THE SUPPLY DEPOT..............

Halt who goes there?...
It’s just me Sarge…
Who’s me?...
Me Private Tushmouse,, Colonel Mortimer sent me up here
to see if you needed any help…
What’s the password?…
I don’t know Sarge,, I was just transferred here three days ago,,
nobody said anything about a password…they just sent me up here…
Step into the light so I can see you better…
Yes,, Sarge…
What’s was your name again?...
Private Tushmouse …
Yeah,, you look alright,, sit over there…
Thanks Sarge,, what are we doing here anyway?...
Didn’t they tell you anything buckethead,, G-damn almighty…
how long you been in the service anyway?...
This is my fourth week sir…
What??...Hell I knew you weren’t old enough to know to sneeze
downwind,, and don’t call me sir,, I know what the freak-in hell
I’m doing…
What are we doing Sarge?...
Well,, if you must know…we’re keeping an eye on the enemies
food supply depot…
Food Sarge?...
Yeah that’s right…have a look (Sarge points to a small hole near
the floor)
That’s it Sarge?...wow it looks big…its so close we could almost
reach out and grab it…
I wouldn’t try it kid,, the last couple of melon brains never
came back…
I sure am hungry Sarge…
Didn’t you get your food rations last week?...
Yes Sarge I got em…
What did you do with them?...
I ate em,, I was so hungry…
Don’t you ground turds know anything?...You’re suppose to
save some just for emergencies like this…
Sorry Sarge…
You’ll be even more sorry in a couple of days…

Atten-up…
At ease men…
What’s it look like up here Sergeant?...
About the same as last week,, General…
Still no change in the enemies supply depot?...
Not much sir…you can see it plainly from over here sir…
(the General and the Sergeant peer cautiously thru the
small opening)…
That’s it sir,, (Sarge half-whispers)…
As you can see over to the left there is some
poles at about 30ms and then there’s a small stand of
what appears to be strawgrass that could be used for cover…
then it would be an open field dash without cover to the
supply depot…
What do you think Sergeant?...
I think it could be done,, sir…but they’d have to move fast and quiet…
Private…what about you?...could you make it?...
Well,, well,, I suppose so sir…it looks pretty quiet…I haven’t seen
any guards or anything…
I’m looking for a volunteer private…
Yes,, yes sir,, I can do it…
Sergeant,, get Private Tushmouse ready for the mission…
we can go tonight at 2:30 hours…I’ll alert the western command
post to do some diversionary maneuvers to help…
Yes sir…

(2:20 hours)
Atten-up…
At ease men…ready here Sergeant?...
Yes sir…
How abut you private?...
Scared sir…
That’s ok son,, being scared is what could keep you alive tonight…
Ok kid,, it about time… remember head for the poles and use
them as cover as best you can,, then head for the strawgrass and
wait to make sure everything’s quiet and you haven’t been spotted…
got that?
Yes Sarge…
Then creep out slowly,, don’t rush it,, then when your within reach,,
use your snagging pole on the spring arm as hard as you can…
then don’t move,, don’t even breathe…you’ll know what to do after that…
Yes Sarge…what if?...
There is no what if,, we’re counting on you…now get ready…

There it is… the diversion along the western wall…….
Go kid…
How’s he doing Sergeant?...
He’s made it to the first pole sir,, making his way to the strawgrass…
he’s there…wait kid,, wait….
Ok,, he’s creeping out now sir…just a few more ms…
He’s activated the spring arm sir…
(snap,, fling,, hop,, bounce,, the spring arm releases the catch bar
in an instant and the food depot bouncers wildly along the floor…
Private Tushmouse stunned by the sudden actions of the
supply depot,, panics and hurries back towards his lookout position)

(meeoow,,, meeooow,, claw,, bite,, snap,, blood oozes,,
its over in just a second)…
The cats got him sir…
Damn… where’d it come from this time?...
Couldn’t tell sir…seemed to be waiting tho,, came from above…
What about the supplies?...
Still out of reach sir…I could try to reach it with a snagging pole…
Well,, do what you can Sergeant…
What about that cat sir?...
Q-division is working on a plan to put a bell on it,, so we can
always know where it is…
Yes sir…
Get some sleep Sergeant,, I’ll send another volunteer up here
in a day or so…
Yes sir,, good night sir………………………..