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FRANGIE MARR AND RIO RICHLIN—GELA BEACH, SICILY

“That should hold,” Frangie says, tying the last of her new stitches in Rio’s thigh

Rio sits with one pants leg rolled up above the wound She and Frangie are on folding chairs, squashed down into the sand just outside the aid station It’s fine for the diminutive medic, but not so co propped on Frangie’s lap

“Now sit still and I’ll get a decent bandage on there”

“Thanks,” Rio says “So How’s the war treating you?”

“Fine”

Rio says, “Yeah Me too”

Both start laughing

Frangie worries that her laughter is somehow a betrayal of the wounded soldiers she’s treated “I suppose it’s okay to laugh”

“I think it ht be required,” Rio says darkly

“Just had a bad” Frangie glances unconsciously at the cot, e and tries to pass it off with a wave “Nice kid Bad death”

“If I get it, I want it to be pow, right through the head,” Rio says, andher square in the forehead

“Well, that ie says She covers herreply

Rio’s face breaks open into a huge grin that starts off s, she says, “I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble”