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‘You can think about that, too’

‘My God, what a Christ–awful ugly house! Wheel me in, Bleak’

And Bleak wheeled his friend up the walk toward his house

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Douglas stood with Toreen ravine Mosquitoes danced their delicate dances upon the silence A dancing idiot hum–tune

‘Everyone’s gone,’ said Tom

Douglas sat on a rock and took off his shoes

‘Bang, you’re dead,’ said Tom, quietly

‘I wish I was, oh, I wish I was dead,’ said Doug

To?’

‘What flag?’

‘Just the flag, that’s all’

‘Yeah Take it down But I’m not sure if the war is really over yet … but it sure has changed I’ve just got to figure out how’

Charlie said, ‘Yeah, well, you did give cake to the ene …’

‘Ta–ta–tahhhh,’ hu motions in the warm empty silent air He stood sole with the sun fading ‘Ta–ta–tahhhh Ta–ta–tahhhh’ He hummed ‘Taps’ A tear fell off his cheek