An unnerved Brown looked around for a minute, unsure of what to do. I need to call somebody.

No, you dont. You can search me, but Im going on in there. Wont be long. But its gonna be right now.

Whats your name?

Josh Harms. He pulled out his wallet. Heres my drivers license. I been over the prison a lot over the years, but I dont recall ever seeing you.

I dont work at the prison, he said. Im on temporary assignment here. Im in the reserves.

The reserves? Pulling guard duty on a prisoner?

The correctional facility specialists who flew in with your brother went back yesterday. Theyre bringing in some replacements tomorrow morning.

Hallelujah for them. Now, we ready to get this done?

Private Brown stared at him for another few seconds. Turn around, he said finally. Josh did so. Brown started to pat him down. Right before he reached his front pants pocket, Josh said, Dont get excited, but theres a pocketknife in there. Just pull it out and hold it for me. You hold it good and tight, son, Im right partial to that knife.

Private Brown finished the pat-down and straightened. You got ten minutes, and thats it. And Im going in with you.

You go in with me, then youre deserting your post. You desert your post in the Army or the reserves and you gonna end up where my brother is. He looked at the mans youthful features. A wannabe weekend warrior, he concluded. Probably pushed a pencil Monday through Friday before slipping on his fatigues and gun looking for adventure. And let me tell you, prison aint where somebody looks like you wants to be.

Private Brown swallowed nervously. Ten minutes.

The two men locked eyes. Thank you kindly, Josh Harms said, not meaning one word of it. He entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Rufus, he said quietly.

Didnt think you were gonna get here so quick, brother.

Josh went over to the side of the bed and stared down at him. What in the hell happened to you?

Aint sure you want to know.

Its all about that damn letter you got, aint it? Josh pulled a chair over next to the bed.

How long the guard give you?

Ten minutes, but I aint worried about him.

Ten minutes aint going to be long enough to tell you much. But Ill tell you this. I go back to Fort Jackson and theyre gonna kill me soon as I step inside.

Whos they?

Rufus shook his head. I tell you, then they gonna just come after you.

Im in here with you, aint I? That baby soldier out there is stupid, but he aint that stupid. Hes gonna put me down on the visitors roster. You know that.

Rufus swallowed with difficulty. I know, probably never shouldve got you to come on down here.

Im here now. So start talking.

Rufus thought about it for a minute. Look, Josh, that letter from the Army, when I got it, I remembered everything that happened that night. I mean everything. It was like somebody shot it right into my head.

You talking about the girl?

Rufus was already nodding. Everything. I know why I did it. And the fact is, it wasnt my fault.

His brother looked at him skeptically. Come on, now, Rufus, you did kill that little girl. No way around that.

Killing and meaning to kills two different things. Anyway, I got my lawyer from back then

You mean your piss-poor excuse for a lawyer.

You read the letter?

Sure I did. Came to my house, didnt it? Guess that was the last civilian address the Army had for you. Big, dumb carcass, didnt know it had you smack in one of its own damn prisons.

Well, I got Rider to file something for me. In court.

Whatd he file?

A letter I wrote.

Letter? Howd you get it out?

Same way you got the letter from the Army in.

Both men smiled. Rufus said, They got a printing operation inside the prison. The machinerys hot and dirty, so the guards give you a little space. Let me work my magic.

So you think the Courts gonna look at your case? I wouldnt bet my life on it, little brother.

Dont look like the Courts gonna do nothing.

Well, gee, thats a big-ass surprise.

Rufus looked past his brother at the door. When the guards coming back from the prison?

Boy said tomorrow morning.

Well, that means I got to get out of here tonight.

Woman who called me said you had some kind of heart problem. Look at you, all strapped to this crap. How far you think you can run?

How far you think I can run dead?

You really think they gonna try and kill you?

They dont want this to come out. You said you read the letter from the Army.

Yep.

Well, I was never in the program they said I was.

Josh eyed him hard. How you mean?

Just what I said. Somebody put me in the records. They wanted me to look like I was in it, to cover up what they did to me. Why I killed that little girl. In case somebody checked, I reckon they had to do it. They thought I was going to be dead.

Josh took this in slowly until the truth hit him. Jesus Lord Almighty. Why would they do that shit to you?

You asking me that? They hated me. Thought I was the biggest screw-up in the world. Wanted me dead.

If I had known all that was happening, I sure as hell wouldve come back and kicked some butt.

You were busy trying to keep the VC from tearing you up. But I go back to prison now, they gonna make sure they get me this time.

Josh looked at the door and then down at his brothers restraints.

I need your help to do this, Josh.

Youre damn right you do, Rufus.

You aint gotta help me. You can turn and walk straight out of here. I still love you. You stood by me all these years. What Im asking aint fair, I know that. You worked hard, you got yourself a good life. Id understand.

Then you dont know your brother.

Rufus slowly reached out and took his brothers hand. They gripped each other tightly, as though trying to give strength and resolve to one another for what lay ahead.

Anybody see you come in?

Nobody except the guard. I didnt exactly come in the front door.

Then I can pretend to knock you out, get out of here on my own. They know Im a crazy SOB. Kill my own brother and never think twice about it.

Bullshit. That dog just wont hunt, Rufus. You wouldnt even know where the hell to go. Theyd catch your butt in ten minutes. I worked on repairs at this hospital for almost two years, know it like the back of my hand. Way I came in is supposed to be locked, only the nurses taped over the lock. They sneak their smokes out there.

How you wanta work it, then?

We just go back out the way I came in. Its right down the hall on the left. Dont pass no nurses station or nothing. My trucks right outside the door. I got a buddy thirty minutes from here. He owes me a favor. Ill leave my truck in one of his old barns and borrow his rig for a while. He wont ask no questions and he wont answer any if the police come along. We hit the road and dont look back.

You sure you want to do this? How about your kids?

They all gone. Dont see em much.

What about Louise?

Josh looked down for a moment. Louise walked out the door five years ago and I aint seen her since.

You never told me that!

What you gonna do about it if I had?

Im sorry.

Im damn sorry about a lot of things. I aint the easiest person to live with. Cant say I blame any of them. Josh shrugged his shoulders. So its just the two of us again. Make Momma happy if she was alive.

You sure?

Dont ask me that again, Rufus.

Rufus raised his manacled hands. What about these?

His brother was already sliding something out of his boot. When he straightened back up he was holding a slender piece of metal with a slight hook at one end.

Dont tell me that boy didnt search you?

Shit, like he knew where to look. Once he took my pocketknife, he figured he had all mydangerousweapons. Didnt even bother to do my boots. Josh grinned and then inserted the metal in the lock on the restraints.