Chapter 4: What Danny Asked
"Sis!"
Corporal Danny ran across the field in his motor pool coveralls, a rag still stuffed in his back pocket.
Twenty-four, sunburned, and out of breath.
Someone in the dismissed formation had gotten to him fast.
"Sis, what's going on?
They said you…" He saw the Colonel and snapped to attention so quickly his heels cracked.
"Sir."
"At ease, Corporal," Hargrove said pleasantly.
"Your sister and I were just discussing your future."
Danny looked from the Colonel to Ellie's closed fist.
"What future?"
"Thursday's rotation," Ellie said, and her voice finally cracked.
"Forward post.
Nine months."
"What?
Why would I be…" He stopped.
He understood faster than she wanted him to.
"Because of whatever's in your hand."
"Danny, go back to the motor pool."
"Is it worth nine months?" His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Ellie.
I'm not being brave about this.
I'm scared.
I just got Mom's roof fixed.
I'm thinking about Jess, about…" He swallowed.
"Please.
Just give it to him."
Ellie looked at her brother's wet eyes.
Six years of silence had never cost her this much.
"You don't know what you're asking me."
"I know I'm asking you for me.
And I'm sorry."
Doyle said, hoarse, "Ma'am, don't."
Ellie opened her hand.
A small steel drive lay in her palm, scratched at the corners from years in a pocket.
"That's the only copy of the original radio log," she said.
"My voice.
Yours, Gunnery Sergeant.
And his."
Hargrove took it between two fingers.
"Thank you."
He dropped it on the concrete and ground it under his heel.
Slowly, one full turn.
Small pieces skittered away in the sun.
Doyle lunged.
Two Military Police officers appeared from nowhere and caught his arms.
"Gunnery Sergeant, you are suspended pending review," Hargrove said, brushing his sleeve.
"Hand over that photograph.
It's a personal item in a sensitive matter."
Doyle's fist closed around it.
The MP pried his fingers open one at a time.
Hargrove tucked the photograph into his jacket.
"Corporal Wes.
My office at 1900."
"Yes, sir."
"Ms.
Ellie." Hargrove finally smiled, all teeth.
"Your contract is terminated as of this moment.
These gentlemen will walk you to the gate.
Nobody on this base will ever hear the name Fury Ten again."
"They already have, Colonel," Ellie said.
"They'll forget.
People do."
The MPs walked her away.
Danny followed three steps, then stopped, hands hanging open, crying without a sound.
At the gate, the guard shack door slammed behind her.
A car engine coughed to life across the lot, and a horn tapped twice.
Wes was out of his car before it stopped rolling.
His uniform jacket was gone and his shirt clung to him with sweat.
He held a creased brown envelope against his chest like a child holding a puppy.
"Ellie," he panted.
"I kept the first draft."
She stared at him.
"The first draft of what?"
"Of the report.
May you like
The version before the Colonel got his hands on it." His voice broke.
"And there's something written in the margin that you've never seen."
