DiminishedPt.11

晨梅 · 发表于 2023-9-9 07:15:33

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11 G.

Recaphals, a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a them. 18 old.

* * * * * *

Mrs. Haven, Pat,

I Jack's stability, I wrong. I circumstances, kind. others. forgotten. book. Friend,

* * * * * * 13 I fuel, crash. intact, activity. I fuselage. cargo, over. up, I seats, out. a cabin, I didn't field. plane. I I deck, a I'd War, me. I in. seats, impact. A wounds, arm.

"Stay calm!" I shouted. "We evacuation. you!"

I aisle, clear. U.S. left, youngsters.

"Marines, I help. me?" I sergeant's voice.

"Yes, sir!" responded.

"Grab front. possible," I ordered.

I open. gone, ground. I left, interfered. side. I rear, doors. sides, flames. wasn't time.

"Keep road," I explained. "Anybody so."

"Yes, sir," said, a forehead.

I up, raised, first, instructions. pushed. instead. ground. I smoke. front. wing, trouble. I closest, did. fuselage, hatch. quickly, a team, proud.

"Make check. seats. road," I said. "Keep grass. walk."

"Yes, sir. will. Sir, aren't Sarge?" a asked.

"Yes, son, I am. let's done," I replied, shoulder. leave, clear. cabin, side. I side, wing, away. smoke. I didn't opening. A in. away. I opening, hot. spreading, quickly. a fuel, explosion. section, a morgue. I dead, I suspicion. worse. I front, right, deploy. light, black. budge.

I back, seats, aisle. suits, semiconscious best. One, a banker, I him.

"Everyone now," I said. "Do understand?" I seat. chute, care, caution. I deck. dead, panel. pilot's broken. I help. spent, I together. me, haze, I away. a left, thick, I breathing. back, gloom, tall, cyclones. I fire, cabin.

I a a duty. unconscious. helpers, I chute. I rocked. I balance, forward, a beam. a overhead, I duck, I something, down. I sag. smoke, I a upright, seat. I over, seatbelt, weren't cooperating. jammed. I again, last. I couldn't grip.

Finally, slacken, free, I couldn't why. smoke. burned. I a nose, helped. a haze.

A leave, wasn't me. I late. didn't out. below. a storm. impossible. didn't matter. I'd best. expected?

I woman's armrest, face. I gagging. a contest. I stand, failed. dock, I didn't strength. I eyes, I seats. A battlefield. I a noise, me. A whimper. I woman, floor. a me. a face, smoke. I a dog, a child. old. crying. one, smaller. a baby. alive. God, I thought, I've here! I woman's legs, shirts, aisle, arms. I a woman, mother, her. I retreat. stand, I a a time, one. times, harder, contemplated. meaning, couldn't a hatch, places. , I chute, gone. manner, a pile. I below, ravine. cursing. A determination. I a door, chest. I legs, chin, a backward, bed. a kids. I over, feet, sunlight. me, children. I grass.

"Gots go, Sarge. now," a said, me. us, flames, everywhere. I stopped, happening, back. there. me.

"Jack, there's do," said, shoulders.

"I her. I promised," I moaned, knees. up, hurt. a truck. I a eyes. hard, breaths. everyone's attention, away. help, vehicles, a Frederick. shoulder, burn, sky. crying. praying. I distance.

"What ... kids?" I asked.

"They're okay. them," said.

"Are doctors?" I inquired, up. I instead.

"You fuel. clothes," said. I it, shirt, pants. else. I wasn't a crowd, a suit. bad. Fortunately, a pictures.

"These don't good," said, hands. "And you've a noggin."

"Blood back," reported. "Looks sharp. A rock, maybe?"

"Maybe," I said, drained. Linda, Larissa, Ashok, effort.

"Lots way. I'm town," announced.

"One Jack," said.

"I him," volunteered. "And I now."

"What get, Ashok?" asked.

"Why handcuffs," replied.

* * * * * *

I don't took, I embankment, ambulance. me, bandages. I wouldn't a while. close, tank.

"That a a thing, Jack," said, side.

"I'm a responder, Linda. It's I for. same."

"I'm that's true. a a thing." patients, I a Bethesda. didn't going, crash. escorts. panic, company. always, us. bay, help. Happily, reporters. ER, a floor. a view. patient. A crash, off. I effort. it. a scrubbing, I in. burns, forearms, palms. A a I hatch, shallow. A up. creams. a ointments. I suit. again, I'd wardrobe.

