"There's a few differences don't you think?" The young man with coal black skin said on a bitter note.
Shalako had noticed that about him in the brief time he'd known Utah. He patted Utah's back, "You've got a chip on your shoulder don't you son."
Shalako's other hand came away from his bloody stomach wound and smeared the blood on his hand down the side of Utah's face before gripping the young man's chin hard, "How red your blood is, is the only color that matters out here and don't you forget it!" Shalako let go of Utah's chin and crawled over to lean against a concrete wall. The pain was a constant thing, but he'd had so much of it in his life that it more or less throbbed in the background of his consciousness.
Utah watched a red drip of blood splat onto the ground from off his chin, "I'm sorry Shalako. I……"
"You're bitter!" Shalako said cutting him off.
Utah looked up and Shalako gestured to himself, "You don't think I've had my share of prejudice? One look at my long hair and Indian features and most people write me off as a reservation casino meal ticket on two legs. I know what it's like to be bitter and trust me it will eat you up inside if you let it!"
Utah nodded, as if he was already embroiled in that struggle.
"Now you have a choice to make. You can only save one of us and it's going to be him." Shalako said pointing to the unconscious commando.
"He's young and might have a family somewhere dependent on him. Someone's daddy or children yet to be conceived and born to him. He has more time to experience life and God and get himself right before his Creator, if he isn't already. Do you understand me?" Shalako said firmly there being no question in what he spoke of.
Utah nodded solemnly.
"I probably wouldn't make it anyway. Seventy somethings don't have any business running around battlefields getting themselves shot. Still it's probably better this way. Better than choking to death on a spoonful of jello in some nursing home for sure!"
Despite the graveness of the moment Utah gave a spurt of laughter and Shalako's lips peeled back in a grin, "You think I'm joking, well I'm not!"
Shalako's face grew serious once more, "We don't have much time, but before you go I would like to speak into your life a little and give you a blessing. Got any problems with that?"
"I would be honored for you to do that!" Utah responded quickly, in a voice that quivered with emotion.