the Last Run (1987) (36 page)

Preacher helped. "Singapore Slings."

"Yeah, Singapore Slings. Well, he drinks bucoo of 'em and gets all dinky dau. Zubeck is with us and is talkin' about this game called 'Rodeo Time.' "

"Oh, shit," said Matt aloud as Woodpecker continued.

"Well, Sergeant Zee is tellin' us how to play and more of the guys at other tables come over to hear."

"What is Rodeo Time?" asked Virginia, never having heard of the game.

Woodpecker looked at Wade worriedly, but the sergeant nodded for him to go ahead and explain.

"Rodeo Time is when you got chicks dancing with only the same guys and think they're too good to mess with anybody else. You pick out one of the gals that is really shaking her ass . . . rear around. A guy runs up to her and bites her on the rear end and holds on for eight seconds."

Virginia almost fell on the floor laughing.

Woodpecker laughed with her and patted her hand. "But the rules are you can only hold on with one hand; the other you've got to wave around like a bull rider to score more points."

Wade couldn't help but laugh, then suddenly became serious. "Rose wasn't the one who . . . ?"

Woodpecker nodded. "Yeah, Rose stuck up his hand and volunteered. Hell, Matt, you should'a seen it. Everybody kicked in five bucks. We musta had fifty dollars MPC on the table. Rose put on this grunt's bonnie hat and shaped it like a cowboy's, then crept toward the dance floor. He started runnin' and fell to his knees, slidin' into this chick wearing tight pants. Matt, he got hold of that little gal and let her have it right on the left cheek. She jumped a mile high, but Rose held on, even taking off his hat and waving it like a real rodeo star."

Wade and Virginia were in tears from laughing so hard. Woodpecker had to take a few breaths to continue.

"That girl beat, slapped, and clawed that fool like a wild cat. They fell on the floor, her kickin' and yellin' while Zubeck was yellin', 'Six . . . seven . . . eight! Rodeo Time!' Man, the place was a zoo. The Air Force guys was all pissed. We were try in' to keep them away from Rose while that litde gal tore into him like a buzz saw. A fight broke out and the MPs came, then everything went even crazier."

Wade stopped his laughter and asked worriedly, "Did they get Rose?"

"Naw, Russian carried him out, but Sergeant Zee got written up."

"How is Rose?" asked Virginia, concerned.

"He ain't feeling none too good."

"He doesn't look any better," added Preacher with a smile.

Woodpecker stiffened suddenly and whispered, "Shh! Here he comes. Don't say nothin'. We promised we wouldn't tell."

Wade turned in his seat just as the black soldier stepped through the door. The right side of his face was swollen and he had horrible scratch marks running from his neck to his bloodshot eyes. He walked mechanically to their table with his eyes fixed.

Wade pulled back a chair like nothing was amiss and began eating some toast. Rose sat down gingerly and stared at a salt shaker as if in a trance.

Preacher had to turn his back and bite his lip to keep from busting out laughing. Virginia held a napkin to her face as Woodpecker quickly filled his mouth with a sweet roll.

Wade chewed slowly and nonchalantly asked, 4'Rose, you wanna eat my roll?"

The bleary-eyed soldier kept his dazed look and shook his head meekly.

How about some cereal?"

Again, he just shook his head.

'Come on, troop, you gotta eat something."

Rose's eyes shifted painfully to his seigeant and raised his hand in slow motion, pointing to his swollen cheek.

"My . . . mouth . . . is . . . sore."

Woodpecker couldn't contain himself any longer and spewed the table with sweet roll as he cracked up with splitting laughter. The rest quickly joined him, with tears running down their cheeks.

Rose shook his head despondently and stood slowly. "Sa' not . . . fun . . . nay, man."

Matt checked his watch and lengthened his stride. It was almost noon. He had to get Virginia to the shutde bus stop. He carried her bag as she struggled to keep up.

"Slow down, I can't keep up."

Wade grinned. "There you go saying 'I can't' again."