I a alone, a sleepy, didn't long.

"Guess who?" said, room. a , duty. a a vase.

"Hey, Alex. day?" I asked.

"I'm gotten," said, bed.

"Sad, crazy," I said, admit.

"Crazy Service," said.

I a question, meant. a I wasn't ignorance.

"Jack, Lt. plane. died," said.

"The President's daughter?" I asked.

"Yes, Wagner's daughter. President's grandchildren." tablet, a channel, I footage. jet, exploded. dramatic. A "Sarge wreck."

"I her. a war. 4th Division," I a screen. "I her."

"Even can't everyone," said.

"It end," I confessed. "If hadn't nowhere, I'd jet."

"No, wouldn't happened. You're tired."

"You right," I agreed, I better.

"One Judith's died, survived. McIntyre. Rowley." cheek, emotion.

"How doing?" I asked.

"Conscious. A bruises. her."

"That's necessary," I said.

"You'll her. smart, a humor, a figure. University. books."

"Are again?" I asked.

"I'm girl."

"I girls."

"You're a side," insisted. "You don't should. a work."

"I don't a woman. I you," I said, hand.

* * * * * * couldn't long. president, Lt. Massinger's support. I busy, too, a Alexandria. I them. I I'd become. dawn, anything, I hospital. kids, be, U.S. a hand. didn't to. rising.

"Making escape?" said, a me.

"How guess?" I asked.

I sweats, bandaged, I couldn't a a shirt. a challenge.

"You reporters, they'll place. you'd a it," said, cleverness. a elevator. car, a CRV. a van. a clue, I changed.

"Can a church?" I requested.

"A good," agreed. congressman's mansion, I kitchen, quiet. headquarters, a I window.

"How doing?" Mr. asked, a seat.

"Fair enough," I said.

"Want it?" asked.

"No, you. I rest, I've together."

"The aren't bad. fast."

"That part," I acknowledged.

I up, bed. I her. Awkwardly.

"Thank much. I'm I haven't deserve," I said. "These I one's own."

"Apology accepted," answered. "Now sleep. a zombie."

I room, wasn't peaceful. me. I couldn't give. smoke. us. up, agony. desperation.

I woke, sweat. a a bandages, came, sporadic. I'd me, I'd them. I bed, difficulty. I'd before, hands. I didn't be. I lunch. a me. a session, I bathroom.

"You this," said, room.

"More crash?" I asked, couch.

"Amazing reports," confirmed, hand. go, engrossing. A nose, fire. I hadn't time.

"This about," said, forward. "Everyone children. face, heart." I collapsed, I hatch. a blur. A desperation.

I interviewed, heroes. them, survived. Sarge, a Blair's stories.

"It's you," highway. I a briquette. forehead, red. television. victims, president's daughter. I okay. leaders. Lt. a officer, file. a event.

"You couldn't babies, too," said, thoughts. "Judith a else. safe."

"There wasn't time," I conceded, I it. Cemetery, buried. I bed, a long.

A later, a door.

"Yes?" I said, groggy.

"Arthur Jefferson, Service," a said, identification. "Would us?"

"Come where? it?" I asked, outside.

"Do assistance?" said, sweats.

"I shoes," I answered. room, I'd need. weren't discourteous, resolute. A later, go.

I late. ten. damp. home, downstairs, Washington. me. Shouldn't prison? a alley, Dr. me. I couldn't screen. bandages, eyes, a tablet.

"If a kidnapping, won't money," I said, mood.

"More think," Dr. said.

I Dr. sixty, short, bald, a manner. rumpled, unbuttoned. loose. a condescending smile. Alexandria's streets, a bridge. A later, a long, driveway. House.

"This inappropriate," I said, was. I attempt.

"His orders," replied.

"You you're there," I said, arms.

"Are a mummy?" asked.

"It's thing," I answered.

"Let that," said. portico. U.S. forward, out. a legs. lit, me. a mourning. me, I candles. memorials. Fortunately, me.

"Do a wheelchair?" asked.

"I not," I said, well. normally. nervous. a hall, artifacts. a staircase, gulp. Himalayas.

"Let's elevator," Dr. suggested. floor, a offices. I didn't hall. about, panic.

"May I anything?" asked. a secretary, a plump, a way, face. a gentle, smile. a night.

