Chapter Five: A Light In The Darkness
Hawkeye stood watching the dust rise from the road as the bus sped off in the direction of Seoul. Margaret joined him and watched them go.
"Well three down, six to go."
"Trapper wants to see you," she said.
Hawkeye glanced at the Major. She was exhausted, neither her or himself had slept since the incident and they both needed their rest.
"Margaret, go get some rest. I'll find out when Radar and Father Mulcahy are leaving and I'll make sure they say goodbye, but please go and get some sleep, you're beat."
"You're right but I think if I did, I wouldn't sleep. Still I need to pack, I be back later to check on McIntyre."
"Sure thing Major."
Hawkeye watched her leave, she looked so lost and lonely. Frank was still missing, now presumed dead and Hawkeye was going have the unpleasant task of finding the body. He walked slowly back to the Swamp, he needed a drink and fast.
"Hey pal, how you bearing up?" he asked Trapper as he checked his temperature.
"Not bad, I'd rather be helping you though, then lying here."
"Trap relax, everything has been taken care of. The nurses and Klinger have gone and we will be just as soon as the chopper gets here."
"Yeah but if I had been well enough, maybe between us we coulda saved Henry."
Hawkeye didn't speak. He had been so busy with getting the others home, he hadn't thought about Henry for a while.
"Don't say that," he demanded. "You couldn't have done anything, no one us could. He was dead before we found him. So don't you dare blame yourself."
A single tear rolled down Trapper's face. All he had been able to do was lie there and worry. He felt so helpless, he missed his family and now he was going to have to wait even longer to see them.
"Hawkeye, I never did thank you for saving my life."
"No problem."
"Any news on Frank?"
"It's not looking good. No sign of him. Margaret is being brave but she is about to give up all hope, I'm worried about her."
"Hotlips is strong, she'll cope."
Although Hawkeye wanted to believe what Trapper was saying, he wasn't sure he did.
* * * * * *
Father Mulcahy had stayed with Radar since the news of Henry had slowly sunk in to the young corporal's mind. The Father was afraid that if he left him alone, Radar may do something stupid and he cared about him too much to let that happen.
Radar has insisted on going back to the office to arrange the chopper to collect Trapper, alone. He wanted to prove that his life had been saved for a reason after all he was still the company clerk and this was a job he could handle.
"Father, please I'll be fine," he insisted. "You go pack and then come get me."
"Very well, my son," answered the priest as he left Radar alone.
Radar didn't stop at his desk immediately. He went into Henry's office. Nothing had changed, everything was how he had left it only that morning. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Radar picked up Henry's mug with his beloved state, Illinois inscribed on the side. Radar sat down in the chair and opened each drawer. A few cans of beer, a notepad, the medical journal and a Japanese doll - not much to show for a lifetime.
As he stood up, he heard a noise as something fell from the desk. Reaching down to pick it up, he discovered it was Henry's pen, the one his father had given him. Now Radar was a honest and decent human being, he had never so much as stolen an apple, but he wanted that pen. He was convinced that Henry would want him to have it. Besides he needed something to remind him of his colonel.
Radar removed his glasses to wipe the tears from his eyes. With a final sigh, he began to take down the pictures that Henry's children had sent him. He knew that his family would want them back and Radar had decided that he was going to deliver them, along with Henry's other possessions, in person.
* * * * * *
Margaret was still in shock. The explosion had brought with so many emotions and she couldn't deal with them all at once. She lay down on her bed and wept openly. For the end of the war, for Henry, for Frank and most of all for herself. She didn't know what she was going to do next. As she continued to sob into her pillow, she felt a chill on her back from the door of her tent opening.
She stopped crying and looked up, half expecting to see Hawkeye. To her amazement, Frank was standing in front of her. A little dishevelled but still the same Frank.
"Frank....Am I dreaming?"
"Why Margaret. Did I wake you?"
"Oh my God Frank, you're alive." She ran towards him and threw her arms round his neck, kissing him.
"You thought I was dead," he finally said. "I thought you were. In fact I thought I was the only one alive."
