Chapter 2 – Col. Bishop

“… and he bit the usherette’s leg in the dark,

excitable boy they all said.” — Excitable Boy —

Warren Zevon

 

Shortly after they returned to the base they were called into Colonel Bishop’s office.  Col. Bishop was a career officer whose good qualities were few and were grossly outweighed by the bad.  A stout man with a choleric face, he had risen to the rank of Colonel through luck, connections and a certain force of personality.  As the son of a wealthy American industrialist he had moved from one youthful misadventure to another, each – with the passage of time – growing subsequently more serious.  It was not long before his indiscretions dictated a change of scenery.  It took a pliant judge and an unscrupulous recruiter to provide young Bishop with that desperately needed change.   While his new situation was more perilous, it was also one more favorable to his unique gifts.  And best of all, from both has and his father’s viewpoint, it was one much farther away.

Maybe it was the shock of his new surroundings or maybe the more disciplined military lifestyle that brought out the best in young Bishop but the fact remains he started out well.  He had in his possession a certain forcefulness (some might say cruelty) that served him well in his dealings with men as well as a reckless quality that caused him to take chances a more reflective man might avoid.  These qualities, combined with more than his fair share of luck, resulted in a rapid advancement through the ranks.

However, by the time Peter met him, the qualities that helped him advance in rank to that of Colonel now conspired to prevent further promotion.  His true nature was that of a bully and a coward and therefore was not such as to inspire any real loyalty from his fellow officers.   As the years passed it became apparent to all that he would to remain a Colonel until such time as fortune once again smiled upon him or, and this being the more likely considering his occupation and habits, his subordinates conspired to demote him from the ranks of the living.

That being said, Colonel Bishop was not a man to waste time with traitors.  Peter Blood and Jeremy Pitt were charged with treason – aiding and abetting the enemy  – and thereby subject to an immediate drumhead court martial.  Presiding, as it were, was Col. Bishop and two officers of lower rank.  Witnesses were Lt. Young and a member of the base’s medical staff who treated the wounded man upon his arrival.  The base doctor was not predisposed in Peter’s favor as the wounded man had the temerity to die while under his care.

After reading the charges, Col. Bishop asked Blood and Pitt for their plea.  It was Peter who answered for both of them.  “How can we plead anything but innocent as we were but doing our duty.”   “Your duty is to kill the enemy, not save ‘em” replied Bishop.  “I was doing my duty as a medic, Jeremy was doing his as a man; while you might be unfamiliar with the former, there can be no doubt you are unfamiliar with latter” was Blood’s disdainful reply.

Some men might have been shamed by Blood’s reply; however, Colonel Bishop was not such a man.  It was with poor grace that he held his temper.  “Even if you’re not guilty of aiding and abetting the enemy, you’re guilty of disobeying a direct order from Lt. Young, a superior officer” stormed Bishop.  “Since when are medics ordered to kill their patients?” replied Blood.  “You’re under orders to kill the enemy, he tried to shoot down Pitt’s helicopter before Pitt shot down his; only a fool would save his life”. “Perhaps Jeremy felt an obligation to a fellow pilot.  We can only suppose he treated the man as would hope to be treated if the situation was reversed” replied Blood.

Now, it wasn’t so much what Blood said, but the way he said it that further enraged Col. Bishop.  Never one slow to anger he tired quickly of Blood’s insolence.  A more courageous man would have quickly resolved this situation by having both Blood and Pitt shot.  But as noted earlier Bishop was at heart a coward, plus he knew something about Pitt that Blood didn’t.  Jeremy Pitt was the son of a former congressman – now a representative to the United Nations.  Bishop couldn’t very well shoot Blood and leave Pitt alive which meant he had to leave both alive.  But, times had changed and there was a new option open to Bishop.  Bishop had an option where the outcome was as certain as that of a firing squad but held far less risk to Bishop’s personal skin.  Had he known just a little more about Jeremy’s relationship with his father this option would never would never have been considered.  It was perhaps the only piece of luck that strayed across the path of Pitt and Blood this day.

It was with this new option in mind that Col Bishop responded, “it’s time those less fortunate received the benefits of your medical training and of Mr. Pitt’s benevolence.”  It was with barely disguised contempt that he said “Guards, remove these fine young men and prepare them for a short journey”.