into a mountain. It broke my heart and sent me into a phase of depression that lasted a good year.
I then met another man, a Captain, and we got along very well. He wanted to get married and I didn't. Finally, after a couple of years, he gave me a choice, marry or leave his life. I left. I discovered this year he died leading an attack on a radio station. I was shocked when I heard, but not overwhelmed, because death is so common with partisans. How about you, sir?” As Joy spoke, John saw her eyes water and then silent tears ran down her cheeks.
“I've lost every person I ever loved serving the partisans, except my first wife. She was raped and then killed one day, early following the fall of America. It was at a time when nothing was to be found to eat and folks were killing each other for a slice of bread. Her death almost killed me. If not for my dog, Dolly, I would have died a drunk. I have a German Shepherd that I left with a friend when I moved here. I'm expecting her and him any day now. Dallas/Fort Worth is a long way from the Missouri Ozarks. See, I've, like you, been moving around a great deal from Missouri to Texas, and even all the way to New York state once. My dog didn't need to do all that traveling with me. I love her, but she was safer with my buddy.”
“Really? I love dogs.”
John and Joy talked for over an hour and then he said, “You need to get some sleep and rest. If anyone asks you have bed rest, and will not participate in any missions of any kind for the next ten days by order of me, the commander.”
Standing, Joy said, “Thank you, Colonel, and I'll see you near 1700 for supper.”
“Please call me John.”
“John it is, then. I'll bring the rations and a bottle of bourbon I have saved.”
Looking at her in ways he had not in the past, John realized she was a beautiful woman with deep intelligence. Women with sharp minds always attracted him. He began to daydream about her.
“Well? Cat got your tongue?” she said a few long minutes later.
Grinning, he replied, “No, no cat. I was just thinking, but what isn't important. 1700 would be a great time to eat. I'll see you then.”
John stood, moved to her and gave her a hug. She gave a surprised look and said, “Well, I could come to like being hugged.”
They both laughed and then she said, “I'll be back later. And, I thank all of you that packed me out of those woods.”
“You're very welcome. Now go and get some rest, and that's an order.”
She saluted him and said, “Yes, sir. See you later.” She then left the tent.
John noticed after she left the tent felt empty again and a sadder place. He grinned and knew he'd enjoy any time spent with Joy. He was tired too, so he stretched out on his bunk and was asleep in minutes. He woke hours later. He shaved, showered and changed into jeans, a cowboy shirt, and wore his old brown Stetson and cowboy boots.
Right at 1700 Joy returned with a bottle of excellent bourbon and two Green Frog Russian rations. John had a small propane gas stove, where he let her warm the rations. They ate as they made small talk. He didn't know it, but every minute he spent with her enriched his life to the point he'd soon be in love.
They'd just sat on the edge of his bed when there was a knock on his door.
“Who is it?” John asked.
“It's me, Richard, Colonel, and I have a useless mutt by the name of Dolly here with me. She keeps asking to see her daddy.”
John jumped from the bed, opened the door. He and Richard shook hands. It was then Dolly saw him and lunged for the Colonel. She was a big dog at 100 pounds, so she almost knocked him over as she tried to kiss him. Finally John squatted and took her into his arms. She was giving a whimpering sound as she tried to climb all over him.
“Please sit down, Richard. Joy, I want you to meet an old friend, Richard Carson. We grew up together and he's Dolly's second daddy. Richard, meet Major Joy Barnes, my executive officer. Richard is a Lieutenant Colonel in the partisans.”
As soon as the introductions were made and John sat beside Joy, Dolly jumped on the bed, stretched out and put her head in John's lap. He absentmindedly scratched her ears and neck.
Richard said, “I'm not here as a courier, I've been assigned here.”
“Oh, and doing what here?”
“I'm to be part of your intelligence section. I'm to be the Officer in Charge, (OIC) and will take over Major Woo's spot. It's a Lieutenant Colonel position, anyway.”
