@@@@@Ever since the night they had marched up to
@@@@@Ever since the night they had marched up to the front, Red's kidneys had been bothering him steadily, keeping him awake at nightAnd with insomnia there was always a re-enactment of the moment when he had waited for the Japanese soldier to stab himBut even so, two beers was a big favor, too big a oneIt would give Wyman a call on himIt was better when you didn't owe anybody
They drank silently for a few minutes"You get lots of mail, kid?" Red asked
"I got a batch from my mother Wyman lit a cigarette and looked away
"What about your girl friend, what's-her-name?"
"I don't know, I didn't get anything from her
In the dark, Red grimacedThe whole setup should have told himGiving away a beer, mooning by himself in the tent -- he should have guessed what was wrong with Wyman and avoided a conversation"Aw, hell, kid, she'll write you," he blurted
Wyman fingered his blanket"I can't figure it out, RedI haven't got any mail from her since I been overseasBack in the States she used to write me every day
Red rinsed his mouth with a swallow of beer"Aaah, it's just the Army's got the mail fugged up," he said
"I used to think that, but I don't believe it any moreWhen I was in the replacement depot I didn't expect to get any, but now we've had two mail calls here, and I got a bunch of letters from my mother each time, and nothing from her
Red fingered his nose and sighed
"I'll tell you the truth, Red, I'd be scared to get a letter from her nowIt'd probably be a Dear John