| Powder Monkey January 2012 |
Short
Story #3
Story #3
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| Acid by Willie Peters |
“What took you so long?” The doctor did not turn around to see who had entered
the ship’s sick bay. Something not done without permission and at that time of the
morning no one was just walking around entering the medical area for the fun of it.
“Got here as fast as I could. What’s the ma . . . Madison, you look terrible.” Lt.
Monroe was so repulsed by what he saw he was having a hard time not heaving.
“Nothing a couple of days back in the states won’t heal.” The sailor tried to
chuckle as he spoke. But, the scars on his face, a little of the acid still remaining in his
eye and Doc’s lousy bed side manners were not giving him anything to smile about.
“Told you to shut up. It’s hard enough working on an ugly face. Pass me some
gauze. . . . Glad you’s so ugly. No one’s going to notice the horrible job I’m doing
sewing you back together.” Doc stepped back and looked at his patient. “You know,
there’s a good side to this. You don’t need makeup for next Halloween. You already
look like Frankenstein.”
“Madison, can it now.” Monroe pointed his finger at the sailor. “He’s an officer,
you’re enlisted. You’re not allowed to tell him what a damn asshole he is.”
Doc slowly turned and looked at the other officer. “That’s the best you can do for
an insult?”
“Shut up. It’s 3am, too damn early to be up, especially trying to think without any
coffee. Thought they kept the coffee pot going all night? Now why am I seeing half my
unit in here?” Monroe scanned the sick bay as he spoke. He stopped counting at
ten.
“Not sure myself.” Doc took a slow look. “When they came in all of these had
acid burns. Been so busy neutralizing the acid ain’t had a chance to find out what
happened. Sure it wasn’t trying to get ready for Halloween.”
“Can it, Doc. Or I won’t hear a word if they say anything.”
“You’d do that?” Asked in a soft coy manner.
“Don’t try it. Cute ain’t your style. . . . Jefferson, “Monroe looked for his senior
petty officer, “what happened?”
“We got ambushed?” The answer was enforced by a lot of comments from the
others.
“Ambushed? Ambushed in Spain? A friendly country we’ve been in several times
and had good times, good relations. Get real. What happened? Who’d ya’ll piss off?”
“Sir, I swear it. We didn’t do anything to deserve this. We were just walking back
to fleet landing to catch the next water taxi back to the ship.”
Both officers stared at the men. Doc spoke first. “Obviously ya’ll were in a bad
part of town.”
“Well, got to admit, we took a short cut through the El Cid street.”
Two officers looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Sir, we wanted to make sure we caught that taxi. Plus, it was late and the place
was dead. Thought we’d be okay if we quietly hurried through.”
“That area’s Off Limits. Bunch of anti American nuts live there.”
“Yes, Sir. We found that out alright. . . .Sir, we going to be restricted to the
ship?”
“Why? Thinking about going back?”
“Damn right we are. No one does this to Americans. We ain’t ass kissing
democrats.” Jefferson’s reply was again enforced by a lot of comments from the others.
“That right there is good reason to restrict ya’ll. We’ve got good relations with the
Spanish. No one on either side is going to like ya’ll going back and starting a war.”
“Not interested in starting a war. Just making those bastards pay for this. Look
what they did to my beautiful face.”
“Doc, did you check to see if there’s any brain damage?” Monroe shook his head.
“Nope. Seen him before. No way to tell if he got damaged. He’s always nuts.”
“Hey, you may be an officer– ”
“Shut up Jefferson or the next time you need some shots cause of sticking it where
it don’t belong, I’m going to be out of the stuff.”
“Man, I’d shut up if I were you.” Monroe’s comment received a lot of support.
While the remarks were being made Monroe looked the men over. Madison was the
only one who was seriously hurt requiring an over night stay in sick bay. The rest
would be able to hit their own bunks supposedly ready for duty in the morning.
“Listen, all of you. When Doc lets you go, ya’ll will go hit the racks. I want ya’ll
ready for duty at 0800. No if, and, or buts about it. I better not hear of any of you getting
those Z578 guns out of the Special Gear locker or raiding that cabinet over there that
Doc hasn’t locked.”
After Monroe stepped out into the passageway Doc stopped him. “Are you taking
bets on how many go back?”
