War Stories 6

by Kieran Richards

�Kath? Kath? Where the hell has she run off to?� Anton and Holly were strolling through the trenches full of squirming men.

�Jesus, I never thought she could do this much damage just from you mentioning one name!�

�I know, frightful isn�t it?� Anton shook his head sadly. �I mean I can see why she wants to keep our past a secret and all bu-� Kath�s foot caught Anton right under the chin sending him into a wall.

�You piece of shit stop running your mouth. Is it that difficult to stay your tongue when you�re in one of these phases?� Kath screamed.

�It is when you have your girlfriend pestering me topped with I might add you hitting me the whole bloody time!� Anton shouted back.

�Shut the fuck up you two, you�re acting like a pair of loonies!� Holly cut in before Kath could say any more.

�Lucky shit,� Kath muttered.

�I heard that. Did you not just hear me!?!�

�So Anton, what did you do with that guy in the mess?� Kath said instantly.

�I don�t think I did. I think you beat my brains a bit too much.� Anton said slyly.

�I�ll give you beaten brains!� Kath raised her fist to hit Anton again. Holly slapped her round the head.

�God you two are acting like a pair of children!� she yelled. �I�m starting to wonder how you have survived this long!� she shook her head sadly. Anton stuck his tongue out at Kath and trotted after Holly.

�So what are we going to do about the abandonment issue?� Kath said when she had caught up.

�I thought about just bolting,� Holly said after a while of thought, �but that would mean going through machine gun fire.�

�That is never a good idea. We�re more likely to survive running through a thunder storm with a ten foot pole strapped to your head. No we need to get out without anyone knowing,� Kath said.

�In that case we could try blind folding ourselves covering ourselves with bedding and running in any random direction,� Anton said with a very straight face.

�How the fuck would that help?� Kath put her head in her hands.

�Well if we have sheets over our heads then they won�t know who we are, and if were blindfolded and just running randomly then we won�t know where were going either,� Anton replied with defiant thought behind his words.

�Is his head screwed on right?� Holly asked.

�As I said, he is going through a phase. We will have to suffer his literalness for about three weeks until he is sane again. He can be a right bother at times.� Kath sighed �It�s been getting worse recently and every time he gets worse.�

�How often does it happen?�

�You know when he gets sent on long special assignments?�

�Yes, you always seem tighter when he goes on one. You don�t even let me in your room.�

�Well that is because he is in my room. When he�s like this he is a danger to himself and everyone around him. I have to act like a mother every time until he wakes up one morning says hello and shoots some people,� Kath explained.

�So it�s kind of like a mental withdrawal?�

�Yes, it�s a lot like him putting his personality in a safe keeping box and letting an unstable mind out to take over. It�s been getting worse for the last five years.� Kath slapped a hand on her mouth. �bugger!� she yelled and ran off.