She cut him off smoothly, and he relaxed a little. “No. General sir,” she addressed the large man behind the desk, “I’m looking for ways to get involved with the war effort. I mean, if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“I must say I’m surprised, dear,” Gray said.
“I care about the men out there. I’d love to contribute somehow.”
“Well, we have a hospital just up the street, for men who get sent back with injuries. They could always use some hands around there, treating those folks,” the general suggested. “Go talk to them, they’ll set you up.”
Justine smiled and thanked the general, but Gray was frowning. “Justine, I don’t think that’s any place for you,” he said, but she was out the door before he finished. The Lord Val’Myren raised his eyebrows and sank back down into his chair. “Thanks for that.”
“She’s a good girl. We could use her help.”
Gray waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever. Does it make me a traitor if I hope the mission in Karamja fails?”
“Any man who puts his own needs before those of his country is a traitor,” the general said gravely. “Don’t always mean it’s a fair label.”
Gray nodded. “Fair enough.” He rose, put the drink down on the desk. “I guess I’ll just have to watch my back, then. Let me know what the old bear is up to, if you will.”
“Most certainly my friend,” said the general, raising the glass as if in a toast. “You be careful now.*
Sorokin knocked on the door to the cabin, then barged in without waiting for an answer, almost as if he was trying to catch his commander with the bottle in his hand, again. But Jonah sat very still at the desk, papers spread out before him, and said, “Hello, Sorokin.” The medic approached, saw the papers were maps of Karamja, saw his commander had a pen in hand, but he hadn’t written a thing. The page might have well been completely blank, for all it mattered; Jonah stared at the wooden wall, lost in thought.
30-Jun-2011 02:21:21
