We're gonna have to go for an extraction.
The burly Colonel poked at the map on the screen in front of us with his pen.
This target here? Looks like they are dug in tight.
Now I poked at the screen. Under my pen the target glowed with a soft light.
The Colonel heaved a sigh.
Yeah. It's not going to be easy, not by a long chalk.
He eyed me steadily like I was the last doughnut in the box.
Are you truly ready for this?
I took a sip from my cup and spat in a nearby bowl.
Ready? I was born for this shit. Let's do it.
A big grin washed over the Colonel's face and he held his hand up for a high-five man-jive.
I grinned too as I slapped my hand against his. If all went well after the extraction, I was sure we would go and get drunk, maybe get tattoos together.
Such is the way of man.
To victory!
We cried.
Hello? Hello? Are you still with us?
I looked ahead to the voice that had spoken. It was the Dentist chap just visible through the dense fog of fear that was clouding my vision.
I nodded, or shook. It was hard to tell. He took my mad jerking as an acknowledgement and continued.
So, yes. The tooth is a bit buggered to be honest. Beyond saving, so it will have to be an extraction. Is that ok? I can do it now or you can come back tomorrow but it looks painful so it would be best to be now.
A fat salty tear threatened to roll down my cheek as I peered through the phobic terror murk at my dentist, sitting there all nice and reasonable as if he wasn't a butchering chop monkey.
I raised a hand to my cheek and wiped at the tear which had burst free. I looked at the wetness on the back of my hand with no little confusion.
Must be the lights, they were so bright...
Yeah, go on, extract away...
I croaked.