The Condemned by Irina Shapiro

Author:Irina Shapiro [Shapiro, Irina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 37

February 2015

Ramstein Air Base, Germany

Rhys zipped up his coat, slung his carryall over his shoulder, and followed Lieutenant McBain off the aircraft. It was bitterly cold, and a hazy winter sun shone from a nearly colorless sky. The light reflected off the silver airplane, making Rhys wish he’d worn his sunglasses. Two ambulances approached the newly arrived aircraft, the paramedics ready to transport the patients who’d been brought over from Kabul to the medical center.

Lieutenant McBain gestured to an army vehicle waiting at the edge of the airfield. “You’re with me,” he said to Rhys. “I’ll drop you off at the hospital. I hope your friend’s doing okay. I was there the day she was brought in. She was a mess, let me tell you. We all thought she was a goner. She must be a tough little thing.” Rhys inwardly cringed at the insensitive words but didn’t say anything. The young man meant well. “She was lucky to be alive. The kid that was with her took a beating. Lost a leg. He’s lucky he didn’t lose both.”

“I don’t think he sees himself as being very lucky,” Rhys replied as he buckled his seatbelt.

“Well, that’s your ‘glass half full’ versus ‘glass half empty’ conundrum,” Lieutenant McBain replied with a grin. “There’s many a soldier that’ll take losing a leg over getting blown to bits. Of course, there are injuries that make being blown to smithereens look appealing.”

“Like what?” Rhys asked, genuinely curious.

“There’ve been a couple of boys who stepped on mines. The blast hit them right between the legs, blew their private parts off. It’s bad enough to lose your legs, but to lose the family jewels is really adding insult to injury. They had to have reconstructive surgery, but from what I hear, their new equipment is nothing to write home about. Man, can you imagine having to tell your wife that bit of news? I’d rather be dead and buried.”

“Are you married, Lieutenant?”

“Married, with two kids. This is my third tour, and if I sign up for another one, my Sherry will castrate me with a kitchen knife. Can’t say I’d blame her. Our third is due at the end of May. I’ll be home by then, God willing. It’s a boy this time. I can’t wait. You got any kids?”

“No.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing, man. My heart melts when I see my girls. This is why I’m doing this. For them. I want to leave them a better world. Not sure I’m making any difference though. Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture when you see your friends dying and their families suffering. Well, here we are. Good luck, buddy. See ya ’round.”

Lieutenant McBain dropped Rhys off in front of the medical center and drove away. The two ambulances from the air base were just pulling up, and medical personnel were already on standby outside the facility, ready to receive the wounded. Rhys walked in through the main entrance and approached the visitors’ desk.

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