“…out on patrol…cold as a well-digger’s…then these gooks
came…” Killegrew’s voice was lost in a maundering mumble.
usual fire. “What kind of language is that?”
“Slopes,” Mannheimer said, his voice thick with whiskey.
“North Korean S.O.B.s. Hell, honey, you’re too young. You
don’t know nothin’.”
Judith and Renie were hiding next to the French doors
that led to the lobby. They could hear, but not see the
speakers.
“Screw Korea,” Max declared. “That was a picnic compared
to ’Nam. Jungle, heat, bugs, civilians loaded with grenades…”
“Bull,” Mannheimer retorted. “You ain’t fought a war till
you freeze your nummies off at Pyongyang.”
“War’s horrible,” Ava said, her voice shaking with conviction. “Killing is horrible. Death is horrible. Life is… horrible.”
The cousins heard footsteps hurrying from the lobby.
“Ava,” Judith breathed. “Let’s head her off.”
Judith and Renie ran back through the dining room, the
kitchen and the laundry room. Down the hall, they could
see Ava getting into the elevator. The cousins raced up the
backstairs, arriving just as Ava stepped out onto the second
floor.
“Don’t!” Judith yelled. “Wait!”
Ava ran, too, heading for her room which was two doors
down from the elevator. She nipped inside, but couldn’t close
the door before Judith put a shoulder against the solid pine.
“Stop it, Ava!” Judith commanded. “Let us in! Please! Don’t
do anything else foolish!”
Ava and Judith were about the same size and build. As
each woman put her weight on opposite sides of the door,
it appeared that the younger and more physically fit Ava had
the advantage. But Judith had Renie. The cousins finally
managed to triumph.
Ava turned a ravaged face on her pursuers. “Why do you
want to stop me? It’s none of your business!”
“Yes, it is.” Judith spoke through taut lips. “Unlike the rest
of you, we’re not indifferent to the sufferings of other people.
Besides, OTIOSE got us mixed up in all this. We couldn’t
get out of here free and clear if we wanted to.”
Ava, who had been backing away from the cousins, shook
her head. “I don’t care. It still has nothing to do with you.
Not really. Leave me alone.”
“No.” For emphasis, Judith sat down on one of the twin
beds while Renie closed the door. “Why waste your life? It’s
not worth it. OTIOSE isn’t worth it, and,” Judith went on,
raising her voice, “neither is Frank Killegrew.”
Ava’s dark eyes widened. “It’s not about Frank!” she
shouted.