“Wish there was a way I could join them.”
“You’ve done enough. Those things are going to do some revenging.”
#
Being a cold and damp night no one thought strange that the dozen men boarding
the water taxi to the town’s pier were wearing long coats. At half past three in the
morning no one was caring much about men leaving the ship. The only passengers going
to shore, the men had plenty of room to sit where they wanted and more important avoid
any questions about why they were heading to town at that time. It had been over three
hours since the last group of men headed towards the bars.
During the ride in nothing was said. None looked at another. The silence was so
out of line the Spanish crew decided to lock the doors to the bridge. The silence
continued as the men debarked and walked into town.
“Are not those the ones who earlier came back with acid on them?” One crewman
asked another as they watch the group vanish into the darkness of the night.
“Yes, I think you are right. And they are headed for El Cid. Think we should warn
them?”
“Who? The Yankees? No, they know where they are going. They look ready. The
people in the El Cid? No. They deserve what they are about to get. I like the
Americans. They pay well and on time. They like to party and clean up after they puke.
The few who cause trouble are quickly taken care of. Throwing acid out windows is
not an honorable way to fight. I wish the Americans a good hunt.”
“Should we bet on how many come back?”
“You didn’t see the look in their eyes? They will all be back. . . . Unless we
have passengers we should delay returning to the ship on time. I have a feeling that
group will not be long returning.”
#
Slowly the group of sailors walked through the dark streets. Their eyes constantly
scanning the surroundings. It was dark and they were not sure where the street was that
they were looking for. And no one wanted another acid bath. A former marine Jefferson
raised his hand as the signal for the group to stop. Carefully he looked at the street sign.
A smile appeared as he gave the thumbs up signal, they had reached their destination.
His next signals spread the men out as if they were on patrol in a combat zone. He
looked around and nodded, a good formation, they were ready to enter El Cid.
Remembering the last time this group walked this street, Jefferson felt it appropriate to
call this a combat mission.
Morgan’s bird call stopped the group. He pointed to where he spotted several
natives looking down on them. Jackson then pointed to another window and signaled
that was where one attack came from. Jefferson nodded he saw both then signaled
everyone to be ready. A flurry of strange sounds reminded the combat veteran of just
before an ambush began. Keeping the weapon in the dark he brought out the large
weapon he had been hiding. His clicks caused the same actions from the other members
of the team. They were ready.
Feeling the locals wouldn’t start an attack unless they felt they had the surprise
element Jefferson slowly walked down the middle of the street as if nothing was wrong.
A native leaned out a window and while he shook his fist yelled in broken
English. “American dogs. You will pay for coming back– ”
Spotting other windows opening Jefferson backed up yelling, “Weapons free!”
Before the locals could get their jugs of liquid ready to toss they were hit with the
worst smelling odor they had ever smelt. The Americans were quickly spraying the
area with the chemicals Doc was holding back on for the hoped for Shell Back
Initiation later in the course. Their long range water guns were having no problem
reaching the open windows.
Before Jefferson could give the order to retreat the men were falling back. The
smell was getting to much for them. Outside El Cid the group exchanged high fives and
began the walk back to the pier. Almost there they meet several Spanish police heading
for the El Cid.
“You are coming from that direction. Do you know what happed there?” A
Spaniard who had the most strips asked.
As he spoke Jefferson and the others pointed their water guns at the police. “Sir, I
don’t know nothing about how that area got doused with a chemical that smells worst
than cat piss. Bet it takes a week for that place to smell normal. Damn, you can smell it
all the ways to here. You know, chemicals are a strange thing. You got to be careful
where you toss them. They just might come back to haunt you.”
The chuckling police officer signaled his men not to draw their weapons. “Be
careful my friends, this darkness tonight is not normal. It is hard to see what is
happening or where you are going. Have a safe trip back to your ship. And please do
not bring those toys to town again. . .” Ah, is it possible we could borrow those
things?”
“Stop by later and see me. Lieutenant ain’t going to let these go. But I can give the
manufacturer’s address. You sure you want to use these?”
“Yes, you Americans are not the only ones who have had problems with those
nuts. The mayor has been looking for a way to evaluate El Cid so we can clean it out.
Those toys will do fine.”
