Ryan’s hands shook the same way as he pressed gauze to Max’s wound.
I studied the scene,then knelt down beside Max and pulled the vessel from his pocket.
Ryan wouldna meet m’eyes.
“I need ye tae look, Ryan, are the markings right tae get us tae the med bay?”
He said, “Yeah, yeah, they are.” All around us our soldiers gathered, callin’ directions, carryin’ fallen soldiers and the wounded.
Aenghus called down the line, “Is everyone here? Hold on!”
A voice from the end of the line called, “Waiting on Robbs!”
Aenghus said, “He’s coming! I see him! Give him thirty seconds tae catch up.”
Ryan said, “I suppose this was our last try — damn, I thought we had it this time.”
I saw the man they called Robbs catch up tae our group.
Twas time tae go.
I said, “Nae, twas not our last, we are goin’ tae go around once more, but this time we are goin’ tae do it my way.”
I twisted the vessel and the pain filled me, tearing me from the world.
29
TORIN
MED BAY ONCE MORE - SEPTEMBER 17, 2185
Iwas sitting on a hospital gurney. I peeked in m’shirt, there was a bandage on m’shoulder, twas small enough.
I moved m’arm around in a slow circle,Och, I could use it, good.
The door openedand Alexandria rushed in. She burst intae tears. Holding my face in her hands, she kissed me. “I was so scared!”
“Och, daena tell anyone, Alexandria, but I was scared as well, ye canna ken what tis like tae fight a battle over again. Tis all happenin’ the same way and every decision ye make might save ye or kill ye, tis easy tae become wracked with indecision, yet then ye falter and wonder if the falterin’ is going tae kill ye.”
She frowned. “That really does sound terrible, I’m glad you’re done with it. Now we can do something else…”
She looked at my face.
“We can do something else,right?”
I shook my head. “Did ye see the condition of yer Uncle Charlie?”
“No!” Her eyes went wide. “Is he okay, is Max okay?”
I shook my head. “It all went verra poorly.”
“So what do we do?”
“We are goin’ tae do it again.”
She gulped. “But I don’t want to. I don’t want you to. Uncle Ryan is wrong, he’s going to get you killed! He wants to win and it’s clouding his judgement!”
I put my good arm around her and pulled her close. I just held her for a moment, until she relaxed in my arms. Then I told her, “Tis not yer Uncle Ryan’s decision, twas mine.”
