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Upstarts
Fortunately, I didn't have to make the decision. Commanders make decisions. I
carried the message to Bob T. Hughes, now Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, handed it to him,
and waited for his instructions.
When I got back to my phone, Mendicino was on the line. "Major? This is Vince.
You know that message I sent you? The mysterious one?"
"I sure do."
"Well, forget it. It turned out some of our men were passing a water purification
plant and a stray bullet put a hole in the chlorine tank."
"Thank God! Oh, thank God!"
"Your voice sounds funny, Bob. Like you had a mouth full of mush."
"Paper, Vince. Coffee-flavored paper. Col Hughes ordered me to chew up your
message and swallow it. He said he'd rather die doing something than stand here holding
his breath.
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