Smiling, Jefferson looked at the Spaniard then his men. “Ah, I know a dozen men
who’ll be glad to help you.”
the ship’s sick bay. Something not done without permission and at that time of the
morning no one was just walking around entering the medical area for the fun of it.
“Got here as fast as I could. What’s the ma . . . Madison, you look terrible.” Lt.
Monroe was so repulsed by what he saw he was having a hard time not heaving.
“Nothing a couple of days back in the states won’t heal.” The sailor tried to
chuckle as he spoke. But, the scars on his face, a little of the acid still remaining in his
eye and Doc’s lousy bed side manners were not giving him anything to smile about.
“Told you to shut up. It’s hard enough working on an ugly face. Pass me some
gauze. . . . Glad you’s so ugly. No one’s going to notice the horrible job I’m doing
sewing you back together.” Doc stepped back and looked at his patient. “You know,
there’s a good side to this. You don’t need makeup for next Halloween. You already
look like Frankenstein.”
“Madison, can it now.” Monroe pointed his finger at the sailor. “He’s an officer,
you’re enlisted. You’re not allowed to tell him what a damn asshole he is.”
Doc slowly turned and looked at the other officer. “That’s the best you can do for
an insult?”
“Shut up. It’s 3am, too damn early to be up, especially trying to think without any
coffee. Thought they kept the coffee pot going all night? Now why am I seeing half my
unit in here?” Monroe scanned the sick bay as he spoke. He stopped counting at
ten.
“Not sure myself.” Doc took a slow look. “When they came in all of these had
acid burns. Been so busy neutralizing the acid ain’t had a chance to find out what
happened. Sure it wasn’t trying to get ready for Halloween.”
“Can it, Doc. Or I won’t hear a word if they say anything.”
“You’d do that?” Asked in a soft coy manner.
“Don’t try it. Cute ain’t your style. . . . Jefferson, “Monroe looked for his senior
petty officer, “what happened?”
“We got ambushed?” The answer was enforced by a lot of comments from the
others.
“Ambushed? Ambushed in Spain? A friendly country we’ve been in several times
and had good times, good relations. Get real. What happened? Who’d ya’ll piss off?”
“Sir, I swear it. We didn’t do anything to deserve this. We were just walking back
to fleet landing to catch the next water taxi back to the ship.”
Both officers stared at the men. Doc spoke first. “Obviously ya’ll were in a bad
part of town.”
“Well, got to admit, we took a short cut through the El Cid street.”
Two officers looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Sir, we wanted to make sure we caught that taxi. Plus, it was late and the place
was dead. Thought we’d be okay if we quietly hurried through.”
“That area’s Off Limits. Bunch of anti American nuts live there.”
“Yes, Sir. We found that out alright. . . .Sir, we going to be restricted to the
ship?”
“Why? Thinking about going back?”
“Damn right we are. No one does this to Americans. We ain’t ass kissing
democrats.” Jefferson’s reply was again enforced by a lot of comments from the others.
“That right there is good reason to restrict ya’ll. We’ve got good relations with the
Spanish. No one on either side is going to like ya’ll going back and starting a war.”
“Not interested in starting a war. Just making those bastards pay for this. Look
what they did to my beautiful face.”
“Doc, did you check to see if there’s any brain damage?” Monroe shook his head.
“Nope. Seen him before. No way to tell if he got damaged. He’s always nuts.”
“Hey, you may be an officer– ”
“Shut up Jefferson or the next time you need some shots cause of sticking it where
it don’t belong, I’m going to be out of the stuff.”
“Man, I’d shut up if I were you.” Monroe’s comment received a lot of support.
While the remarks were being made Monroe looked the men over. Madison was the
only one who was seriously hurt requiring an over night stay in sick bay. The rest
would be able to hit their own bunks supposedly ready for duty in the morning.
“Listen, all of you. When Doc lets you go, ya’ll will go hit the racks. I want ya’ll
ready for duty at 0800. No if, and, or buts about it. I better not hear of any of you getting
those Z578 guns out of the Special Gear locker or raiding that cabinet over there that
Doc hasn’t locked.”
After Monroe stepped out into the passageway Doc stopped him. “Are you taking
bets on how many go back?”
“Wish there was a way I could join them.”
“You’ve done enough. Those things are going to do some revenging.”
