Before the Fall (After the Fall Book 4) by Charlie Dalton

Author:Charlie Dalton [Dalton, Charlie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

17.

DEMILITARIZED ZONE, SOUTH KOREA

“YOU LOOK like shit.”

Private Jeff Roswell glanced up from staring at his bowl of cereal. Soldiers milled about the mess hall and spoke in easy-going tones. Standing ahead of his table was Jeff’s translator and partner, Sae-Kyun. Jeff gave the Korean soldier a withering glare, to which Sae-Kyun responded with a belligerent grin.

“Sorry,” Sae-Kyun said. “Is that not what Americans say when one is sick?”

“I’m not sick,” Jeff said, stirring his spoon in his soggy cereal. “I’m just tired.”

“Then if you’re not sick, why are you sitting like you swallowed a lemon?” Sae-Kyun said.

Jeff frowned. What an odd thing to say.

“I’m not—look, I’m real tired today, Sae-Kyun,” Jeff said. “I just want to eat my cereal and go call my sister.”

“Oh, that’s right!” Sae-Kyun said.

The soldier slid down the bench to sit beside Jeff. He clapped Jeff on the shoulder, causing Jeff to flick some cereal out of his bowl, over the table. Jeff turned to see Sae-Kyun smiling wide, nonplussed.

“Today’s your first official call back home!” he said. “Lucky you. Most soldiers wait months for that. You got to wait only three weeks!”

“Feels like eternity,” Jeff said.

He smiled after a moment, sniffing.

“I wonder how they’re doing,” he said.

“You should worry about how you’re doing, Jeff,” Sae-Kyun said.

He pointed at Jeff’s nose. Jeff ran a hand over his upper lip. It felt slick to the touch. When he glanced down, a long streak of blood covered his palm. Sae-Kyun pulled out a napkin and handed it to him.

“I’m just feeling lousy, that’s all,” Jeff said, stuffing the napkin up his nose. “I’ll feel better tomorrow.”

“You better hope so,” Sae-Kyun said. “I just heard they want us to do some extra inspections on the front. Apparently there’s a rumor the northern soldiers are going to attempt something.”

Jeff snorted.

“Isn’t that always the rumor?” he said. “I’ve heard that almost every day since I showed up.”

Sae-Kyun shrugged.

“You never know,” he said. “Anyway, buck up, soldier! See you soon!”

Jeff waved his friend goodbye and returned to his bowl of cereal. A wave of nausea and vertigo made him groan. Not today. He rose to his feet, carrying his tray with him, and hobbled over to the mess hall’s food disposal.

“Private Roswell!” a soldier called from the exit.

Jeff winced, skull pounding. He drew a deep breath in an attempt to clear his head and headed over to the man at the door.

“Sir,” Jeff said, jogging to the corporal.

Jeff sucked in another breath when his vision swam while the soldier relayed his orders. None of it made sense. Jeff shook his head and stifled a groan in pain.

“Sorry, sir, could you repeat that?” he said.

“Are you sick, Private?” the corporal said.

“No, sir,” Jeff said, standing straight.

The corporal arched a brow at him, unconvinced. The man said nothing for a moment before he pointed in the opposite direction.

“Get to the barracks, soldier,” he said. “You’re going to get everyone sick at this rate.”

Jeff wilted, nodding when he couldn’t formulate a proper retort. Jeff did

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