The Dream and The Reality of Violence

"Wife?...Oh, man, I'm hurtin'. Just fly the airplane, sonny."

Cat dropped the phone and hung on to the booth to move himself to the bus. The driver recognized him, started up to help.

"You bad sick, Lieutenant?"

Cat nodded, ran his hand wildly up and down his front, feeling the sticky vomit.

-- The Admiral will not approve of this.

The driver wedged him into a seat, opened two windows.

"I'll go the back way, get you there in a few minutes."

Cat was going now, floating, beginning to vomit air. His belly and lungs wrenched out a cloud of bubbles and he watched them drift along toward the window. Tried to count them, get a handful.

They were there. The driver helped him to the doors of the hospital. Cat figured he had maybe fifty steps left in him. He patted the driver on the shoulder and started toward the nurse at the desk.

She came for him. He tried to wink at her, instead offered her two red-flecked bubbles and collapsed into her breasts and arms.

It was 23:57.

The nurse stayed on duty for the next forty hours, sleeping with her bottom on the floor and propped up against the big sofa they brought in for Susan. Abbey Mae came by regularly to check on Susan. Lieutenant Reis and Commander Taylor, and The Reverend and Mr. Hank, and The Judge, traded watches at the door.

Table of Contents

• Introduction

1. Maggie and Mr. Hank
2. The Reverend
3. Squalls Along the Flight Line
4. Flying Home to Church
5. A Visit with The Judge
6. Communion
7. Afterthoughts
8. Monday Morning With The Admiral
9. Into the Dining Room
10. On Toward Walking the Streets
11. Glimpses of An Election
12. The Dream and The Reality of Violence
13. The Admiral Loses More Than a Few Good Men
14. Down That Lonesome Road

• Cast of Characters
• Credits and Acknowledgements