#
Being a cold and damp night no one thought strange that the dozen men boarding
the water taxi to the town’s pier were wearing long coats. At half past three in the
morning no one was caring much about men leaving the ship. The only passengers going
to shore, the men had plenty of room to sit where they wanted and more important avoid
any questions about why they were heading to town at that time. It had been over three
hours since the last group of men headed towards the bars.
During the ride in nothing was said. None looked at another. The silence was so
out of line the Spanish crew decided to lock the doors to the bridge. The silence
continued as the men debarked and walked into town.
“Are not those the ones who earlier came back with acid on them?” One crewman
asked another as they watch the group vanish into the darkness of the night.
“Yes, I think you are right. And they are headed for El Cid. Think we should warn
them?”
“Who? The Yankees? No, they know where they are going. They look ready. The
people in the El Cid? No. They deserve what they are about to get. I like the
Americans. They pay well and on time. They like to party and clean up after they puke.
The few who cause trouble are quickly taken care of. Throwing acid out windows is
not an honorable way to fight. I wish the Americans a good hunt.”
“Should we bet on how many come back?”
“You didn’t see the look in their eyes? They will all be back. . . . Unless we
have passengers we should delay returning to the ship on time. I have a feeling that
group will not be long returning.”
#
Slowly the group of sailors walked through the dark streets. Their eyes constantly
scanning the surroundings. It was dark and they were not sure where the street was that
they were looking for. And no one wanted another acid bath. A former marine Jefferson
raised his hand as the signal for the group to stop. Carefully he looked at the street sign.
A smile appeared as he gave the thumbs up signal, they had reached their destination.
His next signals spread the men out as if they were on patrol in a combat zone. He
looked around and nodded, a good formation, they were ready to enter El Cid.
Remembering the last time this group walked this street, Jefferson felt it appropriate to
call this a combat mission.
Morgan’s bird call stopped the group. He pointed to where he spotted several
natives looking down on them. Jackson then pointed to another window and signaled
that was where one attack came from. Jefferson nodded he saw both then signaled
everyone to be ready. A flurry of strange sounds reminded the combat veteran of just
before an ambush began. Keeping the weapon in the dark he brought out the large
weapon he had been hiding. His clicks caused the same actions from the other members
of the team. They were ready.
Feeling the locals wouldn’t start an attack unless they felt they had the surprise
element Jefferson slowly walked down the middle of the street as if nothing was wrong.
A native leaned out a window and while he shook his fist yelled in broken
English. “American dogs. You will pay for coming back– ”
Spotting other windows opening Jefferson backed up yelling, “Weapons free!”
Before the locals could get their jugs of liquid ready to toss they were hit with the
worst smelling odor they had ever smelt. The Americans were quickly spraying the
area with the chemicals Doc was holding back on for the hoped for Shell Back
Initiation later in the course. Their long range water guns were having no problem
reaching the open windows.
Before Jefferson could give the order to retreat the men were falling back. The
smell was getting to much for them. Outside El Cid the group exchanged high fives and
began the walk back to the pier. Almost there they meet several Spanish police heading
for the El Cid.
“You are coming from that direction. Do you know what happed there?” A
Spaniard who had the most strips asked.
As he spoke Jefferson and the others pointed their water guns at the police. “Sir, I
don’t know nothing about how that area got doused with a chemical that smells worst
than cat piss. Bet it takes a week for that place to smell normal. Damn, you can smell it
all the ways to here. You know, chemicals are a strange thing. You got to be careful
where you toss them. They just might come back to haunt you.”
The chuckling police officer signaled his men not to draw their weapons. “Be
careful my friends, this darkness tonight is not normal. It is hard to see what is
happening or where you are going. Have a safe trip back to your ship. And please do
not bring those toys to town again. . .” Ah, is it possible we could borrow those
things?”
“Stop by later and see me. Lieutenant ain’t going to let these go. But I can give the
manufacturer’s address. You sure you want to use these?”
“Yes, you Americans are not the only ones who have had problems with those
nuts. The mayor has been looking for a way to evaluate El Cid so we can clean it out.
Those toys will do fine.”
Smiling, Jefferson looked at the Spaniard then his men. “Ah, I know a dozen men
who’ll be glad to help you.”