Animosity

Chapter 8 - One More Day Can't Hurt

Photo: An American soldier leans out of the top of a supply tower and grins at the GIs arriving in a tank adjacent to him. The harsh Vietnamese jungle rises around them.

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Yawning softly, I reached my arms out to stretch my sore biceps, groaning as my shoulder popped roughly. Bringing my palms upwards to rub groggily at my eyes, I sighed gently before becoming increasingly aware of my surroundings.

I was curled up on the right side of the tent, legs disappearing into the loose folds of the white cloth, blankets gripped tightly in an enclosed fist. My body was aching painfully and my ears were ringing dully, but despite all that, I broke into a small smile as I realized that I was finally well-rested.

Gradually, I became aware of the sound of rustling and movements to my left, and I turned around quickly, brows furrowing when I noticed who it was. Devy was on his knees in the tent, rummaging through both his bag and my own with frantic movements, tossing old clothes and leaflets of paper from his pack onto the floor of the tent. His back was turned to me as he muttered lowly to himself, obviously looking for something.

Too out-of-it to even be mad at his violation of my belongings, I picked up a page from off of the earth and brought it closer to my face, scanning over the scrawled writing with searching eyes.

Hey Cindy, it began, and as I read more, I imagined each word ringing out in his own voice. Hows it shaking, baby? I know youre mad at me, and rightly so at that, but you ain't got no idea what we're going through right now. I just witnesed our medic stitch himself up. Poor fuckin bastard got grazed an pumped enough morpheene in his fuckin leg to kill me ten times over. Crazy son-of-a-bitch! His name is Doc, I think I told you before? But it was only a scratch, atleast he said so, and I'm sure he's okay now. But it was short crazy, baby, I ain't lying to you. Thats about it for now. I love you and cant wait to see you again. Tell my Ma I said hello, and tell Pa to go fuck himsself.

        I barely had time to read the signature at the bottom, sloppily spelling out his name with a smiley face next to the 'Y', before he whipped around and snatched it out of my hand. He tried desperately to keep a still, angry expression on his face, but I noticed right away that he looked exhausted, jumpy, a twitchiness settling into his red-rimmed eyes.

        "Why the fuck are you readin' my letters, you greenback sod?" He spat coldly, and I eased into a sitting position, folding my lean arms across my chest, hurling back a sharp retort.

        "Why are you going through my bag, you needy lifer?"

        His eyebrows raised angrily and he let out an indignant little breath of air, pushing the huge green pack out of the way with a rough shove. We hadn't had time to pick new tentmates last night, so when Lt. Hiro told us to just sleep with the GI we were with the day before, I knew I was in for another encounter with the dark-haired first Private. This time, though, I was determined not to let him get to me, putting up a sort of impassive shield against his mockery. Arms at the ready, I shot him a glare as he entered the tent late after being with Doc, but he didn't say anything, just laid down and went to bed.

        Obviously though, with the brightness of day also came the rekindling of his rude spirit, and I breathed out a hopeless sigh as I looked across at his haughty features. He indeed looked horrible, his curly hair askew, skin pale, light bags under his eyes. The upper back of his white tank top was soaked with a small sheen of sweat, and as my eyes grazed gently over him, I noticed the burns on his wrists, the twitchiness of his hands. I raised an understanding eyebrow.

        His angry stare met mine briefly and he instantly looked away, knowing that I could tell what was wrong. Leaning backwards, he laid down and ran a shaking hand over his face, muttering curses under his breath.