War Serenade by Jill Wallace

Author:Jill Wallace [Wallace, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999776810
Publisher: Tsotsi Publications

* * *

*Ugogo: Zulu for Grandmother or, in this case, one perceived as grandmother.

**Phezu kwamanz: Far away across the water.

23

Worthwhile Consequences

Antonio was the busiest nurse south of the equator. He was entirely focused on the mission of mopping Pietro’s sweating head and gently massaging the right side of his lower belly with some stinky gunk.

Pietro sniffed and opened one eye. “What the hell you doing, Antonio?”

“One of the Zulus gave it to me. Said it would take away your bruising.”

“I hope you didn’t trade anything valuable for it. It smells like regular horse shit.”

Antonio sighed loudly. Oh, to be an unappreciated nurse. Pietro called loudly for Enzo. The elder’s head bobbed between the flaps.

“Where is it?” Pietro yelled.

“Where is what?” Enzo teased from outside the tent flap.

“Enzo gave it to me, and I lost it.” Stef’s voice was somber, ending with a sob.

“Enough, you two! Can’t you see I am in enough pain already?” He winced for effect as they ducked through the tent flap.

Stef laughed joyfully at the absurdity of it all. The innocence of Stef’s laughter struck a chord in Pietro as he realized how much he’d missed the familiar sound. Stef laughed so little these days ... the note! Good God, nothing was more important than The Note!

“Enzo, damn it!”

Enzo took mercy and opened his clasped fist. Pietro sat up too fast and cried out in pain, causing Nurse Antonio to hover over him. Pietro grabbed his prize. He read it, then closed his eyes, trying to smell her, but too many hands had touched the grubby note. He read it again.

“Tell us,” said Enzo. “We’re in this together, remember?”

“Please, please,” Antonio begged.

“All right, you horny bastards. Stef, read it to my bridesmaids, will you?”

Stef grabbed the note and cleared his throat: “I don’t know why, I don’t know how, I don’t know where ... but I must see you. Iris.”

“Again. Please. Please, my friend, it’s the most beautiful lyric in the universe.”

After five times, Enzo yelled, “Enough! What will you do?”

“So what will we do?” asked Antonio, wringing his hands.

“I must make Rogers take me to town again.”

Stef stirred the pot. “Is that what she meant? A monitored minute, with a counter between you and a guard hanging on your arm?”

“Then what? Damn it. Then what. How?” Pietro felt desperate.

“All that matters is ‘why.’ ” Stef the philosopher.

“Because I have loved her since I was born. Maybe before.”

Leg extended and toe pointed with a lavish wave of his arm, Enzo bowed low. “This is where I come in. With your determination, and my good looks, as well as my excellent pre-army skills as a pussy thief ... ”

“Pussy thief?” Pietro was perplexed.

“Cat burglar! It was you who was the real pussy thief, Pietro!” Stef’s guileless laughter rang out again.

“Stop. This is serious now. The most serious thing in my life!” Pietro suddenly felt hope surge in a hot flush from his toes all the way to the top of his head. His head was pulsing. “You

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