As Margaret tended to his cuts, he told her what had happened. Just before the bomb had hit, Frank had left the O.R, presumed by the others, to take a rest in the pre-op ward. But instead he had gone to the mattress supply room for some extra blankets for his cot and when the bomb hit, the door had jammed and Frank had been knocked unconscious.
"When I came too, I couldn't get out, so I waited for someone to rescue me. After a while, I thought maybe there was no-one else alive so I started to loosen the hinges of the door. It took me hours, Margaret. That's when I came looking for you."
"Oh Frank, you must have been terrified."
"It gave me a lot of time to think," he added stroking her hair as she cuddled up close to him. "I should have left my wife years ago. I know now what I want and that is to marry you Margaret. I will inform my wife I want a divorce and we shall be married as soon as we can."
Margaret was taken aback by Frank's sudden change of heart. She started to cry, this time they were tears of happiness.
"Yes, Frank. Come on let's tell the others."
* * * * * *
Everybody seemed to have something to tell somebody and they all ended up at the Swamp moments later to announce their news. Hawkeye was about to pour himself another drink when in burst Margaret and Frank.
"Frank, you're alive," shouted Hawkeye, charging towards him and hugging him tight. For once Frank allowed him, he even felt compelled to hug him back.
"Nice to see you Frank," put in Trapper. "And that is the first time I have meant that."
"But how did ya.....I mean when did ya....." Hawkeye for once was lost for words.
"Never mind all that now," said Margaret, her face glowing. "Frank and I are getting married. Well we will be once he's divorce comes through."
"Congratulations," said Father Mulcahy hearing the news as he came in the door. "I was praying that you'd be ok, Major. I am so thankful that you are."
"Thank you Father," replied Frank.
Finally Radar came quietly into the Swamp. He was shocked to see Frank and happy to hear the news about him and Hotlips but none of this would bring Henry back.
"Did you get someone on the wire, Radar?" asked Hawkeye handing him a drink.
"Yeah, they can send a chopper tomorrow morning. Apparently most of their pilots have been sent home already. Oh and the army will remove the O.R too. I mean what is left of it. That was all, except I took Colonel Blake's personal possessions out of the office, I've decided to visit his family and tell them what happened."
"Is that such a good idea, Radar?" asked Hawkeye. "After all it will be very upsetting for them."
"I'm not going let her find out from some letter," said Radar stubbornly. "Colonel Blake's deserves better than that."
"He does," agreed Father Mulcahy. "I think it's a very nice gesture, Radar."
"Colonel Blake's dead," said Frank in disbelief.
There was a silence over the room. They had forgotten that Frank didn't know and his announcement made them relive that moment over again. Each one of them in that room said their goodbyes to their Colonel in their own way.
* * * * * *
The next morning Father Mulcahy and Radar were setting off in the jeep. They had decided to wait till daybreak to drive to Seoul before heading home. It felt right that they should all spend their last night at the camp together.
"Radar, are you ready?" called Father Mulcahy who was waiting patiently in the driver's seat.
"Coming," called the Corporal from inside the Swamp.
"Ok Radar, this is it," said Trapper, from his bed. "I want you to know that if I ever need a babysitter, you're first one my list."
Radar smiled. "It would be a honour, Sir," he said shaking his hand.
"Come here Radar," said Hawkeye. "I want you have this," he handed him a book.
"The Last Of The Mohicans. I can't take this, your Dad gave it to you."
"Take it please, read it, use it as a doorstop, anything but take it."
"Thanks Hawkeye," he said giving the Doctor a hug. He stopped at the doorway and turned round, taking the pen out of his pocket. "I kinda took this from Colonel Blake's office but it feels wrong, you have it."
"Keep the pen Radar. Henry would have wanted you to have it."
Radar smiled. The first time he had since the explosion. Hawkeye knew he would be alright, he just needed some time but he would get there.
"Bye Sirs," said Radar, leaving the Swamp for the last time.
* * * * * *
A few moments later, Margaret and Frank came by to say their farewells.
