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Post by skybright on Jul 23, 2006 23:20:04 GMT -5
"I don't even want to imagine." Daws grimaced. "My late partner was in the Army for a couple years, right after Korea. The way he told it, it took 'em until Vietnam was over with before they got him the benefits he'd earned." She glanced at the older man, and added wryly "Guess some things never change."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 23, 2006 23:30:15 GMT -5
"At least he got 'em at all," Vance murmured. "I got nothing, and I never would have--even if I hadn't gone underground. It wasn't my fellow soldiers who held what I am against me. It was a bunch of paper-pushing armchair quarterbacks in Washington, who happen to make the rules."
He shook his head. "It's strange. The soldiers on the ground can see the advantages in having people like us fighting beside 'em. It's only the bureaucrats on top who think we're a menace that wants to destroy the country instead of protect it."
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Post by skybright on Jul 23, 2006 23:39:52 GMT -5
"Same thing's true all over, as far as I've been able to see." Daws remarked, shaking her head. "It's the politicians and the loudmouth public figures who go on about how evil we all are. Most everyday people don't have anythin' really against us -- and most of those that do have had it put in their heads by the higher-ups and their lousy rhetoric."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 23, 2006 23:47:47 GMT -5
"Yeah, and not much we can do about it. It's like that old joke about a certain public figure walking on water to save a guy from drowning, only to have people say he can't swim. We'll never get credit for what we're doing."
Vance tilted his head and grinned a bit sheepishly. "And as I recall, that's what I was grousing about when we walked in here. Looks like our conversation has come full circle."
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Post by skybright on Jul 24, 2006 0:00:25 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "So it has." She raised her beer in a faint salutory gesture. "I think that says somethin' about our skills as conversationalists, Major. We managed to bring the whole thing full circle without butting heads once."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 24, 2006 0:05:02 GMT -5
Vance lightly clinked his beer bottle against hers. "Here's hoping we can keep it that way."
He shrugged. "I oughta be getting back where I come from. I gotta check in with Rip and make sure Brandeis is still snug, and see what's new with the other arrangments."
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Post by skybright on Jul 24, 2006 0:15:46 GMT -5
"As should I." Daws drained the rest of her beer and rose. "I'll let you know what Cole finds out."
She pulled an envelope from her inner trenchcoat pocket and lay a few bills down on the table, grinning. "Here's one useful thing Tiernan can do, anyhow -- buy a drink for a couple of working-class slobs who're working hard to bring him down."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 24, 2006 0:35:43 GMT -5
Vance chuckled. "In that case, I won't object to a lady paying."
The two made their way out of the tavern, and standing on the darkened sidewalk, Vance nodded to Daws. "I'll be in touch. Take care of yourself, detective."
With that, the Major made his way down the street, looking around with alert and instinctive caution.
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