Voices in the Night: The Bunker

(Around 2am in the Central Highlands, Dak To area of South Vietnam)

“Incoming.”

“Shit, what mortars?”

“No, fuckin’ rockets.”

“Shit, that was close.”

“Move Bob, you fat bastard”.

“Get in, damn it, you got four other guys behind you”.

“Who’s climbing in now?”

“It’s me, son.”

“Sorry, Sergeant Major.”

“Are we all here?”

“I guess.”

“Hey Steff, where’s Martin?”

“Hey Pete, you here?”

No answer.

“Fuckin’ idiot, only Pete could get lost in a 50 foot dash.”

“He stopped to put on his fuckin’ boots.”

“I just heard the duster start up and drive to the perimeter.”

“It’s over guys.”

“Martin, where the hell are you?”

“Right here.”

“Damn you stink, Martin. “Did you shit your pants?”

“No!”

“Where were you?’

“You smell like shit.”

“I was in the bunker.”

“Where?”

“Right here.”

“Damn it, Pete, that’s the slit trench. You’re not coming back in the tent.”

© Terry Sutherland 2/18/2007