Hello!
Here's a short one. I edited it last night because of inability to sleep or study. Consider it a bonus before I return on Friday with the new chapter. Or who knows? maybe tomorrow? Just hang in there if you are not already.
Chapter 12
I was finished with shower and throwing up when BJ returned.
He did not seem to be in a mood to be bothered and that suited me just fine. I decided to write Dad. His last letter was still unanswered. There was nothing to report except the latest deluge and the Korean kids. Yes, I could tell him about the dye job we, I did on Frank's shorts. That would give him a good laugh. If only I could see how they looked. And maybe take a picture or two? Where was my camera?
Nah, I was too tired to open my footlocker. Putting everything back in order took a lot of time and I was not upto it.
Suddenly, I heard a loud noise like a thunderstorm. This time it was BJ, waking me up because I was being paged.
I got up with effort. This session in OR was finally catching up with me.
"What's wrong Hawk?" BJ sounded concerned.
"Nothing Beej. Just tired. I did not know I had dozed off."
"Then why did you groan?"
"Groan? My neck is stiff. Maybe its not a good idea to doze off like this." I wondered why BJ did not wake me up if he saw me doze off like this. I just shook my head. War was catching up with us. It tended to happen every couple of months or so.
I hurried to post-op to see what was wrong. Hendricks was coming to. And he wanted to see his doctor right away. So Frank, after finding out about my instructions for Hendricks, asked Radar to page me.
"Niiiiiice!" I hissed in Frank's ear before shuffling out of the post-op.
Oh yeah!
"Radar, do you know who this Major Woods is? He came in during Tuesday/Wednesday intake", I knew he would know.
"He is the son of one General Woods. He works at Pentagon. And the major is assigned to another General's general staff."
"So what was he doing at the front?"
"The other general, Major Woods boss General, wanted to see the combat troops and the combat. He has never seen a battle."
"So? Did he die? Or lived to tell the tale?" I was getting light headed now.
"He had already left when shelling started. Major Woods was taking some pictures of the troops when he got wounded."
"No wonder lipless wonder was so jumpy about scoring points with that ..."
I made it in time before I hurled at the doorstep of the command post of 4077 MASH.
"Hawkeye, are you alright?"
"Yes I am fine. Just the breakfast that refused to agree with me.Nothing new, Radar. Go back to...whatever you were doing!"
I made it to Swamp. And just crashed on my cot.
"Hawk! You did not start the still last night? Its dry!" Accusatory tone. Why was he asking me this?
"I don't know. I did not even touch it!"
"I know. That's why I am asking you why could you not restock it before you finished all the gin?"
"What?" Now I was confused. Or delirious! He was mad at me because I did not what?
" You cleaned it up last night, right? Like every night for last few days. All I wanna know is, why didn't you start it again? I could use a belt now!" And what was eating him that he needed a belt now?
"I did not clean it up. I did not touch it. I did not even look at it! Next time, check your facts before you start yelling at me. My head is killing me as it is!" I did not mean to sound rude or mad but right now, I could not care less either way.
"You did not drink last night? And you have a headache? That's convenient!" His sarcasm was palpable. Why was he doing this?
I just decided to ignore him. I could feel bile rising all over again and those semi-dry heaves had left me with more burning in my stomach and above than an all-night intimate session with still ever did. And that was saying something!
"Hawk! What's wrong?"
"Nothing! I am tired. Just leave me alone!"
"I need some sleep too. Except, we are all out of our helper. Are you sure you did not have any? So far as I remember, you could not sleep without having a stomach full of gin till not so long ago. You sure you OK?"
"Yeah. And now I am not going to drink for a few days so I CAN sleep again without any aid, especially when you are trying your best not to let me. Now leave me alone!"
I had barely closed my eyes when I heard the thunderstorm for the third time in last eight hours.
"HAWKEYE!"
"WHAT"? I sat up, my heart was pounding in my ears.
"Cummon. Its lunch time. I am starving." BJ spoke from a mile away. And there were two of them. It had been a long while since I last ate. My stomach was crying out loud now. Poor baby! I had to listen to it sometimes.
Finally, after a few decades, I found my robe and shoes. I decided not to think about the horror awaiting for me in the mess tent and trudged along with BJ towards the mess tent.
P.S. Next two-three chapters will open up the story so just bear with this one for now and consider it an effort of a tired mind!
