"Conlon." It was Peterman calling.
"What do you want?"
"There's only one thing I'd like you to do before you leave. You and the replacement lift me to the gunner's seat, will you? I have a bad dose of radiation on top of everything else. I don't know how long I can hold out, but I might as well be doing some good for the time I have left."
Jerry put the rifle down, called to the replacement. Together they hoisted Peterman into the seat. Lieutenant Blake came out just as they finished the job.
"That's what he wanted, sir," Jerry said. "You're so short-handed we didn't think you'd object."
Blake said, "Peterman, you should be keeping yourself quiet."
Peterman failed to answer for a long moment. Finally he said, "Damn the Enemy! Why don't they hurry up and get it over with?"
Jerry walked over to where he had stacked his automatic rifle. He swung it under his arm and turned to face the Lieutenant.
"I'm leaving, sir. Don't try to stop me! What we're doing here is plain stupid. I've got a wife and kid that I've got to see before I die! I'm leaving, and I'll shoot to kill if anybody tries to stop me! Got that, Lieutenant?"
"I'm not going to stop you, Conlon," Blake said quietly.