Flashback

Camp Haskins
January 26 1968

Someone pats three times on my shoulder.
"Let me sleep." - I mutter scrolling off me the hand.
"Bell. Time to wake up." - a familiar voice calls me. Still sleepy, I open my eyes and see Adler in front of me; he's wearing a fisherman hat, his sunglasses and the military uniform.
I notice that he has a weapon in his hands and green camouflage painting on his face.
I bet we're going in action.
He's looking at me with a smirk and curiosity.
He could wear even some garbage and would be still awesome.
"It's crank time." - he adds nodding with his head.
Then with a leg he gently moves one of mine to make me stand up.
I slowly take my weapon on my left.
I scratch my eyes and stretch my painful back.
Sleeping on a fucking chair is not the best option but it's the only I had.
Adler checks me one more time and then goes out of the tent. I guess I have to follow him.
I observe around myself: some Americans flags on the wall, weapons and ammo... And two soldiers without a shirt working with a radio.
If you join the army you can say goodbye to your privacy.
Adler looks at me while he's waiting outside.
From where I'm I can glimpse a clear sky and a warm temperature.
He's always in a good mood, I like that.
I reach him out of the tent and notice he's always in a good mood. I smile to him like and idiot. Damn Adler, why I feel in this way thinking about you?
The sky is full of flying helicopters wich make move the palms' leaves.
How the hell I slept all this time with that noise? I guess I was too tired, our last missions were hard to win. The Viet Cong are weak, but they're many and full of fucking RPG and good weapons.
However, I don't mind to wake up early and observe this nice weather without clouds and showers.
Usually you can only see a dark atmosphere in Vietnam.
"Welcome to another day in the life of Camp Haskins. Our little oasis in the middle of this godforsaken shitstorm." - says sarcastically Adler.
And he's right, I have never seen peace since I left America.
"You're pretty safe here." - he adds to reassure me.
But outside of here there is the hell, and we both know it.
The Camp Haskins is full of other soldiers wich are lovely chatting, playing rugby, cards and arm wrestling.

I immediately reach the players to see who will win. In a few minutes a guy with big muscles lows the opponent's hand.
From the watchers a cry of joy and disappointment flies around all the area.
The winner, noticing me, asks if I want to play but I gently declined.
"To the next time, beauty." - he smirks.
I turn around with all my face red. Not because I like him but because nobody made me an explicit compliment like this!
I guess he did it because I'm the only girl here.
I feel Adler's angry eyes on my back. But hey, it's not my fault.
"So why haven't we bombed the shit out of 'em yet?" - asks one of the three soldiers near a truck.
"Shit like that takes orders... and assets." - reply the second.
I try to listen more but a voice interrupts me.
"Watch out!"
What the-
A rugby ball flies in my direction.
Fortunately, due to my quickly reflexes, I catch the ball.
"Jesus!"
"Sorry, miss!" - apologies one of the rugby players.
"Good catch! Wanna play with us?" - asks the second.
A shadow appears behind me, suddenly the silence swoops on the all Camp.
The faces of the two guys in front of me , from smiling, become fearful.
What's happened?
Oh no, don't tell me that...
I turn around and see Adler.
"She's with me." - he advises with a deep voice.
Is Adler... jealous of me?
The silence is still on the Camp.
The players open they month as they wanna say something but they just mumble something; it's clear that they don't want to mess with him.
"Alright people, return to work!" - he cry.
Everybody turn back as quickly as possible.
"Bell, focus on your mission. And be careful with... those guys." - he pats my shoulder and goes ahead.
Damn, that was so embarrassing! More embarrassing than being called beauty by a stranger.
What people will think about me now?
That I'm the little weak girl of the team or the Adler's girlfriend? I can already imagine all the gossip about us.
"Don't worry." - says Adler, like he read my mind. "Now they won't bother you again."
I try to believe him.
Suddenly I start to be hot so I unbutton my military shirt.
Some soldiers from the radio workstation start to throwing mischievous looks at me.
"Adler, I feel..."
"Unconformable, I know." - he finishes for me. "But how somebody can not look at you even for one time?"
I blush and without answering keep following Adler.
"Hey Butcher! How's the arm?" - asks Adler to a soldier passing near by him.
Butches is repairing a truck on our left.
"Still hurts like hell, but at least I can move it!"
While I'm walking behind Adler I notice that the ground is becoming more and more muddy.
A sign wich says "CAMP HASKINS " appears in front of me and after that I can admire a breath taking view of a Vietnam dawn.
The color of the sky is red, orange and yellow.
The palms seem to hug the sun with their long leaves at the end of the road, where the sun is rising.

