These were reckless words. The lieutenant became angry, but he managed his anger, training himself right there and then to handle and focus it. “Listen to me, dammit! This is none of your business. Let her decide, let her tell me herself, and you keep your nose out of it!”
“What?!” Kapitolina stared at him, slack-jawed, her shock stripping her of any ability to form English sentences.
“You heard me!”
“How dare you! I… You… I will report this…” she stuttered.
The lieutenant cut her off, “Shut up and get lost! Better finish your laundry.”
Kapitolina, dumbfounded for a moment, could only open and close her mouth, like a fish dragged out of the water. Then she screamed furiously, “You should be ashamed! I’ll tell my commanding officer about this!”
“Tell whoever you want, but if you don’t
