Chapter 4: Love or lust?

"You seem to be in a very bad mood though." Said Cuddle.

"Yeah. Just pass me a bottle of that..."

"Cigrattes?" He asked after passing the bottle.

"No thanks." He replied pleasantly.

"Why? Have you quit it? What's up?"

"I haven't quit it but I am thinking about doing so."

"Hmm... Why? Was it because Roselyn asked you to quit smoking the first time you saw her?"

"Nope! Never! I never liked her so why will I listen to her." He replied sincerely.

"Did she tell you about it again?"

"Yeah yesterday Tuesday. She says it offends her God or so." He replied unimpressed.

"That's it. That's it men! Because of her you decide to quit smoking."

"Nope. It's because of her I learnt how to control my anger. I got hold of it today. Remember the last time Mr so-called Frickles pointed a gun at me for rebelling on patrol and I pointed my rifle back at him."

"Men... That day I feared you. I feared for your life men. I thought I will lose you."

"Yeah but after that I faced severe punishments for rebelling against my boss. I learnt that. Today I was gonna do the same thing when that foolish girl calmed me down."

"How?"

"She cleared all my doubts yesterday morning that the God my parents talk about who punish the rude and bad exist."

"The great wise Judge?"

"I think he is kind of like that."

"Am impressed."

"She has to teach me more Cuddle, she has to. As for the cigarette, give me some." He snatched the packet from Cuddle, took one, lit it and held it between his two fingers. Not smoking it.

"Go on. Smoke it." Cuddle teased.

"Later man." He threw the cigarette and smashed it with his boot. "I wanna ask you some questions."

"Yeah what about Fredrick?"

"The bodies??" He whispered.

"They said we shouldn't talk about it, the press are around and snitching. If they learn that the bodies are missing, we could get sued. Our whole army!" Fredrick looked at Cuddle in the eyes and saw how shaky he was. Fredrick always saw Cuddle as a true friend, friend indeed but a coward. Always too scared of anything. 'That must be why he was named Cuddle not Rogue.'

Cuddle Jointon was a very happy man in his early thirties with two kids; the first child is a daughter of two years and the second was just born before the war. Cuddle was usually known as 'Fredrick's boy' instead of Fredrick's friend. Cuddle was an average American who knew how to Carter for his family. He does not flirt like Fredrick and had never been interested in a lady like he was with his wife. He was not attractive, very handsome even better said more handsome than Fredrick. He wore two wedding rings and a small chain without pedant on his neck. Pot bellied, diligent, trustworthy and hardworking like Fredrick. He wore a recommended contact glass which gave him a black coloured pupil. He was very neat, responsible, patient and hairy. He had been in the army for seven years and had no friend until young Fredrick joined three years ago which was when Fredrick was just twenty-one years. Sometimes Fredrick pitied him alot whenever he complained that his salary wasn't going well with his family that is growing large and Fredrick suspected that must be the reason he joined the army.

"Forget the issue of the body." Fredrick hissed.

"So.. What do you want to do next?"

"Leave you to drink alone and go join others to drink, so they will tell me about the body." Fredrick smirked to himself because he was certain that Cuddle won't allow that. He was already using his usual trick he used on Roselyn now on Cuddle. Clever him.

"Fine I will tell you. The body is missing." Cuddle whispered as Fredrick raised one brow as if surprised.

"What!" He pretended.

"Yeah. No one took it. It was just gone."

"Impossible." Fredrick replied still acting amazed. "So where were the soldiers on ground."

"We don't know but we heard they were in jail."

"How sure? Did you go to see them or ask them anything?" He asked raising one eyebrow again.

"Nope. They said to see them, you will need Frickles permit."

"Am gonna get his permit."

"He won't give it, I tried."

"Then I will fake it."

"What?"

"Just watch how it's done Cuddle."

"I won't be a part of it."

"You have no other choice."

"I do. Unless we take Roselyn along."

Fredrick just finish having his bath at his base when someone knocked on the door. He was home alone, he was sure.

"What now?" As he headed to the door. He noticed something, opened the door and saw Roselyn at the door way.

"What does this good Lord want from me." He asked aloud but Rose said nothing.

"Can't I have some privacy around here? I was bathing you!"

"I know. I am sorry."

"Yeah. Now be gone."

"I want to see you."

"See me?" He shrieked.

"Yessum."

"Why? What's wrong? Did Cuddle tell you my plan to fake the permit?"

She laughed so loud. "No." But he doesn't believe her. Looking at her and folding his arms he became more serious.

"Then what?"

"I was thinking...." She felt shy saying it. "Well you have helped me alot recently than I could ever imagine..." He looked at her, more interested in what she was saying now. "Well I want to make it out with you. I mean I want to make it up to you."

He looked at her, one eyebrow raised but he wasn't smiling as she brushed her hair with her hand away from her face.

"Can we go fishing? You and I together?" She finally managed to say. "Well you know, you are off duty, so am I. So what do you think?" Fredrick released a very high-pitched roar of laughter.

"You and I?" He laughed again and slammed the door on her face. Few minutes later he opened the door again. "Fine with me."