Title: Landmines Of The Spirit
author: Mary McGinnis
Summary: Missing scene from "Critical Condition"
Clayton Webb wished futilely for a patch of shade to stand in while waiting
for Sgt. Galindez’s men to finish patching the flat tire on the hummer.
"Almost done, sir," Gunny announced.
Webb merely nodded in reply as he reached for his ringing cell phone. "Sexy
beast" he stated, answering the call.
Gunny snorted under his breath while turning to scan the surrounding
countryside again. A full circle sweep of the barren terrain showed no
threat. His attention returned swiftly to Webb at the tone of Webb’s voice.
"What!…….when?" Webb barked into the phone as he glanced at his watch. He
listened moments longer with grimly set face. "I want transport waiting out
to the ship. We’ll be back by….."
Webb had gone pale in the harsh sunlight, somehow aged in face in those
brief moments. Call ended, he stood phone in hand, staring unseeingly
inward, then visibly straightened and strode forward just as the men were
putting the tools back in the vehicle.
"What is it, sir?" Miguel asked.
Meeting Gunny’s eyes, Webb lifted his chin in a sharp nod toward the truck,
then automatically swept the sere landscape with a swift glance of his own
as he climbed onboard. "Turn it around, we’re headed back."
Only then did he answer, as the sergeant got the hummer under way once more,
the other two marines riding shotgun, rifles at the ready.
"One of ours stepped on a land mine." Clay’s jaw tightened, making his voice
harsh. "Sorry Galindez, it’s Lt. Roberts. He’s lost a leg but still alive.
They’re evac-ing him to the Guadalcanal."
Gunny’s grip on the wheel tightened with sick feeling. "What the hell was he
doing anywhere near landmines?" he asked angrily, glancing over at Webb.
"Dammit, sir, the lieutenant is a good man but he doesn’t belong out in the
field. What the hell happened?"
"War, sergeant. War." Clay looked out the dusty windshield with tired, hard
eyes.