"Whiskey, straight," I said, it. painkillers, Dr. it.

"How lemonade?" said, nowhere.

"I'll a straw," I said, hands. embarrassed, I drank. I fluids.

"The now," a announced. a room. comfort, vases, paintings, I anything. a waiting, I room. Rasmussen.

"Glad it, Jack," said. "Let President." elbow, I place. a , , long, a face. a forelock. I apparition.

"Thank grandchildren," a voice. hands, incapacitation.

I didn't reply, overwhelmed. me.

"You're welcome, sir. I'm daughter," I responded.

"Harold in. isn't you," said.

"I Mr. hasn't tales, sir," I replied.

"I it's President, Jack," said.

"We a contract, faith. I've end," I insisted. say, a curiosity, President's glances. I participation didn't known. I I redemption, a politician.

"I'm morning, we're aren't cranky," said. "I'll a answer."

"My won't change, sir," I replied.

"You weren't stories. a seat, man," said.

I around, chairs. a cloth. a me. President's aides, stressed, room.

"You alive," said. "I minutes."

"Sir, I don't that's a idea," I refused.

"You're I've got, Mr. Lawrence," insisted, answers. Army, a responder, I'd times. I generalizations. brave. pain. quickly. circumstances didn't matter. States. a idea.

Cautiously, I I could, specific. unconscious, all, wasn't dead. I truth. I seat, I paused, noise. smoke. frustration. a hope.

"Jack? Jack?" arm.

"What?" I said, room.

"Are okay? us," explained. I damaged. a thoughts. Dr. side.

"What medication?" asked, eyes.

"You pills?" I said, bottle. I couldn't them, Rasmussen's help. label, me, again.

"Gentlemen, questions," decided.

"We later," said, drop. "I this, too, she's well."

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"She hasn't days," Dr. said. "Agitated. eating. We're drugs."

"She's Judith's hard. did," added.

"May I her?" I requested.

"Curly?" friend. Ironic, hair.

"It can't hurt," Dr. recommended.

I myself, room, a hall. , too, tastefully. a bed, pajamas, a legs. A a I seen, low.

"Addie, Lawrence," introduced. a gray, lips. surprise, recognition.

"It you," said.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied, bed.

"Come closer. you," ordered.

I bedside, slumping, concern. drained.

"You terrible," said.

"So you, ma'am," I replied.

"Not me," remarked, smiling.

"No, ma'am," I said.

"Sit down." I hesitated, expectation. I bed.

"That now, Curly," instructed, doctor.

Dr. him, happy.

"I didn't grandchildren," said.

"Nothing wouldn't done," I offered.

"Not a jet."

"I true."

"Alex you. you."

"I her, it's romantic."

"Her loss, I'm sure. me?"

"Yes, I to," I said, reassured. a sorrow. a Methodist, Mrs. prayers. a St. Mary's, I mine. Francie. sleep.

I window, a curtains. soundly. a me. I door, I couldn't doorknob. side.

"Morning, Jack. she?" hall. nearby. quiet, rest.

"Better, I think," I replied.

"How you?" asked.

"I a better, too. I bathroom."

A me, ability. outside.

"How here?" I asked, a corridor. A us, a rules.

"I've before. I'm agents, all, you."

"That's history," I dismissed.

"Not me, isn't. you're ever."

"I don't publicity," I complained.

"Sometimes it's want. breakfast?"

"Where going?"

"The Garden."

"Don't a folk?" I asked, treatment. downstairs, a distance. awe, a legend. I don't know, enthusiasm. Office, I a room. Thankfully, reporters. A U.S. guard. a a sky. chairs. trees. Dr. a hours. I a a droppings. nearby. I eggs. excellent. a time, us, a a lapel, day. consideration guests. meal, grandchildren, Annapolis. terms.

"Jack, I say," said, serious. "When ... year, you. all. wasn't I a we'd made, late. I through."

"It God's will," I replied.

"I'm sorry, I can't way," disagreed. "When I grandchildren, I hadn't there."

"Mrs. Wagner, I've life," I said. "Try been. It's helpful."

"I'll try. you," responded. a Office. Yelling, thrown. investigate. I chair, trouble. stayed, too, wouldn't to.

"It's a tantrum," said, biscuit. "He times."

"I'm he's me," I said, President's fearsome.

A later, appeared, table. I didn't area.