I follow Adler down the few stairs to reach the practise camp full of helicopters on the ground.
We pass near the base commander who makes signs with his hands so a pair of helicopters can take off.
Now I understand what my mission is about: we need to take off.
Adler reach Sims, who is reading a magazine with a smirk on a chopper.
I try yo read the back cover:
You know what you like.
And an elegant woman is on it.
What the hell-?!
I can't believe Sims loves that trash.
One of the most important rule for the soldiers it's not to fall in love or even thinking about that during your entire charge. Well, it's not a rule but it just distract you from your target: save the world.
But... it's not the same thing between me and Adler... right?
"Hey, Sims! You know reading that shot's gonna make you go blind." - Adler takes the magazine from Sims' hands and examines it.
"Yup! That's why I want it all up here."- replays Sims ironically indicating his helmet with a finger.
Adler's is still looking at the magazine.
What the hell, Adler! A feel of angry raises in my stomach and wants to exit from my mouth.
I angrily stare at him.
"Bell, you're with Sims. You usually bring out the best in each other." - says Adler throwing the magazine on Sims' chest.
Finally.
He notices I'm nervous and smiles. Yup, he definitely knows I'm jealous.
But I'm sure it's not jealousy. We're only friends. At least that's why I continue to tell myself.
I have not choise but board on the chopper with this pervert guy.
"We got a new assignment. FOB 4 Ripcord is holding a vital assent that Charlie wants real bad." - Adler explains the mission.
As I understand we need to find something important. I hope to not go across with those Viet Cong. I hate them.
"What kind of asset are we taking about?" - asks Sims nervously. I know that because he's shaking his right left.
"The kind to I don't ask about. Ripcord has been taking a hell of a beating, so it's our job to secure the asset and get the fuck out."
Sims is not convinced yet. I know what he's thinking about: that's his last mission.
He has the fear to die.
"Relax. We got fast fliers providing combat air support for this mission." - Adler pats his shoulder. "It'll be a walk in the park."
While Adler walks away Sims is watches the ground with sad eyes.
"Hey, it will be okay." - I try to say something.
"Yeah, I hope."
"Headsets on." - says to me Chalk two.
I didn't even notice that there were two guys on the chopper.
I put them on and so does Sims.
"All birds check in when ready." - says the base commander in the radio.
"Budger Niner-One good to go." - replies Chalk one.
We start to take off.
"Budger Niner-Two clear to go." - replies Chalk two.
"Badger Niner- Three rotors up." - replies Chal Three.
"All bird, go go go. Crank up and pull pitch." - says the base commander.
"All birds are in the air." - he adds after all the choppers are taked off.
I reach the machine gun of the chopper and see a magnificent view of the sea and the dawn: best combination ever.
I let me legs down the chopper. A dangerous action if you don't know how to do it right.
Vietnam seems so beautiful with all those beaches; it's a shame the war is destroying such a beautiful place.
The other choppers are flying behind us and I'm sure Adler is watching me.
"You all sitting comfortably?" - he jokes.
Hearing his voice from the radio brings me many emotions again.
I smile knowing he said that to make me laugh.
"Aww, men, Adler! Why do I get the feeling you're about to give us some bad news?" - asks Sims.
"Because you're a smart guy, Sims."
I'm captured again by the sea wich is reflecting the colors of the sky. Now we're flying over the Camp Haskins.
"But the news isn't bad. In fact it could be very, very good." - adds Adler. "The asset Ripcord is gonna have to wait a little while. We're breaking off from the armada. Taking a detour."
The Adler's chopper flank ours. He's sitting on the board like me.
He's staring at me with a smile.
"And... that's good because?" - asks Sims.
"A source tipped us off that there may be a heavy hitter in town, a Soviet operative known as Perseus."
"Awww, shit."
I raise my hand to cover my eyes from the sun.
Adler seems an angel in the sky.
"Appreciate the enthusiasm, Sims. If our source is right, we could be looking at an intel gold mine."