Chapter Two, This Side of Death

Two

Danny Ellington pulled tightly at the lacing on his boot. The boots were shined, but not glassy like the Joes who pulled daytime duty on base. His black hair was cut regulation-short, though his superiors rarely noticed. Uniform inspections in the bunker were rare.

Lila appeared at the door of the bedroom, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “Do you have to go to the base tomorrow morning, or do you get to come home?”

Danny looked up at his young wife, appreciating her good looks. He often thought that the way her dark brown hair framed her face made her a match for the actress Gene Tierney. “I won’t know until an hour or so before we’re relieved. It changes every night.” He stood, fixing his collar as he glanced in the mirror over the small bureau.

“You look handsome, soldier,” said Lila. “I still don’t know how you can stand being in that box night after night,” said Lila. “I think I’d suffocate.”

Danny smiled. “It’s not so bad. You get plenty of ocean air through the lookouts. And we take turns sleeping for a couple of hours at a time. It’s usually pretty quiet.”

“Who is with you tonight?” said Lila.

“Al again,” said Danny.

“Oh,” said Lila. “I don’t like him, Danny. I know I only met him that one time, but he seemed . . . I don’t know . . . slimy.”

“He’s okay, Lila,” said Danny. “Al’s just trying to figure out his life. None of us planned on a war, but maybe times like this help guys like Al get . . . less slimy?”

Lila laughed. “You’re too nice, Danny. You’d give the devil an even break, I think.”

“Well, Al’s no devil,” said Danny. “He’s just another slob like me—hoping to get through this mess in one piece.”

“At least you’re not overseas,” said Lila. She gently folded the towel. “Do you think it will be over soon?”

“If Roosevelt has his way, yes,” said Danny. “But if Hitler has his, then it’s going to be awhile.”

Lila walked over and put her arms around her husband’s waist, laying her head against his chest. “I would be so lost without you, Danny.”

Danny hugged her petite body. “No, you wouldn’t. If I died on Wednesday, you’d have three boyfriends by Saturday night.”

Lila slapped him on the rear. “You big dope! Don’t say that!” She glared at him. “I’d have at least five!”

“Right,” laughed Danny. “What was I thinking?” He looked at his watch. “Hey, I’ve got to go. Al’s supposed to pick me up out front. He’s got the jeep tonight.” As Danny spoke, an engine roared in the street outside the small ground-level apartment. A horn beeped.

“There’s Mr. Charm,” said Lila.

Danny grabbed his duffle bag and stepped quickly to the front door. He stopped to kiss Lila. “Bye, hon. I’ll be back soon.”

Lila watched from the small front step as Danny approached the jeep. “Bye, Danny. Hey, Al.” Al smiled and waved to her.

Danny threw his bag in the back and jumped into the passenger seat. “That little wife of yours is real fine, Dan,” said Al. Danny noticed that Al’s smile looked more like a leer. He hoped Lila didn’t notice.

“How about you just drive, Al?” said Danny.

“Sure thing,” said Al. “You’re the corporal.” He gunned the engine and drove away. “Another long night, eh?”

“Yeah,” said Danny. “Just like all the others.”

“Maybe we’ll finally blow a sub out of the water,” said Al.

“Maybe,” said Danny. “Then we can hop over to town, grab a burger and catch a movie.”

Al grunted a laugh. “Yeah, it is kind of weird to be pointing that 50-caliber at the ocean right here in California.”

“Better than France,” said Danny.

The jeep followed the pavement for two miles, turned left onto a dirt road, and parked at the bottom of a hill that overlooked the ocean.