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I have nothing else to say, and I tell the Major as much.

She nods and says, "In that case, I have a question for you, Wendell Dumein." You nod, waiting for your mother to ask her question. Instead, the Major stares at you for another twenty seconds, as if trying to unnerve you, before saying, "Want to get a beer? Just you and me alone tonight before you ship out tomorrow?"

Surprised by the Major's request, you decide that you'll have a beer with her tonight. She nods and loosens her tie as she heads over to the fridge and takes out two cans of beer. "Catch," she says, tossing you one of the cans. "It's going to be a hell of a trip from this point on, and I think we're both going to need this before we're out of the bottle," she says softly, opening her can and drinking it.

You nod your head and drink your beer as well.

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