They turned the corner and saw several soldiers waiting along a painted curb. Wade slowed his gait with a sigh. "I told ya I'd get you here on time to catch your flight."

"Are you never wrong, Sergeant?"

"Nope."

Virginia hit his arm playfully as they neared the curb.

Wade set down the bag at the curb and wiped the sweat from his brow. "So, you're going back to Saigon, then the Philippines, huh?"

"Yes, we're going on tour of the Navy bases, then heading for home."

"Ya going back to New York?"

"No, Los Angeles. There's an agent there who says he can get me a contract to cut a record."

Wade smiled. "Will you remember this Okie when you make the big time?"

Virginia tried to look happy. "I'll never forget you, Matt. You're ..." Her smile faded and she quickly turned her head. "You're special to me."

Wade hugged her to him. "I'll miss you, too, Ginny. Please write me and tell me how you're doin'. Hell, I oughta get a cut for saving your skinny butt.''

Virginia held him tightly so he wouldn't see her tears. "I'll write, Matt, I promise."

The sergeant backed away from her as the blue Air Force bus pulled up. "Hey, no tears, remember?"

Virginia shook her head. "I don't care about my promise not to cry. I. . . I'm not ready to go yet."

Wade hugged her again. "Go Ginny, go and be the best singer in the U. S. A., like you've dreamed about. You can do it. You're a survivor, remember?"

"Oh, Matt, I'll miss you so much." She looked up at him. "It's been wonderful, hasn't it?"

Wade kissed her forehead. "It's been a dream come true."

The bus began to close its doors. Wade quickly pounded the side and hefted the bag to the doorway.

"Knock 'em dead, Ginny. Take care."

She climbed the bus steps and looked back as the driver shut the door.

Wade tried to wink and raise his hands to say "Click," but his eyes misted and his shaking body wouldn't respond. The bus began pulling away.

Ginny ran to an open window and yelled out, "I love you, Matt!"

Wade tried to yell back but his words only came out in a whisper.

"Bye, Ginny. . . . Good-bye."

Wade sat with Sergeant Zubeck alongside the airfield, waiting for the flight to An Khe. All the men were there except Thumper. Wade stood and walked to the tin shed where his team waited in the shade.

"Preacher, when did you tell him to be here?"

"I told him fifteen hundred hours, just like you said."

Woodpecker grinned. "That's a lot of woman to say good-bye to. Maybe he needs our help."

Wade didn't smile. He only looked up the road. "Damn it, he's late. The plane is gonna land any minute."

A white Lambretta turned the corner and rolled down the road toward them. Russian put his hand to his forehead, blocking the sun's glare.

"It's him!"

Seconds later the Herculean soldier hopped out and ran up to Wade. "You've got to cover for me. I'm staying a couple more days."

Wade walked away from the others, out of earshot. "What the hell you talkin' about?"

Thumper shrugged his shoulders. "I'm staying here a few days, that's all. You can say I'm sick or something."

Wade's brow furrowed as he studied his friend's face. "Does Mary Ann know about this?"

"No, she went to the Red Cross Center, but I'll surprise her."

"With the truth?" asked Wade coldly.

Thumper's eyes narrowed. "Look, Matt, I'm only asking for a few days. Hell, I deserve it."

Wade softened his glare. "Mary Ann wouldn't let you stay. You know that. Come on, Thump, think sensibly. You'll see her again soon enough."

"I thought about it all last night. I'm serious. I don't wanna go back yet. I lost Mary Ann once, and I'm not losing her again.''

Wade stepped closer and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Look, I know what you're feeling but get hold of yourself. We need you. We've still got a war on. The longer you stay here the harder it will be to come back. Come on, we'll write our ladies as soon as we get back."

Thumper stiffened. "I'm staying. I have to work things out."

Wade dropped his hand abruptly from his friend's shoulder and fixed him with a cold stare. "I'm not going to cover for you. You're going back with us. You can't check out of this war like it's a damn game of some kind."

Thumper's face flushed as his huge body shook with anger. "The hell I can't! I'm the sole surviving son of the family. I can call it quits right now."