"Pierce, McIntyre. I know we have had our fallings out but I say this with all honesty, that I will miss you."
"Aw Frank, you're all heart," joked Hawkeye.
"Me too," said Margaret. "It has been a privilege to work with such fine doctors."
"Come here Margaret," said Trapper coaxing her to his beside and giving her a brief kiss.
"Ok, my turn," said Hawkeye, pulling Margaret close for a passionate embrace. "You're a lucky man Frank."
"Come on Margaret, let's go."
Once they left the compound was eerily quiet. The chopper wouldn't be more than an hour and then Hawkeye and Trapper would be on their way to Tokyo. As each person had left they had mourned the loss of their dear leader. No member of the 4077th would ever forget Henry Blake, especially Hawkeye and Trapper. As they waited for their ride, they each had a final Martini from the still.
"Well pal, we're finally going home," said Trapper.
"Yeah, we're the lucky ones. Who knows how many kids we are leaving behind here, how many families disrupted by war, how many senseless deaths. You know I was thinking if it was worth it, if I had to say one positive thing about this rat infested dump, what would it be. I guess meeting you guys, but if I'd had to sacrifice the friendship I had made here for the number of dead this war had caused, I would do so in a heartbeat."
Trapper nodded. He knew what his bunkie meant. They had come to somewhere unknown to them and made the best of a bad situation. However if the situation was eradicated before it began then their best would have never been needed.
"So, how long will I be in Tokyo?" he asked.
"You'll be up and about in a couple of weeks."
"I'm going to be so bored."
"Bored, I'm not going to allow you to be bored," answered Hawkeye grinning. "For a start you'll need help on thinking up plausible excuses to your wife's interrogation."
"You mean you're staying with me?" said Trapper in surprise.
"Sure, I thought we'd fly home together."
"Terrific! Ok let's make a toast."
"It better be to something good, this is our last Martini."
They both stopped to think for a moment. Neither said anything, they didn't have to. They knew exactly what they were going to toast to.
"To Henry," they said clinking their glasses.
THE END
Hawkeye stood watching the dust rise from the road as the bus sped off in the direction of Seoul. Margaret joined him and watched them go.
"Well three down, six to go."
"Trapper wants to see you," she said.
Hawkeye glanced at the Major. She was exhausted, neither her or himself had slept since the incident and they both needed their rest.
"Margaret, go get some rest. I'll find out when Radar and Father Mulcahy are leaving and I'll make sure they say goodbye, but please go and get some sleep, you're beat."
"You're right but I think if I did, I wouldn't sleep. Still I need to pack, I be back later to check on McIntyre."
"Sure thing Major."
Hawkeye watched her leave, she looked so lost and lonely. Frank was still missing, now presumed dead and Hawkeye was going have the unpleasant task of finding the body. He walked slowly back to the Swamp, he needed a drink and fast.
"Hey pal, how you bearing up?" he asked Trapper as he checked his temperature.
"Not bad, I'd rather be helping you though, then lying here."
"Trap relax, everything has been taken care of. The nurses and Klinger have gone and we will be just as soon as the chopper gets here."
"Yeah but if I had been well enough, maybe between us we coulda saved Henry."
Hawkeye didn't speak. He had been so busy with getting the others home, he hadn't thought about Henry for a while.
"Don't say that," he demanded. "You couldn't have done anything, no one us could. He was dead before we found him. So don't you dare blame yourself."
A single tear rolled down Trapper's face. All he had been able to do was lie there and worry. He felt so helpless, he missed his family and now he was going to have to wait even longer to see them.
"Hawkeye, I never did thank you for saving my life."
"No problem."
"Any news on Frank?"
"It's not looking good. No sign of him. Margaret is being brave but she is about to give up all hope, I'm worried about her."
"Hotlips is strong, she'll cope."
Although Hawkeye wanted to believe what Trapper was saying, he wasn't sure he did.
* * * * * *
Father Mulcahy had stayed with Radar since the news of Henry had slowly sunk in to the young corporal's mind. The Father was afraid that if he left him alone, Radar may do something stupid and he cared about him too much to let that happen.
