Chapter 1

"You have about a minute left Mr. Grant. That is unless you want to give beyond the call of duty." the tall, thin, brunet, nurse said with a smile across her face. Medical humor.

Anjulo smiled back, not right at her he was looking to the ceiling, "Ill be damned if you take more then a pint from me. Matter a fact you guys are lucky to be getting what you got."

The nurse was looking for something on the table, but turned around, "Don’t flatter your self, I believe in quantity over quality." Her name tag came into view. It read Cindy, Anjulo noted this and spoke, "I will take my complements where I can get them. I guess. Are You sure my meds are not a problem?"

"No not at all, we refine them out. Did you know that the blood that you give really ends up saving 8 people?"

When the blood is reused it is not pure, it is mixed with chemicals and science can turn it into 8 pints or more. Salt water can be used in the same way to stretch the blood. Ironic that the seas we were all born in can still sustain us, even though we grew legs and walked out from them, thousands of years ago and away.  

Still he knew he deserved no credit. He said plainly, "Do not flatter me, I kill more then I save, I am a soldier after all."

‘Killed a lot more then you saved’

Cindy was shocked her lower lip dropped slightly, " I do not think that is a fair assessment of yourself. "

Anjulo kept the blank look started talking, "I am not into self pity, or trying to make you fell bad for me. Sometimes I feel like that is all I am. It is hard to look at yourself when you think that way. I say because I wonder if others feel that way about me."

With that Anjulo looked up at the hospitals florescent lights he was not going to say anymore, still he could not escape the thoughts of the last time he killed someone. He thought, ‘What is done is done. No going back’

He heard Cindy say something about duty or service, it was just rhetoric though and he did not pay it much mind till she said, “You seem like a good man.”

She said it fairly convincingly and for a second Anjulo Grant could almost believe it.