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Outside birds sang and called in mocking tones to challengers. Females sat among branches with the buds only now beginning to swell with new life.
"I've never seen so much hate." Dellacourt hugged herself. "He's been awake nearly a week now, Myers. Why won't he even try?"
Myers glared down at her. "You ain't never been on the lines, have you, kid?" Dellacourt shook her head, a gleam of excitement came to her eyes.
"My transfer takes place next month. I'm going to Rio."
Myers gave her a pitying look. "Grey ain't so bad, kid. You'll see a lot worse in the hospital in Rio. Men who lost less than him, but got more to live for."
Benny slapped the discharge from the covers.
"I don't have to sign them," he said, his eye sullen and dark with a hopeless rage. "I can walk. I know I can. They won't even lemme try." His chin swung at the nurses' station. "Want to see?"
There was too much frightened hope in Benny's eye for the chaplain to try to dissuade him.
A grim Benny tossed aside the blankets, lowering his legs to the floor. He puled himself up and gave the man a triumphant grin. The carefully braced legs trembled. The grin was replaced by hard determination. He tried to move. Benny crashed to the floor.
Dellacourt and the chaplain rushed to help him. Benny flailed them with his arms and his curses.
After putting him back in the bed, the chaplain turned to leave.
"Wait, sir. Please?" Benny cried out, "I can. Please? My legs, they're just real weak, is all." He tried to get up but Dellacourt pushed him back.
Benny lashed out. His fist grazed her cheek. With a gasp she leaped away. Benny stared in horror at what he had done. With mumbled apologies, he turned from her to stare at the wall.
She administered a sedative, her heart fluttering at the near disaster and at his shame.
With a heavy heart, Boyde walked in. She smiled at Benny's tearstained face.
"He looks like some kind of angel, laying there, doesn't he?"
"He puts me in mind more of a fallen angel, Captain." But as she tucked the blankets in around him, Dellacourt's eyes were gentle.
©2003 StoriesByEmail.com
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