The War Within Read Online Free Page B

earlier.
    “Private Robinson, it will be an honor to work with you again,” Lt. Col. Daniels said on the way.
    “The honor is mine, ma’am.”
    “Who did you piss off to get stuck with this gig? The last time I saw you, you were headed home.”
    For the first time, Robinson’s implacable façade slipped the slightest bit.
    “I was,” she said with a shrug, “but I figured I’d be able to do more good here.”
    Lt. Col. Daniels flashed what Meredith suspected was a rare smile. “Silly me. I thought I had something to do with your decision to stay.”
    Robinson’s cheeks colored. “I wanted to be where I was needed.”
    Lt. Col. Daniels patted her on the back. “Then you’re definitely in the right place. We’ll see what we can do to get you your stripes back.”
    “You don’t have to put yourself out for me, ma’am.”
    “I’m not going to give them to you,” Lt. Col. Daniels said. “You’re going to earn them fair and square. Just like you did the first time.” She turned to Meredith. “Chase, you’re probably wondering why I chose you for this assignment.”
    The statement didn’t seem to invite comment so Meredith remained silent.
    “Your superiors have been raving about your ability to stay cool under even the most harrowing circumstances. I want to see if they’re right. I want to know if you’ve got what it takes. And most of all, I want to know if you’re half as good as your friend over here.”
    Lt. Col. Daniels’s words felt like a challenge. An impromptu test Meredith hoped she wouldn’t fail.
    Lt. Col. Daniels led them to the morgue but didn’t venture inside. She stopped with her back to the door. Meredith could hear the whirring of a generator and the rush of artificially cooled air. The pleasant thought of cooling off was tempered by the details of the assignment she and Robinson had been handpicked to carry out.
    “Whether you’re for the war or against it, please remember you’re here to do your duty to the utmost of your ability. Through this door are the remains of some of the men our country has lost. It’s our job to identify the bodies and determine the cause of death. The attendant on duty will assist and document, but it will be up to us to look in each body bag, locate the decedent’s dog tag, and examine the wounds. In the real world, a doctor would perform this chore. In this one, the docs are too busy trying to save the living to concern themselves with the dead. That’s where we come in. Are you ready?”
    “Ma’am. Yes, ma’am,” Robinson said with enough confidence for both of them.
    Meredith followed Lt. Col. Daniels and Robinson inside the building. The refreshing blast of air conditioning was immediately overwhelmed by the smell of decomp.
    “Here,” Lt. Col. Daniels said, holding out an open jar of Vicks VapoRub. “This should help.”
    Following Robinson’s lead, Meredith pulled on a pair of latex gloves and stuck a finger in the jar. She spread a thick line of the topical ointment under her nose. The pungent menthol fumes partially dispelled the odor of death.
    Lt. Col. Daniels introduced them to the morgue attendant, a pale man with an air of almost preternatural calm. “Ladies, this is Private Elias Burke. He will record our findings, tag the bodies, and make them as presentable as possible for the flight home. Private Burke, First Lieutenant Meredith Chase and Private Natalie Robinson.”
    Burke drew himself to attention and snapped off a crisp salute. “I wish we could have met under less trying circumstances,” he said after Meredith and Lt. Col. Daniels returned his greeting, “but it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    “Likewise.”
    Meredith eyed the zippered black body bags neatly laid out on the floor. Lt. Col. Daniels approached the closest. “I’ll take the first to show you how it’s done.”
    Her face was expressionless as she opened the bag. The body inside was of a man who appeared to be around thirty. His face was so