"Hey, hello," the soldier greeted to a young man his age who was also a soldier of the same rank as himself.
At that time, the two young man were on a warship with the aim of one of the islands which became the center of defense.
The soldier was trying to find someone to chat with and happened to see one of the soldiers standing on the iron guardrail of the ship's stern.
"Oh, hi, hello too," the soldier returned the greeting. They both nodded and smiled at the same time.
"You want a cigarette?" The soldier who greeted him first offered a pack of Lucky Strikes to his fellow soldiers.
"Oh no, I've only been out for the past two months."
"Gosh, I thought you came here on purpose to smoke," he looked a little disappointed.
"Oh no, my friend, you're wrong. I just wanted to enjoy the sunset," he replied.
"Oh—," he simply nodded.
"Forgive me friend."
"Hey, don't be shy. Of course I should be the one apologizing too."
"You know, I want to quit smoking too," he added, "but this isn't the time. The scenery is too beautiful here and we're at war."
"Are you kidding? This is amazing," the soldier threw his hands at the seascape before them, "and yes, we are at war."
"Uh, I'm starting to doubt my decision," he continued.
"Ha-ha, you're really inconsistent, bro!"
Both of them laughed at the same time as they stared at the sea surface that was scorched by the sunlight.
The sea was stunning, the fields looked flat and colored like freshly plated gold. Everything feels very calm now.
"I'm Robinson, Robinson Clarkson. Call me Robs," the soldier who greeted at the beginning now held out his hand.
"I'm Hobs O'neil," the other soldier returned the greeting.
"Nice to meet you, my friend."
"Nice to meet you."
"Hey, he jumped!" suddenly Clarkson shouted with joy.
"What?!"
"You see that one over there?!" said Clarkson. Clarksin was just like a happy child. He's excited. Big smile. His skin was red and full of spots like mustard seeds.
"What?"
"Is that a whale?"
"No, it's a dolphin," replied O'neil, "whales are much bigger, I read about it in a magazine."
"Oh." Clarkson nodded, "hey! He's jumping again!? Look!"
"Oh, ha ha!
"Let's wave to him."
"—."
"Hey, nice to meet you, Mr. Dolphin!"
"Hallo, Mr. Dolphin!"
"Wait a minute, how do you know it's a boy?" asked O'neil.
Clarkson was silent.
Then, they both laughed at the same time.
"In that case, let's say hallo to Mrs. Dolphin!"
"Uh—!"
"Hey, Miss Dolphin!"
"We love you!"
The two soldiers continued to laugh.
"Nice to meet you, my friend." the atmosphere feels stiff and clumsy.
O'neil looked doubtful.
"You're kidding. Of course I'm happy to meet you too," O'neil shook Clarkson's hand.
"Uh, if only it wasn't in a state of war."
"Yeah, I think so."
At that time, night came. At the end of the horizon there was a remnant of a reddish glow, and there was no more sea level for their eyes to see, only the white foam that became the tail of the ship, leaving the trail of an old ship moving slowly towards the bottom of the ocean.
•••