Chapter 392: Lich Gate

Tuesday, February 7th, Morning

(Song Lyrics in italics)

The funeral, like many such things, was a solemn affair. The pallbearers were all North Carolina National Guardsmen, and they carried the flag drabbed casket of Sergeant First Class Jermaine Garrison into the church and escorted it to the minister. The family of Sergeant Garrison followed behind the coffin.

From the mourners along the side Isabella "Izzy" Scott, Representative, NC-D, stood amongst these people, with Kari Johansson standing by her side. Izzy was offered to walk along with the family, but Izzy chose not to take up the request. Izzy being a close friend of the diseased, but she didn't want to be a distraction.

In silence, Izzy watched the ceremony and listened to the people talk about their memories and experiences with Jermaine. Again, Izzy was asked to speak, but again she demurred to not take away the attention from the purpose they were there for.

The funeral ended as typical, and they brought Jermaine slowly out of the church. The mourners followed behind the casket, clergy. The procession headed out into the blue sky of the day. Izzy looked up and felt the sunlight on her face as she watched the casket loaded into the hearse.

Izzy and Kari got into a car and joined the funeral procession to the Tree Hill Cemetery. They had a driver, and Izzy sat in silence. She looked out the window blankly, her eyes covered by her signature Bella Sunglasses. In silence, that was where she wanted to be, lost in her own thoughts.

Izzy's thoughts drifted to Keith still over in Europe. Did he now command the tank? How was Keith handling having one of his best friends killed, literally right behind him? Would this finally end his second job?

Izzy remembered the one time Keith got her into the tank her crewed. He let her sit in the gunner's seat as he sat across the turret from her. Izzy wasn't a big woman, but she felt stuffed into the position that Keith squeezed himself into it. Keith let her have his CVC on her head. He explained to her the controls and the different positions of the tank, and Izzy took it all in. She also learned where Garrison was sitting.

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Soon her thoughts drifted to that trip to the Outer Banks. They knew this deployment was coming up, and they wanted time away. Jermaine brought his girlfriend, at the time; what was her name? So, many girlfriends, he never seemed to stay in a relationship.

Izzy tried not to let a smile crack her face as she thought of the time she and Keith spent on the Outer Banks. In the last few years, it was one of the few times they could be themselves and happy at the same time.

She missed Keith, especially being next to him in bed. Izzy enjoyed sleeping between his strong arms. Also, he had a particular scent about him that comforted her, that was uniquely his own.

Eventually, they reached the cemetery and the burial plot. Izzy stood quietly behind the family. The religious ceremony committed Jermaine Garrison to the ground and corruption, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The rifle detail fired their volleys to honor the fallen soldier. The American flag was folded in its particular triangle way after the bugle played taps, calling the end of the service.

The head of the detail presented the flag to Mrs. Garrison. She looked into the grieving mom's eyes with a cold practice look in her eyes.

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

"On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service," the detail commander said in an eased and deadpanned manner. As to her, this was too regular of a thing. Also present to Mrs. Garrison was the shell casing from the volley.

Izzy sighed and started to walk away. Suddenly, she found herself looking at the tall figure of Reverend Caleb "Cale" Howard. He was the minister that performed the funeral.

"Izzy, I didn't expect to see you here," Cale said.

Izzy nodded, "Yeah, I had to be here," she said.

"Because he's from your district?" Cale asked.

"No, he…" Izzy said, paused, and composed herself, "He's my friend."

Cale looked at Izzy oddly, "He is?" he asked.

Izzy nodded, "Keith and Jermaine came up together in the unit," she said.

Cale nodded, "Then I am sorry for yours and Keith's loss," she said.

"Thank you," Izzy said.

"You're welcome," Cale said, "How is Keith doing?"

Izzy shrugged, "I don't know; he's been out of contact for weeks," she said.

"Well, I will keep him in my prayers for his safe return," Cale said.

"Thank you, Cale," Izzy said.

"You're welcome," Cale said, "I must take my leave." Cale moved off, leaving Izzy alone.

