3

"Colonel Potter is having the VIP tent set up for you, we'll be able to talk when it's done. You should be able to leave in about a week" said Hawkeye.

"A week? Why so long I mean all I have is bruises."

"You had some internal bleeding also, that's why you feel tired a lot, you could have more that, if you were to do your daily routines would get worse then we would have to go back in...or internally bleed to death. We would like to keep an eye on you to make sure you'll be okay."

"Good, then come and get me before dinner. 1600 hours will do."

"Is there anything else I can do for you Madam?"

"No, that is all....dismissed." Marie tried to say with a straight face. Frank who was listening in was almost in shock.

"YOU following orders?" asked Frank, thinking this as an opportunity; he wouldn't do anything stupid with a general sitting there, even if she is a woman.

"Frank, come here I have to ask you a question. Can I borrow your doctor's diploma? They are a little short in the latrine." He asked just loud enough for Marie to hear. Marie tried her hardest not to laugh. But Frank saw that she thought it was funny. He started to open his mouth to say something but thought better not to say anything at all.

"Humph!" Frank gave off before stomping away.

Attention all personnel. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Lunch will be served today.

"That's my call I'll see you later, Marie." said Hawkeye

"I'm looking forward to it" replied Marie still smiling. Hawkeye left and Marie decided to reread finish the letter she started to her brother. *NOTE: the letter was written in French safeguard it from the agents eyes if he so happens to read it, but since this is America and I (Along with I'm sure a lot of you) don't know French here is the English version of it*

'Dear Kevin,

I am sitting here in a MASH. Sadly I'm not here inspecting it but instead being a patient in it. Don't worry, I am fine. Just a couple of bruises. The doctors here are great. Do you remember a Hawkeye Pierce? I must have told you about him before. He used to go to school with me. He did a lot of stupid things... I had a crush on him...Well, he's here, and he is coincidently, my doctor. And I can say he hasn't changed much.

I need you to do a favor for me I need you to find the children I was with, they may be in great danger. The people they are with can no longer be trusted.

Twister just showed up here, they are up to no good. They have to be stopped. As soon as I'm well enough, they are going to take me again. The MASH thinks he's a secret agent. It's better that way. I'm not going to ask them for help. It is best for good people like them to be left out of it. That is all I can say right now, if you can meet me, I'm at the 4077. Ask the MP s at the check point where to go. I'm only here for a week so make haste. See you soon.

Love always,

Kathy

P.S. Get in touch with General Anderson and see about getting me demoted to Captain ASAP.

She folded up the letter and put it in an envelope to be sent out. Just then, "Twister" the secret agent, noticed that Pierce was gone and went to see Marie again.

"I believe you have been banned from coming in here." said Marie crossly.

"When are you going to be well enough to leave?" he asked ignoring her.

"Well they are moving me to the VIP tent they say I should be up to speed in about a week. Don't worry, it won't put a kink in your plans."

"Sarcasm will get you nowhere with me."

~Meanwhile~

"Sir!" Yelled Radar running into the Mess Tent. "We have a 'Major Pain' in post-op, and it doesn't look good, sir!" Hawkeye got up and ran to post-op. By the time he got there, Twister was leaning over her forcefully talking and Marie was in tears.

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT!!" Hawkeye yelled across post-op.

"What seems to be the problem here!?!" Potter, who seemed to come out of nowhere yelled.

"He is bothering my patients and the people who have been wounded and are now trying to rest!" Hawkeye complained.

"I see, Lets you and me have a talk outside, Major," said Potter with his hand pointing him towards the door. They both walked outside. "Now, mind telling me what this is all about Major."

"She is my responsibility sir, I have my orders and she has hers whether she likes them or not. I afraid that is all I can tell you sir."

"Well that's fine, She can follow those orders when she recovers and not a second sooner and as long as she is under care here, she will not be disturbed again, do I make myself clear."

"Yes sir," he said with his teeth clinched together.


Hawkeye went over to Marie. "Are you okay?"

"Is the VIP tent ready for me yet?" she said ignoring his question.

"Yeah, Nurse! Wheel chair!" The nurse brought the chair and they both helped Marie into it. Hawkeye rolled her over to the VIP tent and helped her over to her bed. "Now please, tell me what in God's name is going on." Marie sighed and started her story.

"Well as you can tell circumstances aren't normal." She took another breath and went on. You could tell that she didn't want to go on but she did anyway. "I have been traveling Korea for the past year, They only made me a General, because they felt I needed to be, because my mission it very important. I was sent here as a clean up crew. I go to towns and villages after they have been bombed and relocate any survivors left behind. Put them in a place where they can get food and clothing. It's an endless job kind of like yours. I went to places, help families (or what's left of them) and put them someplace safe. Time and again I send people somewhere and the next day I'm cleaning up the place I sent them to because they have been attacked. So I suggested that we leave the people where they are and just bring them some supplies." Hawkeye just sat there. Hanging on to every word.

"So for the last six months I've been bring supplies to the people left behind. They have me do this to cut down theft from the MASHes. Well along my journeys we have been taking care of some kids that lost their family but won't go to an orphanage."

"Won't or Can't?"

"Won't. We drop off all the kids at orphanages but these wouldn't stay put they would follow us and most of the time end up hurt so we just let them join us, we didn't know what else to do. We follow the battles we are rarely ever caught it I think I've been caught in 3 since I've been here. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I was given false information and walked right into a battle. I lost my unit, they didn't die...they are just hopefully still looking for me. The kids stayed with me through out the battle. Then a unit of soldiers found me and the kids at first they helped out as much as they could but then they came up with different plans for us. If I don't do what they tell me to, they say they will use the children to clear mine fields. They are the ones who beat me....." She trailed off.

"Whose side are these guys on anyway? Why haven't you told anyone!?!"

"I don't know whose side they are on. I pray to god not ours as they say. And I don't know where the children are and I don't want them to get in anymore trouble."

"Why you, why are they doing this to you?!"

"....Because I'm a young female general.... They don't think I deserve it."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well, remember the letter I wrote to my brother? He is coming here. He is a colonel. I have to tell him to find the children. It was too risky to tell him in a letter."

"And I thought 28 hours of surgery was bad," sighed Hawkeye.


Back | Forward