The Last Heroes (Men at War 1)

Ed Bitter got drunk that night and, for the first time, took an interpreter to his quarters.

Right after Canidy had been sent home in disgrace, Doug Douglass had been given command of the squadron. Douglass had not, however, moved into the suite of rooms that were now his by right of command, but stayed where he was. Bitter realized when he saw the light under Douglass’s door that he had not changed his nightly habits. Since assuming command, he had rarely gone to the bar, and when he did, hadn’t taken liquor. Nor did he drink in his room.

It was therefore meet, right, and just, Ed Bitter decided, to annoy the sober sonofabitch. Bitter staggered into Douglass’s room with the girl under his arm.

Douglass was alone in his bed, writing on a clipboard propped against his knees.

‘‘Why, Romeo, Romeo,’’ Douglass mocked him when he saw the giggling interpreter. ‘‘Wherefore goeth thou, Romeo? ’’

‘‘If I can get a straight answer out of you,’’ Bitter said, carefully pronouncing each syllable, ‘‘I would like a straight answer to a straight question.’’

He realized that he couldn’t think of a question, but that didn’t seem to be important.

‘‘Both of your kills were confirmed,’’ Douglass said. ‘‘That makes four, right?’’

‘‘That’s not what I’m talking about,’’ Bitter said. He was just sober enough to see that Douglass was smiling at his condition, which annoyed him. ‘‘I said, I wanted to ask you a straight question . . .’’

‘‘Generally speaking,’’ Douglass said, smiling, ‘‘the best technique for beginners is if the lady gets on her back and spreads her—’’

‘‘Goddamn you, I’m serious.’’

‘‘Ask away,’’ Douglass replied. He laid down the clipboard he had been holding. Bitter saw that he was writing a letter.

‘‘Why did Canidy turn yellow?’’ Bitter asked.

He was surprised to hear those words.

‘‘I thought we had agreed not to talk about him,’’ Douglass said.

‘‘I wa

nt to know why, goddamn it!’’

‘‘I don’t know, Ed,’’ Douglass said.

‘‘You were with him, goddamn it!’’

‘‘What brought this up all of a sudden?’’ Douglass asked.

‘‘Because I was scared out there today.’’

‘‘You’re afraid it might get the best of you?’’

‘‘Yeah, maybe,’’ Bitter said.

‘‘Well, you’re not alone,’’ Douglass said. ‘‘If that makes you feel any better.’’

‘‘Is that what happened? It got the better of Canidy?’’

‘‘I don’t know, Eddie,’’ Douglass said. ‘‘Probably.’’

‘‘But he was my friend,’’ Bitter said.

‘‘For what it’s worth,’’ Douglass said, ‘‘he’s still my friend.’’

‘‘He’s a fucking coward, goddamn it!’’ Bitter said righteously, and then quickly walked out of Douglass’s room.

As he walked down the corridor, he realized he was crying. The Chinese girl looked at him, half concerned, half frightened.