"Miss McGuire, Mr. Lawrence, you're Office," summoned.

That's great, I thought, obey. chair. aides, mansion. a plan. I a door. us. Wagner, kill, Rasmussen, Fowler, surprise, Ritterman, I Afghanistan.

"What here?" shouted. "How know? you, Fowler. playing?"

"Ask games. McGuire, there," said, Alex. angry, too, better. pressed, wore. turned, doorway.

"You! here, you," said, me.

I move. I moving.

"Jack, it's President," whispered, a shove.

I slowly, middle. President's carrier, world. across, white. a a thrown.

"Yes, sir," I said, trembling.

"Was Tabrit? Tashad's noses?" asked.

I a Ritterman, said.

"Goddamn it! Don't them! I'm you, son," bellowed.

"Yes, sir," I said, away.

"Where you're going?" asked, face. me.

"Back prison?" I speculated.

"Is funny? It's not. It's all," complained. "Goddamn it, Fowler. a that, Northfield?"

"It's complicated, sir, I you," defended.

"Obviously enough," said. "And what's around? it?" silent. other, feet. it, too, fault. CIA's radar.

"No talk?" said. "Fine, we'll way. McGuire, here." choice, down. wasn't a director, a hero. I I a a distraction. a fence, a question.

"Tell secret. That's order," demanded, clenched. eyes. I head, a weak.

"Sir, I years," explained. "We a Khanani."

"Thanksgiving Eve's Khanani?" inquired.

"Yes, sir, same. more, Mr. Cumberland," continued.

"Escape? prison? it?" asked.

"A knew. I support," said. "Jack trail."

"Does ? Boston?" asked, going.

"Mr. President, didn't Boston," said. "Jack "

"Lawrence? ...? a bitch!" cursed. desk, a a window. shattered. forth, arms, me. I I could.

"Goddamn it," again, me. "Really? You're a a a axe?" me. I couch.

"I couldn't manual," I said.

"This Jack's postponed, Mr. President," explained. "He poisoning. It's I proposed."

"Part? What's part? secret?" asked.

"Jack place," said, in. "He Blair. stress. a trial, acquitted."

"That's true," I objected.

"Yes, true. we've proof," replied. window, Garden, back.

"This sweet, isn't it? Boston, I Northfield," mumbled. "That I reelection, won't it?"

"Then don't anybody," I said. "I a FBI. I did. agents."

"That's true, sir," said, useful. "It's hasn't desk. We're premier." back, couch, stand. I I could. a circle, appraisal. Grunting.

"I a this," decided. "And I breakfast. I bones. hell."

I hungry. pancakes. minutes, us, happened. I a calm. hadn't there, I don't I morning.

Mrs. returned, a planning. Lady's came, ear.

"Oh, dear," said. "Almost here?"

"Yes, Mrs. Wagner. now," said, trepidation.

"This embarrassing," said, up. "Patricia respects. I'm sorry, Jack, you'll "

"Pat here? Where?" I asked. moot. Mrs. Office, black. I back, feet.

"Jack!" Mrs. out, me.

I her, I could. cheek, over.

"You've careful. a state."

"I'll better, ma'am," I promised, again.

"It's you," said. "Jenny proud. me."

"Then it," I replied. quiet. stopped, table. Mrs. Wagner, President, disbelief. wasn't surprised.

"I now. You'll around, won't you?" asked.

"They've in," I said.

Eventually, table, Rasmussen. President, Dr. a sedative. stressed. Addie, a time. a dumbfounded.

"You funeral," said. "You're a soldier. a soldier. her."

"It's complicated," I refused. "And frankly, I don't Arlington. It's ghosts."

"Please, Jack. that's happened, wounds," pressed.

"And ones. I'm prison? will," I said.

"Yes, controversial," admitted. "But risk. You've things, too. doesn't that, haven't attention."

"He doesn't attention, Mrs. Wagner," said. "Jack won't mentioned."

"Sometimes a far," agreed. "It out."

"Like Eve," said, embarrassment.

"What Eve?" asked.

"Another Jack's secrets," said. "And Jack? way. They'll don't."

"You I can't that," I protested.

"It's want, man. Don't a narcissist," said, me.

* * * * * *

I Addie's matters. I couldn't bandages. Fowler, made.

"You a medic, Mr. Lawrence. careless," Dr. criticized, dressings.

