The Sleeping Beauty Raid-Chapter 1

By: AliasCWN

King Company, 2nd platoon, 1st squad shuffled into camp tired, hungry and ready for the promised rest period. The other squads of K company called greetings as they plodded past.

"Hey Sarge!" Kirby, the squads B.A.R. man called to his squad leader. "How come we get all the patrols while these other guys get to lay around and sleep?"

Sargent Chip Saunders paused at the head of the squad to consider the question.

"Probably because no one wants to sit around camp and listen to you complain. They'd rather send you, and us, out so that they can get a break." The sargent didn't wait for the argument he knew his answer would generate.

"Then why don't they get out of camp and let us sleep for once?" Kirby grunted with exhaustion. The steady string of patrols had everyone worn out. He didn't even have the energy to give his sargent his usual hard time.

"Let it go my friend. We have a rest period coming and I plan to spend the whole time sleeping." Cage, the squads scout, passed Kirby and hurried to a spot that was protected from the cool breeze. He threw his bedroll on the ground and fell in a heap on top of it.

"Everybody get some rest." Saunders called as he dropped his own bedroll. Shrugging out of his pack, he dropped that next to his weapon which he had propped against a stone wall. He slumped to the ground and leaned his head against the wall. Even the thought of food could not keep his eyes from drifting shut.

"Sargent Saunders?"

Chips eyes popped open at the sound of Lt. Gil Hanleys' call. One of the men pointed to the sargent at the lieutenants request. Gil picked his way through discarded packs to stand over Chip.

"Headquarters wants to see us."

Saunders didn't rise, he just tilted his head to look up at the officer. "Well Lieutenant, what has headquarters dreamed up for us to do this time?"

"You're not going to believe it." The lieutenant said quietly as he squatted next to the sargent. "We are to report for a briefing as soon as possible." He continued in a louder voice for the benefit of the men.

Chip raised his eyebrows in a silent question. He could already feel the tiredness slipping away. "That bad huh?"

The lieutenant frowned and stood. "Are you ready? They're waiting for us."

Saunders shrugged and climbed to his feet. He tried not to stagger with fatigue as he hurried to keep up with the lieutenants longer stride.

"Well there goes our rest period." Kirby said to no one in particular.

The others agreed and decided to get some sleep before the sargent returned.

The approach of a jeep woke them a few hours later. Most stirred but no one wanted to move before it was necessary. Sargent Saunders hopped out of the jeep and began unloading a pile of blankets, rations and spare packs. He left the pile where it fell and headed directly for his own bedroll. With a thud and a grunt he landed on top of the blanket. His soft snores sounded almost immediately. The squad exchanged puzzled looks.

Littlejohn got up and walked over to the pile. He stared down at the supplies without speaking.

"What is it Littlejohn?" Billy Nelson called from his own bed.

The big man shrugged and tucked his hands in his pockets. "Looks like Sarge is hungry and cold. He even got extra packs to carry his extra supplies." With another shrug the private returned to his own bedroll, curled up in his blanket, and fell back asleep. His snores joined that of the sergeants.

The others shrugged too and soon there was a whole chorus of snores.

Most of the squad was awake when Saunders opened his eyes. He stretched and rolled out of his blanket. All eyes immediately turned to him.

"Well?" Cage finally ask the question everyone had on their minds.

"Well what?"

"When do we go out again?"

There was some grumbling at the question but everyone waited for the answer.

"Two days. Tomorrow we rest. We leave bright and early the next day." Saunders looked at the men facing him. All looked tired, but he didn't see any danger signs that any of them had been pushed too far. Headquarters had been adamant, no one was to go who might crack under the strain. This mission was too important to risk someone losing it and blowing the entire operation.

"That's not as bad as I expected." The Cajun admitted with relief. "Did they already assign us our next patrol?"

"They did." Saunders admitted. "I'm hungry. I'm going to head over to the mess hall and get something to eat. I'll see you guys later." Saunders started to walk away. "If you've had some sleep, make sure your packs and supplies are full. Pick up extra ammo too. Then get some more sleep." He gave them their orders before walking away. They all stared after him as he left camp for the mess hall.

"I don't think I like the sound of that." Littlejohn spoke softly as he watched the sargent leave. Billy, standing next to him, nodded in agreement.

Kirbys 'I told you so' was ignored by everyone.

Their packs were resupplied and stocked full by the time the sargent returned to the camp.

He didn't explain any further and no one ask.