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EPILOGUE



Two days later, after time to shower, shave, sleep for a solid nine hours in a bed and get a good meal of pork chops, they were in a briefing room at Fort Benning again. This one was in garrison proper, and had more amenities, which they’d be using to debrief for the next few days. It wasn’t an appealing concept, sitting and talking and typing, while everything was nitpicked by bureaucrats, but it was necessary. And they were Stateside. Kyle decided it was better conditions than he’d had two days ago.

Robash greeted them warmly when he arrived, and said, “Well, gentlemen, you done good. I’ll sit on the complaints. It may not have been by the book, and there may have been a few liberties, but the job got done and nobody got hurt, as far as the Army is concerned. And as it never officially happened, it’s hard to complain. You did a hell of a job, and a lot more than expected. Thank you.” After a moment, he added, “I’m sorry you lost a friend, guys.” He seemed to understand, without the weirded out or snide looks a lot of people had given them both, Kyle especially.

“Thank you, sir,” Wade said first, Kyle echoing it just behind him.

“And, sir,” Kyle continued. He waited a moment for Robash’s attention. “I need to speak to Mr. Gober about getting something translated.”

Robash nodded and said, “I’ll email you his contact info. Congratulations again, gentlemen. And I told the debriefers you’d be starting tomorrow, not today.”

They stood, saluted, he left, and that was it. They continued standing. It had been only a couple of days, and they were both still wired from the mission, the trip home, and the pending debriefing. Hair-trigger nerves stuck out from them, and they were bristling even at each other. Finally, Wade said, “Come on, buddy, I’ll buy the first round.”

Kyle nodded. “Actually,” he said, “I think I won’t drink.”

“Oh?” Wade asked.

“Later, I’m sure,” Kyle said. “But I don’t think I should mix stress and booze. I did that for a year and regretted it.”

“Good deal,” Wade said. “So I’ll buy you a Coke and you can overdose on mild stimulants. When you’re destressed, you can buy the beer. Better deal for me.”

Laughing, Kyle asked, “Club, or off post?”

“Hell, you can’t really cut loose unless you’re in town. Let’s see if my car still starts.”


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Framed