War’s Refuge

Carmen (Part Three)

Passionate love redeems from the humdrum of war

Readers are encouraged to read the full novelette, Carmen. The link to the first part of the story is https://medium.com/new-literary-society/carmen-part-one-da1b2148b8dd.

“Don’t YANK us into the war!”

“Vietnam to the Vietnamese”

At least thirty Australians had gathered on the large pier in Newcastle harbor where the Duncan was being tied up. Willis, in full Dress Uniform for liberty, stood and curiously watched their low-keyed peace demonstration from the port side of the ship. A sailor standing beside him grumbled, “How the fuck do you like that for a welcome?”

Willis just glanced at him, then turned back to the demonstrators. “I don’t care what they think of the damned war, as long as they’re nice to me when I meet them face to face.”

The Duncan’s part in the war seemed so marginal, it now seemed to him little more than an illusion. How could anyone take it seriously, he asked himself.

The deck force finished tying the Duncan to the pier. The crew fidgeted or talked excitedly, anticipating the setting of the brow. In a few minutes,
“LIBERTY CALL” was announced over the loudspeaker.