Radar has insisted on going back to the office to arrange the chopper to collect Trapper, alone. He wanted to prove that his life had been saved for a reason after all he was still the company clerk and this was a job he could handle.
"Father, please I'll be fine," he insisted. "You go pack and then come get me."
"Very well, my son," answered the priest as he left Radar alone.
Radar didn't stop at his desk immediately. He went into Henry's office. Nothing had changed, everything was how he had left it only that morning. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Radar picked up Henry's mug with his beloved state, Illinois inscribed on the side. Radar sat down in the chair and opened each drawer. A few cans of beer, a notepad, the medical journal and a Japanese doll - not much to show for a lifetime.
As he stood up, he heard a noise as something fell from the desk. Reaching down to pick it up, he discovered it was Henry's pen, the one his father had given him. Now Radar was a honest and decent human being, he had never so much as stolen an apple, but he wanted that pen. He was convinced that Henry would want him to have it. Besides he needed something to remind him of his colonel.
Radar removed his glasses to wipe the tears from his eyes. With a final sigh, he began to take down the pictures that Henry's children had sent him. He knew that his family would want them back and Radar had decided that he was going to deliver them, along with Henry's other possessions, in person.
* * * * * *
Margaret was still in shock. The explosion had brought with so many emotions and she couldn't deal with them all at once. She lay down on her bed and wept openly. For the end of the war, for Henry, for Frank and most of all for herself. She didn't know what she was going to do next. As she continued to sob into her pillow, she felt a chill on her back from the door of her tent opening.
She stopped crying and looked up, half expecting to see Hawkeye. To her amazement, Frank was standing in front of her. A little dishevelled but still the same Frank.
"Frank....Am I dreaming?"
"Why Margaret. Did I wake you?"
"Oh my God Frank, you're alive." She ran towards him and threw her arms round his neck, kissing him.
"You thought I was dead," he finally said. "I thought you were. In fact I thought I was the only one alive."
As Margaret tended to his cuts, he told her what had happened. Just before the bomb had hit, Frank had left the O.R, presumed by the others, to take a rest in the pre-op ward. But instead he had gone to the mattress supply room for some extra blankets for his cot and when the bomb hit, the door had jammed and Frank had been knocked unconscious.
"When I came too, I couldn't get out, so I waited for someone to rescue me. After a while, I thought maybe there was no-one else alive so I started to loosen the hinges of the door. It took me hours, Margaret. That's when I came looking for you."
"Oh Frank, you must have been terrified."
"It gave me a lot of time to think," he added stroking her hair as she cuddled up close to him. "I should have left my wife years ago. I know now what I want and that is to marry you Margaret. I will inform my wife I want a divorce and we shall be married as soon as we can."
Margaret was taken aback by Frank's sudden change of heart. She started to cry, this time they were tears of happiness.
"Yes, Frank. Come on let's tell the others."
* * * * * *
Everybody seemed to have something to tell somebody and they all ended up at the Swamp moments later to announce their news. Hawkeye was about to pour himself another drink when in burst Margaret and Frank.
"Frank, you're alive," shouted Hawkeye, charging towards him and hugging him tight. For once Frank allowed him, he even felt compelled to hug him back.
"Nice to see you Frank," put in Trapper. "And that is the first time I have meant that."
"But how did ya.....I mean when did ya....." Hawkeye for once was lost for words.
"Never mind all that now," said Margaret, her face glowing. "Frank and I are getting married. Well we will be once he's divorce comes through."
"Congratulations," said Father Mulcahy hearing the news as he came in the door. "I was praying that you'd be ok, Major. I am so thankful that you are."
"Thank you Father," replied Frank.
Finally Radar came quietly into the Swamp. He was shocked to see Frank and happy to hear the news about him and Hotlips but none of this would bring Henry back.
"Did you get someone on the wire, Radar?" asked Hawkeye handing him a drink.
