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“Stafford.”
“I couldn’t hear a thing, not then. Much better now.”
“He said you were absolutely splendid. Very English too. They can say words like splendid and it doesn’t sound nearly as silly.”
They carry their loaded mess kits to a spot where a tent side provides a scrap of shade. It’s only midmorning, but already the sun is riding high and hot. Then, because she has to hear it again, Rio says, “What did he say? Exactly?”
“Well, once we saw you were alive he said it was the finest thing he’s ever seen. That you were bloody marvelous. Then, later, the splendid thing.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?”
“What am I supposed to say, Cat? Hooray for me?”
Cat shakes her head. “You are a pain in the ass, Richlin, you know that? Half the time you’re playing little miss milkmaid, and the next minute you’re GI Jane, which is all fine, but now you’re getting bitchy about it.”
“I am not bitchy,” Rio protests through a mouthful of food.
“You used to be fun, that’s all.”
“I have to be fun too? What, am I not smiling enough?” She gets up and knocks the remains of her food into a slop drum. Then without a word to Cat she heads back.
Cat trots after her. “Jesus, Richlin, since when can’t you take a joke?”
“You know what, everyone can drop dead!” Rio rages.
“Yeah, well fug you too, Richlin.”
Rio’s still furious when she rejoins the platoon, now coming down to the beach, and Jenou, seeing a white-faced fury she’s never seen before on her friend, pulls her aside. “Are you all right? How’s Strand?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rio hisses.
Jenou blinks. Looks at her like she’s seeing a stranger and says, “It’s supposed to mean, ‘How is Strand?’”
Rio is breathing fast, panting almost, wishing she could have some privacy, somewhere away, somewhere she can think without being judged. Anywhere. Literally anywhere so long as it’s not here.
“You’re upset,” Jenou says. She looks around, mirroring Rio’s desire for privacy, but there is none to be found on the crowded beach. She does the best she can, puts an arm around her friend and draws her closer to the path the tanks are following up from the LSTs (Landing Ship Tank). The noise of engines and the clanking of tracks will shield them from too much snooping.
“Something’s bothering you,” Jenou says.
“Yes, you. You’re bothering me. And Cat. And everyone.”
A tanker riding atop his vehicle winks at them and says, “Hey, honey, want to see what I’ve got for you?” and grabs his crotch.
In a flash Rio draws her koummya and with amazing ferocity says, “How about I cut it off and look at it later?”
The shocked tanker just gapes at her, twisting to continue gaping as his tank rattles away.
“I’m sick of people looking at me,” Rio says angrily, as if picking up an ongoing conversation. “I see how you look at me, Jen. I know what you think. You think I’m not acting like me, but I’m still me!” She almost impales herself jabbing with the koummya for emphasis.
Tears fill her eyes and make her even more angry. But tears have a power of their own to subvert rage and leave only sadness and hurt to rise to the surface.
“Come here, honey,” Jenou says, and holds her arms open.
Rio shakes her head almost violently, spilling the tears down her cheeks and sending one to land on Jenou’s chin. “I’m not crying.”
Jenou accepts that gravely and lowers her arms. “I understand. You don’t want to act like a girl. You have to be big, tough Rio Richlin.”