Dr. right, helped. wasn't night. I explanations. fantastic. a I table. hands, knees, forehead, treatment, ointments. again, U.S. Marshal's caretakers. well, Arlington. trim, dressed, media. hadn't yet, wouldn't longer. a help.

"This great," voice, a uniform. I called, dignity. wouldn't out.

"Lots ribbons," remarked, jacket.

"A excessive," I complained, were. "Hey, a minute. captain's bars. I'm a sergeant. ?"

"Colonel Fowler's orders," said. "Captain Lawrence, IRR. "

"Yes, I is," I said. "It's Fowler's tricks. He's service."

"Would bad, Sarge?" asked.

"I a obligation," I explained.

A later, a box.

"Bobby! Bob. Robert?" I said, hand.

"Bob days," answered, box.

"I haven't a time," I mused. "How it?"

"That's classified," replied.

"Fowler?" I guessed.

"Stolen there," a grin.

"You're days."

"Better know," a glance. He'd a I'd Mims' before. me. decorations. I hadn't down. them, intervened.

"This privilege. I one," said, a care. a Star. Cluster. Hearts.

"You Valley," mentioned.

"Where I orders? doesn't that."

"That doesn't did."

"Can room?" I asked. I alone, I down.

"I morning," I started.

"For breakfast, House. It's news," said. I shouldn't surprised.

"There I you. Eve. I'd me."

"It's time," said.

"What heard?"

"I Khanani, died, a Boston. more?"

"No, it," I said.

"Jenny Northfield," explained. "Mom out."

"This ever," I lamented.

"It's secret. shouldn't be. I'll quiet, don't aren't out. It's important."

"Will funeral?" I asked, I nervous.

"Yes. Mom, too. a reunion."

"You're family," I said.

"So you, Jack," answered.

"You're think?"

"When I have, isn't important. I don't father. I haven't a time. I don't him, either. I right?"

"I won't you're wrong," I conceded. "But let's questions."

* * * * * * gloomy, rain. again, a floor. U.S. attendance. Grill. uniform, medals, I conspicuous. autographs, I was, impossible. privacy, didn't pictures. secret, they'd a job.

"You great, weak, pale, a mummy," said, meal.

"Easy say, confidence," I replied. "You, too, Bob. you, you're amazing."

"The fast," said.

"And I'm that," I apologized.

"If you're sorry, investigation," said. "She clue."

"What investigation?" I asked, Alex.

"That's about. won't cooperate," insisted.

"So, us," pressed, whisper. "What shooting?"

"What I anybody?" I said, ignorance.

"You Mom, Alex. doctor, they're close," warned.

"That ... I ..."

"Supposed secret? what, Jack? you, foul," said, look. into.

"I'm confidentiality," I said. "And I records. find." a a text, me. read, "Alex, shrink. a woman." I old, stupid? a up. damp, noon. I Linda, driver. stories, embarrassing. a together, a disaster.

I Bridge, us. parking, I zone. first, outside. drizzle, out. I President. Initially, I a a tree, me, a party. Massinger, Judith's husband, me. a moments. well. services, a hill. a a horses. A tunes. a JFK's above. earnest, said. Friends, generals, politicians. I periphery, unnoticed. I difficult. visit. I'd a comrade. a Grace, I off, a trees.

I Soldier, Drive, Drive, 144th Sirputa. I a plaque.

I struggling. I aside, marker.

'Corporal Hobson, B, 144th Infantry,' read. 'January 4, 2001 19, 2021. Star. Heart.' wet, rain. day. ridge. a hit, I kit. deep. Sticky. I up. help, I side. I down, a shoulder. armor, out, groin. I arms. I hadn't I did, Hobson. grave. Mastobo, B, 144th Infantry. Star, Star, Heart. a a pieces. markers. names. many. I don't why, I crying. tired. I cold, graves, cheek. soaked, I didn't care. I resentful. grave?

I'm I there, me.

"Jack. Jack, can't here," a woman's said.

"Kashia?" I asked, me.

"No, it's me," answered.

I up. side, jacket. else, I'd them.

"Please, Jack, can't here," whispered.

"People coming. pictures," said, I didn't that. feet. muddy. I'd hat, face.

"Sorry," I said.

"Let's car," urged, head. I paused, graves, trees, up.

"Jenny, Dr. Livingston?" I asked."About a month," said."Tell I'm ready. It's I help," I requested.* * * * * * chapters.

DiminishedPt.11

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