“Your assignment will disappoint him. He'd hoped to make Colonel while working the position and I know he's worked hard enough.”
“Well, don't say anything, but he will be promoted, first time up, and he's to stay with me here and work Intel.”
“Great news, but how do you know about his promotion?”
Smiling, Richard said, “I saw the promotion list for here and two names were on it for promotions from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, Fan Woo and Joy Barnes, both will be notified officially next week.”
“Oh, John, I don't believe it. Me, a Lieutenant Colonel!”
“You've earned the promotion, Joy.”
Placing a bottle of rye whiskey beside the bourbon, Richard said, “This promotion stuff calls for a celebration drink, my friends.”
“It would be nice if the job came with pay.” John said and then laughed.
“We have all the comforts of home and you want money too?” Joy asked.
“Actually,” John said, “I'd love to have all our dead and maimed back with us and living well, but that can't be changed.”
It suddenly grew quiet as everyone thought of those they knew who'd made the ultimate sacrifice. Some were friends, some were lovers, some were family, and some were comrades that had lived and faced the same dangers day after day. They'd perished or were seriously wounded trying to reclaim a country that no longer existed. They were all American partisans, determined to return their nation to its former glory in the world. These people valued America, their flag, their national anthem, and their way of life. They'd died as Americans, fighting for all the things that made Americans special. Joy felt a tear slide down her left cheek as she remembered her dead sister.
Chapter 18
John opened the bourbon and poured about three fingers worth of booze in three glasses and then passed them out.
Raising his glass, John said, “To our soon to be new Lieutenant Colonel, Joy!”
All three knocked their drinks back and Joy began gasping for breath and coughing. Richard laughed and said, “Smooth batch, huh, Joy?”
“The drink took my breath away. My God, it's so strong!”
“Lets keep the discussion about promotions and not any more death or dying. This is an occasion where we should be happy and proud of our new Colonels.” John said.
Joy wiped her tear stained cheek and nodded in agreement.
“You're just not used to drinking whiskey is all. I found it normal, but I keep a bottle in this tent
for nights I can't sleep. I have a shot or two and I go right to sleep.” John said and then laughed.
“A bottle is rare these days, and all we have was stolen from the Russians.” Richard said.
John replied, “When I was in Texas we knew the Russians had a convoy with booze every month, so most months we hit the trucks. The only thing I have that my troops do not have is a bottle of alcohol. I eat the same foods, sleep in a tent, clean my own weapons, and dress no differently than anyone else. I figure as a full Colonel I have the right to a bottle once in a while. Most booze we find goes to the medics.”
“Can I have another drink, please?” Joy asked.
Richard said, “I can have one more, then I'm going to bed. While it's early, I traveled on about four hours of sleep a night for a week. I have some catching up to do.”
Looking down at his lap, John saw Dolly was asleep. He scratched her ears and said, “Richard, I'm so glad you brought my baby home to me, and I'm glad you'll be working with us.”
Richard said, “I'm going to skip the second drink and get some sleep. I'm sure I need the rest more than the booze.”
He stood, offered his hand to John who shook it. Then he shook hands with Joy. He reached down and scratched Dolly on the head. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
“Stay safe.” Richard said as he left the tent.
“My, that was a pleasant surprise. I'll bet you're glad to have Dolly and Richard back in your life.” Joy said. She had been standing, but now sat beside John on the edge of the bed.
“Oh, I am happy, but happier you've entered my life. Today when you left, this place no longer felt good and the whole tent made me depressed. There was magic in this place, but only as long as you were here.”
“Well, that's a nice confession. I felt alone too, but we need to move forward cautiously. We're no longer teenage kids, so with a relationship also comes responsibilities.”
“I think we're both aware of what a relationship involves.”
John found his head next to hers and when she started to speak, he kissed her.
When the kiss broke, Joy quickly kissed him again. When this kiss broke, John said, “Slow down a bit.” and laughed.