Chapter 38
Our fear of death
Is like our fear that summer will be short,
But when we have had our swing of pleasure,
Our fill of fruit,
And our swelter of heat,
We say we have had our day
.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
Earth - AD February, 2003
Baghram AFB, Afghanistan
.
The hair stood up on the back of Elisabeth's neck.
“Go!” Kadima gave her a knowing look. “I’ll finish up here.”
Elisabeth smiled down at the young man who’d come to the infirmary complaining of stomach pain and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Eighteen. First tour of duty. Arrived in Afghanistan three weeks ago. Baptized by fire clearing Taliban from caves in the Adhi Ghar mountain range during Operation Mongoose. And now … cut down at the knees by an Afghani chicken.
Roast chicken, that is…
“There’s a rea
