But all right. Here. I'll have one, too."

As the sergeant lit them he could see a bit of the red tip in the lieutenant's mouth. He dragged deep on his own, pretending he could taste lipstick.

"Lieutenant," he said. "It doesn't matter where you hit them, does it? I mean it doesn't hurt them at all?"

"No," the lieutenant said. "No, it doesn't matter. They just go to sleep."

"I'm glad." After a while the sergeant said, "I guess I'll hit the sack."

"It's still early."

"Yes. But I like to get up early. There's always a line in the latrine—at the shaving bowls."

"Combat troops don't have to shave," the lieutenant said.

"I know. But we do. We all do." 

 Prev. P 3/3