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Show Flying - 209 "Is that you, Jackson?" he says. "Who're you," says Jackson. "John Henry, man. I t ' s ne, John Henry." "What you do i n ' out here this tine of night?" says Jackson putting the carbine back on his shoulder. "Going to town?" "Just out for a walk," says John Henry. "You off tonight?" "Yeah. But I sure picked the wrong night," says John Henry. "You guys don't have to stand inspection tonorrow, do you?" But I nust. Stand s t i f f as a board by the side of ny bed while the general hobbles on by, followed by his staff. Follow ne, nen, he said, and jumped off the high side of the LCT and broke his goddamned leg in front of two thousand infantrymen. A clean old nan with a mission in l i f e who bobbled the b a l l just once on that clear California norning on the sand of Morro Beach. The quick snap of an aged and b r i t t l e bone, a monent of pain, a swift glimpse of death before the helicopter came to carry hin off. "You need anything for the inspection," says Jackson. "Any equipment or anything?" "All my s t u f f ' s in good shape," says John Henry. They walk back and forth along Jackson's guard post while they t a l k , and keep an eye open for the O.D., who night |