GRATITUDE - "ET TU, HANNIBAL?"


"Look, you've waited this long..."

"And lost my father in the process! How many more do you want me to lose, Hannibal?"

"You can't lose what you never had, Face."

"You don't understand. If I'm stuck out here..."

"You ought to be thankful you're here! You ought to be thankful you're alive, for that matter."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about Nam, and Special Forces, Lieutenant."

"What?"

"You think I fell for that scam? Your sharp shooting is the only reason I figure you were wet-nursed through. In Nam, you would've been dead in a month, but I saw your potential and took you in."

"What? No, I..."

"Save it, Lieutenant. You owe me, and I'm calling in the debt. Save the wild goose chase until we've got those pardons. Then you can do whatever the hell you want. Understood?" Hannibal stalked away.

Face could only stare after him.