"Is there any of the good Scotch left?" the Rookie asked.
"I wouldn't call it good Scotch. But no. We finished that weeks ago," the Veteran responded.
Outmanned and outgunned, they rode west across New York to the certain slaughter waiting for them at Orchard Park. The streets wide and flat, indifferent to their struggle.
"Is the water safe to drink?"
"Don't know. Try it and find out."
General Mayo lacked the sense of direction his predecessor displayed. If there was dissension in the ranks, it didn't show. But there was also no lust for the battlefield. Going beyond what was required of one's duty. They just didn't have the spirit for it. His predecessor had been deposed because the vibes were off. And now he risked the same fate.
"Is there anything to eat?"
"There's an empty can of beans. You may lick what's left off the bottom of it if you like."
The talent level of recruits was lacking, not up to the level they should have been. Drilling was spotty. The blame lied with everyone and no one.
They disembarked the team bus. The outcome never in doubt against a far superior opponent. The wind off the lake sending a shiver through each of them, despite their protective gear.
"Is this death?"
"No. It's just another season without a playoff appearance."
-- an excerpt from Cormac McCarthy's 2024 Patriots: Season of Glory. Reprinted with permission.
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