Half of Paradise

“I’m going to send Rainack over here to watch you. Don’t move till we get back.”

“We didn’t help them. How come we can’t go to the barracks with the rest,” the old man said.

“Because you all think you’re so goddamn smart playing closemouth,” Evans said.

“Go get Rainack,” the captain said.

Evans walked down the line and came back.

“He’s coming. I told him to get a couple of rifles out of the pickup,” he said.

“I’m an old man. I can’t stay out in the wet like this,” Daddy Claxton said.

Rainack came through the rain with two rifles that were slung upside down over his shoulder to keep the barrels dry. They were ’03 Springfields that had been bought from the government. He swung them off his shoulder by the slings and handed them to the captain. He reached under his slicker and took a handful of shells out of his pocket.

“This is all there is,” he said, giving the cartridges to the captain. “The rest is corroded.”

The captain handed one rifle to Evans, and they opened the bolts and loaded. The heavily grained military stocks were rubbed with linseed oil. There was a thin spray of rust on the butt plate of Evans’ rifle.

They went around the farther end of the ditch to the far side of the clearing and moved into the trees with the other guards. The captain spread his men out through the woods. Rainack got in the back of the truck and sat on one of the benches. He took out his tobacco and rolled a cigarette. He struck a match on the wall of the truck, covered the flame with his hands, and exhaled the smoke into the damp air.

“They’re gone now,” Claxton said. “Let us get out of the rain.”

Rainack smoked in silence.

“Come on, nobody will know the difference. We ain’t going to say nothing. I’m soaked plumb through.”

“You heard the orders. You got to stay there till they get back.”

“They ain’t going to know,” Claxton said.

“I got my orders. If it was just me I wouldn’t mind,” Rainack said.

Claxton stepped towards the truck.

“Stay where you are.”

“I had pneumonia once. I ain’t strong enough to pull through it again.”

“I can’t do nothing for you.”

“Don’t expect a bastard to act like a decent man,” LeBlanc said.

“What did you say?”

“I said you’re a bastard.”

“The box didn’t seem to teach you nothing,” Rainack said.

“Let the old man out of the rain,” LeBlanc said.

“I’m going to tell Evans about this when you get back.”

“Come out here and do something yourself.”

“You should be in a crazy house,” Rainack said.

“Why didn’t you go with the others? You’re going to miss the shooting.”