Since my death, he had endured three more days of enemy bombardment. There was no pause in the Tet offensive to mourn one small, faraway loss. They were in death’s own territory, and couldn’t afford to give ground.It was decided that Zav should be flown to the base at Nui Dat before he was told. The officers couldn’t predict his reaction, and didn’t want to take unnecessary risks in the midst of battle. When it was deemed safe, when there was space in a chopper, they explained that he was needed as an escort for the walking wounded.Zav had mixed feelings as he watched the Medevac team strap stretchers to the sides of the helicopter. To be out of this hellhole, even for a day . . . But how could he leave his mates? He couldn’t. Not in the middle of all this.‘Request permission to stay, Sir,’ he asked the officer in charge.‘Permission denied.’‘But, Sir. They need me here.’‘The war will continue regardless of your presence, soldier. Board now.’Zav was wedged between a young man with his arm in a splint and an older man with a bandage covering one eye.
