I was trying to unravel that unspooling from Old Yeller's cratering mind. And then ... then it came to me:
Witness: I flew with Striker during the war. I'll never forget the night we bombed Macho Grande. Striker was the squadron leader. He brought us in real low. But he couldn't handle it.
Prosecutor: Buddy couldn't handle it. Was Buddy one of your crew?
Witness: Right. Buddy was the bombardier. But it was Striker who couldn't handle it. And he went to pieces.
Prosecutor: Andy went to pieces?
Witness: No! Andy was the navigator. He was alright. Buddy went to pieces. It was awful, how he came unglued!
Prosecutor: Howie came unglued?
Witness: Oh, no! Howie was a rock, the best tail-gunner in the outfit! Buddy came unglued!
Prosecutor: And he bailed out?
Witness: No! Andy hung tough! Buddy bailed out. How we survived was a miracle.
Prosecutor: Then Howie survived?
Witness: No. Afraid not. We lost Howie the next day.
Prosecutor: Over Macho Grande?
Witness: No. I don't think I'll ever get over Macho Grande. Those wounds run pretty deep.
