In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

48 R&R they choose neutral ground home away from home but never home as they dare remember— that first night they peel off combat like rubber skin and it sticks stubbornly in the damndest places— when he kisses her the musky smells of some other woman’s thighs cling to his beard and she turns her head but only slightly as his tongue serpents out to lick clean his upper lip in a quick flip as if that other clitoris were still within reach—she pours him a shot neat and straight up her hand steady as a bar maid’s— it’s not enough they’ve just finished their second tour of duty unscathed caught in the same desert crossfire their units positioned only three hundred miles a world apart— he wants to know if she’s been faithful and she worries what the neighbors think about her olive green T-shirts and red panties drying on the line—his camouflage 49 shirts beside them—they exchange photographs of each of them holding weapons-and later in bed when they maneuver each other into position her belly aches when he pins her face down— every movement bringing up memories of women in desert villages weeping into the sand when the squad pulls out— rear guard action he laughs until she mounts him her thighs summoning up all the strength she has his laughter dying in his throat until she finally pulls rank and lets him have it ...

Share