FRED JOINS QUEBEC-THREE

 

By Dale McClain West

 

orba always had interesting stories to tell about his and Jenkins' days at Echo-Three. The funniest were about his pet monkey, George. The way Jenks told it his pet was as peculiar as Zorba was. They went everywhere together. When Zorba extended his tour for six months and went home for thirty days leave, George disappeared. Everyone knew that there would be Hell to pay when Zorba came back and found out about it. No one knew or, if they did, would not say what happened to George. Some thought that he took off when Zorba was gone. Some thought that a snake, and there were plenty of them in the area, ate him. Some thought that one of the PFs took him home and made a meal of him. If that was the case the guilty party would make sure that no one knew about it because if Zorba ever found out there was a good chance that the guilty party would pay with his life. Zorba never found out what happened to George and wanted to get another monkey the first chance he got.

        It was funny to watch Jenks and Zorba whenever Zorba mentioned a

monkey. Jenks was adamant about him not getting another monkey. On one

occasion the exchange went like this. "Zorba I've always gone along with

your wild schemes. I've always been there to pull you out when you got your

ass in a sling. How many times did you almost get me killed when you pul-

led some wild stunt? Do you remember our bunker getting flea infested

when you first got George?" Zorba nodded agreement to his friend, "Yea,

and didn't I give him a flea bath and get rid of all the fleas?" Jenks replied,

"You got rid of the fleas all right but, the smell was so bad from the insect

spray you used we couldn't use the bunker for two days. Every time we go

into the ville to get a couple of beers, and for you to get a piece of ass, who

stays focused and covers your back?" Zorba said, "You do Jenks." His

friend continued, "While you are getting your piece of ass who had to sit and

hold that damned monkey?" "You did Jenks", Zorba replied sheepishly. "Do

you remember the time you almost got into a 'shootout' with the MPs

because they wouldn't let you take that damned monkey into the PX? If that

wasn't bad enough you had to tell the MP sergeant that George had a higher

IQ than he did. Who was there to smooth things over and keep them from

hauling you off to the brig?" "You were Jenks," Zorba replied looking like

the little boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Zorba, I have a

hard enough time trying to keep us both alive and keeping you out of trouble

without having to put up with a monkey, too,” Jenks was serious.