Now, with Edward Rothschild dead, the homeless amputee didn’t see the point. Why put the country through more agony when it wouldn’t help her heal? Popeye wiped his eyes, pulled a half full bottle of Southern Comfort from under his blanket and took a long full swig.
Ten minutes later, bottle empty and back under the blanket, Popeye made his way home. The doctors at Crossroads gave him six months at the most. Fine with him. He’d done his country one final service and, near death, that’s all a patriot could ask.