I tried my best not to think of how much water I’d downed in the last hour, thinking it might push me over the edge.Her name was Lucy and she was pr...tty. About my age. His name was Jake and he was ruggedly handsome. They seemed nice and non-threatening. The kind of people you’d hang out with at a cookout. In fact, that’s where I’d met them. They were hikers. That’s how we’d started talking. I’d told them about the lakes I enjoyed walking to when the weather was good.“Never been. Sounds pretty,”. Knocker was wary around Leading Recruit Jones and the other lads and ranthings from his cabin. The Wrens were very sad that they would onceagain have to become male grommets and the Leading Recruits were sadthat they would be losing their lovers.There was much discussion in the evenings at the wet canteen about wherethings should go once normality returned.Michele and Jason maintained their relationship but things had cooled;there was no infatuation between them, it was just sex and Michele. The 14th was surrounded on all sides. The gunships rained hell. This gave the 14th some cover, but would be enough. Our pilot hovered over a good spot for us to jump out. Just as we jumped the Vietcong began lighting up the hueys with heavy machine gun fire and the bird was downed.The carnage was unbelievable. The stench of blood, sweat, and spent gunpowder filled the air. I tried to get my footing but a sharp pain coursed through my left leg. Stumbling to the ground l took a last breath and. His reward if victorious will be freedom, but permanent banishment from the city. If he fails, however, he will become permanent property of his opponent, to be used in whatever capacity his new owner chooses.” I hesitated for a few long seconds, trying to steel my breath. It was never wise to make the crowd wait and I didn’t want them against me. Rolling my shoulders back, I waited anxiously as the cranking sound of the gates rang out and they rose. Giving my tail one quick flick behind me, I.