Kari was doing her usual thing, circling around the crowd, making connections. That was what Kari was good at and one of the reasons Izzy brought her onto her staff. Kari found information, which is the jargon Izzy was given; information is ammunition.

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

An older gentleman stepped out of the crowd. He wore an army uniform, his left breast filled with ribbons and badges, on the sleeves, three strips and three rockers, with a diamond in-between. Around his neck, a medal was suspended by a light blue-colored moirésilk neck ribbon, displaying thirteen white stars. The medal hung from the silk neck ribbon was a gold five-pointed star, each tipped with a trefoil, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed Valor, surmounted by an eagle. In the star's center was Minerva's head surrounded by the words United States of America, and each ray of the star had a green oak leaf.

Izzy had seen this neck device before, in pictures, on display, but neck in person worn by someone. People who wore this neck order, and were alive, were exceptional people. Looking at the pockmarked face of the man, she knew he was a special person. Often people would request having him by her side, and Izzy flatly refused to exploit him.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Izzy said.

"Everyone should be seen off," Davis Gregory, a dad of one of Izzy's closest friends and staffer, said.

"He has family," Izzy said, "and me."

"Go to other people's funeral, or they won't go to yours," Davis said.

"Yogi Berra," Izzy said.

"The Clown Prince of Baseball," Davis said.

"It still doesn't explain why you're here," Izzy said.

Davis nodded, "Paying my respects," he said dryly and looked off from the crowd.

Izzy knew that many soldiers avoided Davis. She would describe it as treating him like a ghost. Yet strangely, they were always respectful to him but seemed to stay away from him as well.

"You don't have to do this," Izzy said.

"Neither do you," Davis said.

"I knew him as a friend," Izzy said.

Davis held up his ruined left hand, a disfigurement that showed the ravages of his hard-used body. These injuries were visible, but Izzy had heard that his scars ran much deeper. Keith once said to her there is no honor in being the last survivor, just pain. Davis wasn't the only survivor, but he was the last man standing.

"I believe he needed to be seen off right," Davis said.

Izzy nodded, "How have you been otherwise?" she asked.

"I've been good but scared of what Garrison could become," Davis said.

Izzy looked up at Davis, "What is that?" she asked.

"The first causality of another ill-thought-out war," Davis said.

"I don't think it will be that bad," Izzy said.

"The way they are talking," Davis said, sighed, "You can't be too sure."

"I think they're posturing," Izzy said.

"I don't know," Davis said, and with his good hand, reached up to the medal around his neck and grabbed it. "I wish this never will be presented again."

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

"Davis, I can't think about this going south," Izzy said.

Davis nodded and looked away. He let go of his medal. "I'm sorry, Izzy, I should've thought better," he said.

"It's fine; we all have our moments of weakness," Izzy said.

"I guess we do," Davis said.

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Izzy asked.

"Go ahead," Davis asked.

"Do you remember everything about that day?" Izzy asked.

"In all honesty, no, I don't," Davis said and shook his head, "Honestly, I don't remember much of that day."

"Okay, how do you cope with that?" Izzy asked.

"I go to counseling," Davis said, "You're asking about this because of Kay?"

Izzy nodded, "Yeah," she said.

Davis shrugged, "I don't know," he said.

"Thanks," Izzy said.

Davis nodded and walked away. Izzy watched Davis walk away, shaking her head. Izzy looked around and found Kari standing by.

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

"Hey, Izzy," Kari said.

"Hey," Izzy said.

"Talking to Davis, I see," Kari said.

"Yeah," Izzy said.

"So, he even showed up," Kari said.

"Yeah, he did," Izzy said.

"He's been doing this since he retired," Kari said.

"How do you know that?" Izzy asked.

"Skye mentioned it once," Kari said.

"I see," Izzy said.

Kari nodded, "Are you ready to go?" she asked.

Izzy nodded, "Yes, let me say my peace with the Garrisons, and then let's go," she said, and they did it. Before leaving the area, within sight of the car Izzy turned and looked back at the grave site. She paused and took in few deep breaths, closed her eyes, finally opening them and looking to the blue sky. After, that moment she turned and walked to the waiting car.

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun