Hench's adjutant had sent Richard a signal, telling him to hurry to the veterans' club. But Reuben hadn't shown his true colors yet, so the adjutant simply said the two sides had gotten into a drunken conflict.
It wasn't just Richard; other officers on good terms with Hench also rushed over, thinking they were just coming to back up "Colonel Turtle." Then they barged their way in, only to witness a shocking scene—Reuben pressing a gun to Hench's head.
The gun went off, but the one most seriously injured was Reuben.
Startled by the gunshot, the others holding down Colonel Turtle instinctively loosened their grip. They hadn't expected the gun, which was only meant as a threat, to actually fire. Hench, realizing in that instant that he wasn't dead, let out a roar, broke free of his restraints, and lunged at Reuben.
