A month later Ortega had completely recovered. His ribs and back were okay and even his hand had finished healing.
Rambo got himself a Browning 'Hi-power' in place of his 1911. Using any kind of weapon you wanted was one of the advantages of the SOG and after that night in Dak To, Rambo decided that he needed a handgun that carried more bullets.
It was a popular alternative when it came to weapons among the SOG teams and Rambo was testing it for the rest of his team too.
He often went into the jungle surrounding the base to train on his own, usually practising his fast draw skills with it and then hitting multiple trees in a row, exactly the way he’d done that night.
One morning, with no forewarning, Jorgenson walked right into the Baker Team tent.
The team joyfully gathered around him and it was all pats on the shoulder and the shaking of hands with him. The scar on his head was really marked, making him look a lot like Frankenstein, They’d all seen much worse things however, so considering what had actually happened to him, he was pretty lucky to be where he was and looking as good as he did.
While his mates celebrated him, unquestionably pleased to see him, Jorgenson involuntarily forced a smile on his face and his eyes gave signs of tiredness and hesitancy.
He gave the impression of being almost uncomfortable.
He seemed to be the only one not feeling anything, almost numbed.
“I missed you guys” he said eventually in a somewhat insincere voice, as if he didn’t mean it.
“How you doing Grizzly?” Messner asked as he took his hand to shake it
“They’re shipping me home for a bit. I'll be able to see my daughter again”
“Cool Carl!” exclaimed Krakauer giving Jorgenson a shake from behind as he continued his hand shaking with everybody else.
Coletta came into the tent carrying a box of beers over his shoulder festively.
“You’re the man Grizzly!”
“Yeah, you rock!” they shouted a loud.