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“Lieutenant have Captain Waters report here immediately,” Jason called out to his clerk.
I took my time before going to see General Talbot after I got word he was looking for me. I figured if I made it hard for his assistant to find me, it wasn't my fault if I didn't report immediately. First I went to the chow hall and grabbed a cup of coffee, then over to motor pool and talked with some of the friends I had there, from motor pool I headed out to the target range and shot several clips worth of ammo switching from my forty-five to an M-16 to a twenty-five caliber machine gun. I decided I still preferred my crossbow, from the target range I headed over to Rose company to see if anyone was there. I talked with some of the guys there and found out Chris was out with a recon unit and wasn't expected back for three days. I headed over to see if Mac was available only to find he was on the recon team Chris was out with.
“Captain, the General wants to see you right away,” Jason's clerk said when he finally caught up with me.
“I'll be there as soon as I get a free moment Lieutenant. In the mean time give him my regards,” I said, faining ignorance about him wanting me to report immediately.
“He's not going to like you not reporting immediately sir,” the Lieutenant said.
“You said he wants to see me right away Lieutenant. I thought that meant when I got a free moment. If you meant immediately, why didn't you say immediately?” I asked.
“I thought you would understand Captain. You know you're a hard person to track down?” he asked.
“Lieutenant I'll be there to see the General when I get a free moment, if he wants to see me before that he can come find me rather than sending his flunky to get me. Now unless there is something else you are dismissed,” I said.
“I wouldn't want to be you when the General finds out you're avoiding him,” the Lieutenant said.
“You see Lieutenant, that is exactly why you aren't getting anywhere in this life. Any time someone who thinks they can control your life says jump you jump. You're at least five years older than I am and still just a Lieutenant, whereas I enlisted right out of high school and was a Captain by the time I had two years in. Now if I played the game by the same rules you do, do you really think I would be a Captain yet? Run along and let General Talbot know if he wants me before I run out of other things to do he'll need to come find me himself,” I said.
I didn't try hiding any longer and knew it wouldn't be long and General Talbot would either have the MP's bring me to his office, or take me to the brig, and I really didn't care which.
“I could have you thrown in jail for disobeying my orders Captain,” General Talbot said when I entered my quarters.
“So why didn't you?” I asked.
“God damn it Sam what is it with you lately?” he asked.
“What is it? Let me think General. You called me back early from a leave you ordered me to take, just so you could look good again. I do a job you don't have five other people that could have done, and then when I get back you tell me if you could you'd bust me back to Lieutenant, and proceed to transfer my recon unit to other companies, knowing full well how I would feel about it. Is that good enough, or do I need to give a few more reason I don't give a shit any longer?” I asked.
“You know why I did all that,” he said.
“Yes I do know, and I'm not who you seem to think I am, hell I don't believe in magic anymore then I do god. If I did something wrong tell me what, but don't punish me for something I don't understand, or even believe in,” I said.
“I was wrong. I did something inexcusable and I don't want to lose you and your expertise. As soon as all your men are back from their current assignments I'll have them report to you. In the mean time the best I can do is say I'm sorry,” he said.
“That isn't the best you could do Jason, and you know it. You could always recommend me for promotion so I could take over command of Alpha company. That just might make up for some of the shit you've dumped on me lately,” I said.
“I'm sorry but a new Alpha company commander has already been assigned,” he said.
“Let me guess he has his own command staff he's bringing with him,” I said.
“You know how it works,” he said.
“Then let my recon team be separate from the companies. Hell Jason I shouldn't have to take orders from someone who isn't even willing to share their tactics, or listen to my tactics, and then puts everyone in danger that could be avoided,” I said.
“If I agree to that will you get over this shit you pulled about telling my Lieutenant he's nothing but a loser?” he asked.
“He is a loser, we both know that, it's about time he be told. If he ever hopes to make anything of himself he needs to start thinking for himself. As for my recon team I want all of them to have at least fifteen days after they get back, and if any of them are missing because they got wounded or killed I want to be able to pick from any company and anyone I pick I get,” I said.
“And what about you? You asked for forty-five days, the best I can offer is twenty,” he said.
“I just don't want to be restricted to base any longer and I'll settle for ten days at home not here,” I said.
“I have an aircraft that needs to be taken to the base near your home, it's one we can manage without for up to three weeks, as long as you're back by the end of three weeks there won't be any problems,” he said.
The Hidden Rose Page 41