Wade shook his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Neither could he let Thumper stay, and then lie to Childs about it. He had no choice but to call his friend's bluff and hope the flight and time would change his mind. "You're going with us. If you want to submit your paperwork . . . well, that's up to you. Get your gear. We're leaving."

Wade turned his back on the big soldier and motioned to the others to pick up their gear as well. Thumper stood fast. He was committed now and had to see it through. He raised a shaking hand and pointed his finger at Wade. "Wade, this goddamn war is not that important. . . and I'm through with it."

Wade waved at the taxi driver to take off and looked over his shoulder at the sullen man.

"The team's what's important now . . . and we need you."

Thumper shook his head. "No ... not anymore."

Major Shane watched the sun's last fleeting glimmer as it disappeared behind the mountains. He turned from the window and sat down at his desk.

"Meeks, are you sure you want to do this?"

Thumper kept his eyes on the wall behind the major. "I'm positive, sir."

Shane lowered his head in disappointment. "Son, you know we have an operation coming up and don't have time to train a replacement. Three-one will have to go one man short. You realize what that means, don't you?"

"Yes, sir, I do. It's over for me. I request relief from the company based on I'm the sole surviving son."

Shane picked up the soldier's personnel folder. "You signed a waiver when you came to Vietnam. It's going to take at least ten days to get your paperwork approved, but I can see your mind is made up so consider yourself relieved from the team. Move into the headquarters barracks immediately. You'll be gone in ten days."

Shane stood and began to motion the soldier out, but instead sighed and ran his hand through his short hair. "Meeks, Sergeant Wade told me about the Red Cross woman. I understand she's a wonderful girl. Do you think it will be the same between you when you see her again? Before you answer let me tell you something. I was here in '67 at Dak To with the 173rd. I was wounded the second day in the batde for Hill 875. It wasn't a real bad wound, but I had an option to leave or stay. I left. The next day twenty-three of the men in my company were killed. I heard about it three days later while in a hospital. I've had to live with asking myself if I'd been there maybe it wouldn't have happened. Son, you have every right to go home. Your family and you have paid enough . . . but please make sure in your mind that it's what you really want."

Thumper's eyes shifted from the wall to the major. "Sir, my brother was killed at Hue. I gave up an education and football career to find the meaning for his death. I found it, and now I've found something else. I've lost my brother and a career. I'm not losing anymore."

Shane turned to the window and spoke softly. "I'll submit your papers. You're dismissed."

The team watched silendy as Thumper packed his gear. Wade walked out of his room, but stopped abrupdy upon seeing his assistant team leader stuffing his barracks bag. Wade stepped back in his room to avoid him, but suddenly spun around and walked down the barracks aisle. He stopped in front of the soldier and extended his hand.

"Thumper . . . good luck to you."

Thumper stood up and, after a moment's hesitation, took his friend's hand. "I'm sorry, Matt, but it's got to be this way."

Wade forced a smile. "Take care of yourself back in the world.

You'll always be a member of Three-one, so write us and tell us how you're doing."

"Sure, Matt."

Wade motioned his men to his room. "Come on guysWe've got a mission to go over."

The team all shook hands with Thumper and filed into their sergeant's room. The big soldier tossed die last items of equipment into his bag and headed for the door. He looked over his shoulder at the empty bay one last time and stepped out.

The column of marching men stopped for the evening. Private Nguyen Nuu walked off the trail, letting his pack fall from his sore shoulders. He sat down wearily and shut his eyes to stop the dizziness.

"Private Nuu, why do you rest? You are lazy for such a young man. Your work has just begun! Fetch wood, then fetch water from the stream we passed. Unpack the pots and rice and begin the meal. Our general needs food and tea for his old bones."

Nuu looked up at his new mentor, Sergeant Thong. The old seigeant was as gnarled as a strangler fig and scolded him like a grandmother. His words always came in a torrent and seemed endless like the monsoons. Nuu rose up, resigning himself to the fact that he was now a slave.