"Yeah, they can send a chopper tomorrow morning. Apparently most of their pilots have been sent home already. Oh and the army will remove the O.R too. I mean what is left of it. That was all, except I took Colonel Blake's personal possessions out of the office, I've decided to visit his family and tell them what happened."
"Is that such a good idea, Radar?" asked Hawkeye. "After all it will be very upsetting for them."
"I'm not going let her find out from some letter," said Radar stubbornly. "Colonel Blake's deserves better than that."
"He does," agreed Father Mulcahy. "I think it's a very nice gesture, Radar."
"Colonel Blake's dead," said Frank in disbelief.
There was a silence over the room. They had forgotten that Frank didn't know and his announcement made them relive that moment over again. Each one of them in that room said their goodbyes to their Colonel in their own way.
* * * * * *
The next morning Father Mulcahy and Radar were setting off in the jeep. They had decided to wait till daybreak to drive to Seoul before heading home. It felt right that they should all spend their last night at the camp together.
"Radar, are you ready?" called Father Mulcahy who was waiting patiently in the driver's seat.
"Coming," called the Corporal from inside the Swamp.
"Ok Radar, this is it," said Trapper, from his bed. "I want you to know that if I ever need a babysitter, you're first one my list."
Radar smiled. "It would be a honour, Sir," he said shaking his hand.
"Come here Radar," said Hawkeye. "I want you have this," he handed him a book.
"The Last Of The Mohicans. I can't take this, your Dad gave it to you."
"Take it please, read it, use it as a doorstop, anything but take it."
"Thanks Hawkeye," he said giving the Doctor a hug. He stopped at the doorway and turned round, taking the pen out of his pocket. "I kinda took this from Colonel Blake's office but it feels wrong, you have it."
"Keep the pen Radar. Henry would have wanted you to have it."
Radar smiled. The first time he had since the explosion. Hawkeye knew he would be alright, he just needed some time but he would get there.
"Bye Sirs," said Radar, leaving the Swamp for the last time.
* * * * * *
A few moments later, Margaret and Frank came by to say their farewells.
"Pierce, McIntyre. I know we have had our fallings out but I say this with all honesty, that I will miss you."
"Aw Frank, you're all heart," joked Hawkeye.
"Me too," said Margaret. "It has been a privilege to work with such fine doctors."
"Come here Margaret," said Trapper coaxing her to his beside and giving her a brief kiss.
"Ok, my turn," said Hawkeye, pulling Margaret close for a passionate embrace. "You're a lucky man Frank."
"Come on Margaret, let's go."
Once they left the compound was eerily quiet. The chopper wouldn't be more than an hour and then Hawkeye and Trapper would be on their way to Tokyo. As each person had left they had mourned the loss of their dear leader. No member of the 4077th would ever forget Henry Blake, especially Hawkeye and Trapper. As they waited for their ride, they each had a final Martini from the still.
"Well pal, we're finally going home," said Trapper.
"Yeah, we're the lucky ones. Who knows how many kids we are leaving behind here, how many families disrupted by war, how many senseless deaths. You know I was thinking if it was worth it, if I had to say one positive thing about this rat infested dump, what would it be. I guess meeting you guys, but if I'd had to sacrifice the friendship I had made here for the number of dead this war had caused, I would do so in a heartbeat."
Trapper nodded. He knew what his bunkie meant. They had come to somewhere unknown to them and made the best of a bad situation. However if the situation was eradicated before it began then their best would have never been needed.
"So, how long will I be in Tokyo?" he asked.
"You'll be up and about in a couple of weeks."
"I'm going to be so bored."
"Bored, I'm not going to allow you to be bored," answered Hawkeye grinning. "For a start you'll need help on thinking up plausible excuses to your wife's interrogation."
"You mean you're staying with me?" said Trapper in surprise.
"Sure, I thought we'd fly home together."
"Terrific! Ok let's make a toast."
"It better be to something good, this is our last Martini."
They both stopped to think for a moment. Neither said anything, they didn't have to. They knew exactly what they were going to toast to.
"To Henry," they said clinking their glasses.
THE END