Page 9

“Thanks,” Priest chuckled.

“We grabbed some chow for you guys before the chow hall closed. Get something to eat and put your ass in the shower. You guys reek.”

“Yes, mother. Really, we appreciate it.”

“No problem, Priest, anytime.”

The two ate, grabbed a shower and were asleep before their head hit the pillow.

After a few hours of sleep, Priest woke up to arguing in the barracks.

“I don’t understand why my call sign is Gandhi,” Shin said.

“Because you do that meditation stuff, and you’re about peace and shit,” Doc explained.

“Gandhi was Hindu, I am Buddhist. It’s not even close.”

“Well, it’s kind of the same.”

“No, he was Indian, and I am Korean,” Shin said with an annoyed look on his face.

&nb

sp; “Your countries are on the same continent, right?”

“You are an idiot,” Shin said in Korean. “Ok, you are from NY, correct?”

“The Bronx, born and raised.”

“So, it would be the same as if I called you a country redhead.”

“That’s redneck.” Shaw spoke up, “And don’t compare greaser over there to us fine, well-mannered, Alabama country folk.”

“Doc, you are dumb as a bag of hammers, you know that?” said Priest, putting in his two cents.

“Sorry, Sarge, I didn’t think I was that loud. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“Doc, you are loud when you are just thinking, much less when you open your mouth.” Doc looked bewildered, which made Priest chuckle to himself.

“Shin, you are with Neville most of the time during missions where a sniper team is needed. Together, your call sign is Overlord. We hardly ever use Gandhi.”

“I know, but I am just confused about when I got the name.”

“Well, I can’t remember either, but it stays. I’m too old to learn new shit.”

Shin just threw up his hands and walked away. Shin’s parents had come over during the Korean War to escape the communist occupation of North Korea. He explained to Priest some time ago that his parents loved the U.S. and were grateful for the opportunities they had. Shin figured a way to give back and make his parents proud at the same time was to serve his country. He had planned to get out after his initial enlistment was up, but by that time, he was in the Light Reapers and decided to re-up. Shin was Neville’s spotter; and could calculate distances, speed, trajectory, and many other valuable statistics. He and Doc seemed to bicker like two brothers.

Speaking of Doc, he had joined the military honoring a request from his father. Actually, the request was more like Pops would kick the shit out of him unless he got himself together. His Pops dragged his ass to the recruiter. Doc had always cared about people and thought about becoming a nurse. Thinking along the nurse track, he became a combat medic and had joined the Light Reapers about two years ago.

The team went home with Doc twice, and his momma about killed everyone. She kept making so much food even Shaw almost fell into a coma with the amount she was shoving at them. Momma Mancini was a kind woman and made it a point to hug every one of the team before they left her house. She also graced everyone before they left by placing her hands on both sides of their face and reciting a prayer for them.

Priest looked around, and Shaw notice he was searching for someone, “Looking for Webb?” Priest nodded. “They called him up to the TOC at HQ to get our next briefing. We were going to wake you up, but they said brass only.”

“Well, I appreciate the sleep.”

“You have a second, Sarge?” Shaw asked reservedly.

“Sure, Shaw, what’s up?” “You know me, and I’m not one to complain. That job we did in Turkey was completely fucked up. That didn’t feel right at any level.”