Tides of Change

[Rodent]

Santos looks at Jessica, his vision is blurred from too much alcohol in his bloodstream.

You think so Hermana? He replies.

Well...I think so too....but we'll hold on, if I have to put my own body between that Mako and Toledo...

He groans, as a loose movement brings another jolt of pain. He looks around slowly, seeing people of all ranks and all stripes drinking, and sitting with their heads bowed, It seemed way too much like the bar on Cadiz, after a Corsair raid had gone very wrong. He did not like it, but he felt as if he could not move. It would be great to just lie down, in half-wakefulness, and forget about this damn battle and all it's grief, but the warrior spirit within him refused to give up...He had to rouse them somehow.One more effort, one more day.

He saw Jessica offering him a drink, and took it gladly, then got up shakily, the pain was being numbed, but it was still there, like a stiletto aimed at your heart. He climbed onto a table, moved by the desire to do something.

He raised his voice above the crowd.

Hermanos, Hermanas!

The bar was silenced. Everyone looked at him tiredly.

How about a song? Back on Crete, we used to sing songs to honour the dead, and to take us to more victories, and we must do the same here!

Having said that, he lost his balance, and landed on his rear, causing a few cracked smiles.