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“So, the military makes it a priority to guard the planes… just not the soldiers.”
“What, you had to ask?” I joked.
I didn’t tell her about the anti-aircraft missiles, though. They were uncommon, but I didn’t want to put ideas in her head.
I was silently grateful we’d pulled two dozen of them off the market during the raid this afternoon.
We got to the main runway, where a C-130 Hercules – a flying mountain of an aircraft – had its gangplank down. Soldiers were busy loading pallets of cargo into the hold.
Rachel put out a hand. “Well, Lars, it was a real pleasure.”
I shook her hand and squeezed it lightly. “I want to see you again.”
She looked surprised. Then she smiled sadly. “Lars… you don’t have to pretend this was something it wasn’t.”
“What are you talking about?”
She shrugged. “It was fun. We had a great time. But you don’t have to say that – ”
“I’m saying it because I mean it. I want to see you again.”
“That’s going to be difficult, given that I’m going back to London and you’re here in Afghanistan.”
“My deployment ends in 3 months. When I go back to Sweden, I’ll have some leave accrued. I want to use it to come see you.”
She looked at me for a long moment before she answered. “…I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
My stomach twisted. “Is there someone else?” I asked, trying to sound as neutral as I could.
“No.”
I immediately felt better. “Then why isn’t it a good idea?”
She smiled sadly again. “Because nothing will ever come of it.”
“You’ll probably come,” I said in a quiet voice, low enough that none of the nearby soldiers would have a chance of overhearing.
She burst out laughing, then nodded. “I’m sure I would.”
“Several times, even.”
“Oh, way more than several.”
“So let me come see you, then.”
I could see her inner struggle playing out on her face. “…this is a bad idea…”
“I think it’s an incredible idea.”
Finally she gave in and grinned. “…alright.”
“Yeah?” I asked happily.
“If we’re not seeing anyone else in three months,” she added hastily.
I looked around the darkened base. “Given my surroundings, I think it’s fair to assume I won’t be seeing anyone else.”
She grinned. “Alright… if I’m not seeing anyone else.”
