Chapter 433: Damageplan
Monday, February 13th, Afternoon
(Song Lyrics in Italics)
After slowly rotating off the tanks to be fed, the crew of Damageplan found themselves collecting on the engine deck. One of the crewmembers finished eating and relieved the one doing radio watch. The off-watch member of the crew landed on the engine deck.
Derby looked at the other two crewmembers and sighed. "One more meal of chilly mac, I'm going vegetarian," Derby said.
"Army chow," Letty said.
Keith took a mouthful of his lunch. After he swallowed it, he pointed his spoon at Derby. "They do the best with what they have," Keith said.
"Bet you've eaten better," Letty said.
"We all have eaten better," Keith said.
"Sergeant, you've probably grown up with the best home-cooked meals," Derby said.
Keith took another mouthful of his lunch, swallowed, then chuckled. "Not hardly, my mom could burn water. My dad cooked, or we got takeout from my grandma's café," he said.
"Your Momma couldn't cook?" Letty asked.
Keith shrugged, "Yeah, well, she tried to learn but hadn't the talent for the skill," Keith said.
"A southern woman that can't cook, how odd," Derby said.
Letty shrugged, got up to stretch out, and her hand rested on the bustle rack. A few of the bags shifted, and an odd off-tune noise echoed as Letty looked it over. She moved some of the bags and pulled out a dreadnought-style acoustic guitar.
"Hello, what's this?" Letty asked, holding it up.
Keith looked up from his bowl of food. "It looks like a guitar, Letty," Keith said.
Derby looked up at Letty. "Hey, that's mine," she said.
"What's it doing on the tank?" Letty asked.
"I didn't know where to keep it," Derby said.
"You're not supposed to keep non-authorized stuff on the tank," Letty said.
"How can it cause any trouble?" Derby asked.
"You're not supposed to keep non-authorized stuff on the tank," Letty said.
"Really?" Derby asked sarcastically.
"It was mentioned as part of the cause for the loss of an M1A1 tank in the Battle of Baghdad," Keith said, from over is food.
"Great, where am I going to keep it now?" Derby asked.
"Your room," Letty said.
"Relax," Keith said and took another bite of lunch.
"Why, Sergeant?" Letty asked.
"She could entertain us, until, whenever," Keith said.
"Umm, no, I shouldn't," Derby said.
"Maybe, she should, and the Sergeant wants to hear at least one song," Letty said.
Derby gave Letty a look, stood up, and grabbed the guitar. "Fine," she said.
Sitting down, Derby played her guitar and checked to make sure it was tuned correctly. Derby took a breath and started to strum away. Finally, she found the rhythm and started to play a song.
Well I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
Well I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
Well I wanna horse in the volunteer force that's riding forth at dawn
Please save for me some gallantry that will echo when I'm gone
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and longI'd not a good foot soldier make, I'd be sour and slow at march
And I'd be sick on a navy ship, and the sea would leave me parched
But I'll be first in line if they'll let me ride, by god, you'll see my starch
Lope back o'er the heath with the laurel wreath underneath that vict'ry archWell I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
Keith watched Derby play her guitar. He would keep eating his lunch. That was until Derry started singing. Her voice was strong and clear, which caused Keith to stop eating. Letty watched with her jaw slacked.
Let me earn my spurs in the battle's blur where the day is lost or won
I'll wield my lance as the ponies dance and the blackguards fire their guns
A sabre keen, and a saddle carbine and an army Remington
Where the hot lead screams with the cold, cold steel let me be a cavalryman
Well I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
An' I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
Well I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
Let 'em play their flutes and stirrup my boots and place them back to front
'Cause I won't be back on the rider-less black and I'm finished in my hunt
Well I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
Well I wanna be in the cavalry, but I won't ride home no more
Derby finished playing and looked up at Keith and saw him staring. She looked over to Letty, who did the same thing.
"What did you think?" Derby asked.
"Wow! That was very good," Letty said.
Keith nodded. "Amazing, thank you," he said and took another bite of his lunch.
"You're just ribbing me," Derby said.
"No," Letty said.
Keith shook his head and finished his lunch.
"Sergeant, what do you think?" Derby asked.
"You're talented," Keith said.
"What does that mean?" Derby asked.
Keith made a face, then looked down at his empty bowl. He sighed and looked up at Derby.
"I've seen many singers over the years, and there are a few that beat you," Keith said.
"Who's better than me?" Derby asked.
Keith made a face.
"Not going to answer?" Derby asked.
"Trying to phrase this right," Keith said.
"Please, tell me," Derby said.
"Well, Persephone the Goth Chick, for one, Haley James-Scott, and well, Kat Jared," Keith said.
"Well, they're all professionals," Derby said.
Keith shrugged, "Well, I've known them all for years," he said.
"Yeah, right," Letty said.
"Well, I've known Kat Jared for years," Keith said.
"How do you know Kat Jared?" Letty asked.
"In college, I street teamed for the label she's on," Keith said.
"It doesn't mean you've met her," Letty said.
"I have multiple times; she's a nice person," Keith said.
"Yeah, sure, sea tales," Letty said.
"Do you think I'm really that talented, Sergeant?" Derby asked.
"I think you're raw, but with a little refinement, you could be something," Keith said.
"How do you know, this Sergeant?" Letty asked.
"I do, I just do, Specialist," Keith said.
"Well, I don't know," Letty said and pulled out her smartphone. "Derby, play another song."
"What are you doing?" Derby asked.
"I was going to record you," Letty said.
"Why were you going to record me?" Derby asked.
"You're too good not to share," Letty said.
"I'd like to get a copy of the recording," Keith said.
"Why?" Letty asked.
"I have my reasons," Keith said.
"Are you going to use it to make fun of me?" Derby asked.
"No, it's all on the up and up," Keith said.
Derby sighed, "Letty, you can send him a copy," she said.
"Okay, so, play," Letty said.
Derby started playing. After a few moments, she hit the right rhythm and began to sing at the right place. Letty recorded on her smartphone as Keith watched. The gears in Keith's head were turning. Once Derby finished, Letty nodded and smiled.
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Heard a lot of talk about the ocean
Heard a lot of talk about the sea
Heard a lot of talk about a lot of things
Never meant that much to me
Heard a lot of talk about my spirit
Heard a lot of talk about my soul
But I decided that anxiety and pain
Were better friends
So I let it go
Did you let it go
Did you let it go
Did you let it go, my friend
Let's get it back
Let's get it back together,yeah! Woo!
Heard a lot of talk about this Jesus
A man of love, a man of strength
But what a man was two thousand years ago
Means nothing at all to me today
He could have been telling me about my
Higher self
But he only lives inside my prayer
So what he was may have been beautiful
But the pain is right now
And right here
Let it go!
Let it go!
Let it go, my friend
And let's get it back
Let's get it back together
Let's get it back together
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Did you give it up?
Let it go!
Let it go!
Let it go, my friend
And let's get it back
Let's get it back together
Let's get it back together
Let it go!
Let it go!
Let it go, my friend
And let's get it back
Let's get it back together
Let's get it back together, Oh yeah!
"That's great!" Letty said.
"What do you think, Sergeant?" Derby asked.
"I have to relieve Palmer on radio watch," Keith said, stood up, and climbed onto the turret.
