If These Walls Could Talk

Chapter 1: The Solider

"Boom! Aha, gotcha!" shouted John as he jumped from his hiding place. He and his brothers were reenacting another battle from World War I and he had won again. His brother looked slightly affronted as he turned around, nimbly moving the fake rifle from his face. "How did you manage to get up in the rafters of the porch?"

John chuckled as he lowered his weapon, "Easy private. If you study the teachings of Sun Tzu anything is possible!"

A loud groan drifted from the left as the youngest of the three came out from behind the garbage can. "Not Sun Tzu again John."

"Don't you underestimate Sun Tzu's Art of War, private!" John barked at Sam, "He was a military genius! The Michelangelo of battle tactics, the Leonardo of combat, the-"

"Yes, we've heard this before John," sighed Wallace as he pressed his forefingers to the bridge of his forehead. Before John could launch into another rant of his siblings "undermining his authority" the Jones boys' mother stepped out onto the porch to announce dinner was ready. The boys raced each other inside and ended up shoving each other through the back door into the dining area. The Jones were a modest family, their father was a World War I veteran who now worked as a local farmhand in Elko while the mother was the ideal American homemaker. "Now boys before you eat you should go and wash up. You've been playing outside in the yard all day and are tracking dirt all into the kitchen!" ordered Mrs. Jones.

The boys ran upstairs, the previous games having not tired them out at all. They bounded past the photos of the Jones family, smiling and lining the walls and rounded the corner to the small, sparse bathroom. John got to the bathroom first and promptly slammed and locked the door in his brothers' faces. Several thuds fell against the door as Sam and Wallace collided against it. "Ow! John! Open up we have to wash up too!" shouted Sam as he rapped hardly on the white wood.

John once again chuckled and answered, "After I'm done you can have your turn! I get to go first 'cus I just whooped your asses in battle!"

"Hey! Open up now or I'm telling Mom you cussed again!" warned Wallace.

"Okay, okay fine! Jeez!" settled John as he unlocked the door.

The brothers walked in and all three were huddled around the sink washing their hands vigorously, particularly John who had dust and dirt from his hands to elbows. "Hey you think Dad will tell us another story about his days in the war?" John asked his brothers, a twinkle in his blue eyes as he washed the soapy lather from his hands.

"He might," said Wallace as he turned from the sink reaching for a towel "After all he knows how much you love those stories John."

"Yeah! Maybe he'll tell the one about how he and his company had to brave the trenches and run across the field to take down the enemies' defenses!" replied John excitedly. To say the John was proud of his Dad's accomplishments in the war was an understatement, John idolized his father. He wanted to be just like his Dad, an American hero in his own right. He wanted to serve his country, win a war and come back with several stories to tell! John lowered his eyes and stared at the running water rushing over his hands. "These hands will never get to wield a weapon," thought John sadly. "The war's over and I never got to fight it."

Sam looked over at John and noticed John clutching his fists under the tap, lost in thought and staring at the water. "Hey John are you alright?" Sam asked as he shook John's shoulder lightly.

"Huh, what? Oh yeah, yeah I'm fine." John looked up at his brother smiling.

Mrs. Jones's voice rose from the kitchen, "Boys the food is getting cold!"

"Come on privates! Last one in here locks the door!" John cheered as he rushed out the bathroom; just another summer day with the Jones.


John's ears rang as another grenade whizzed passed his head and over the rock formation he and his brothers were sheltered behind. The grenade exploded into what seemed to be a million fragments and sounds of both comrades and enemies carried from behind as they were hit by the collateral damage. Despite the cold water soaking his socks through his boots and the threat of death looming around every corner, John could never have been happier. His heart pounded in his chest and his blood hummed with adrenaline; he belonged here.

"Oh god! We're going to die!" cried Sam over the gunfire and shouts. He buried his face in his hands as if to forget the gray sky and sounds of crunching sand as reinforcements landed on the beach.

"Get a hold of yourself private!" shouted Lt. John Jones as he roughly shoved his brother up and pointed at his gun. "Keep your eyes on the field son! You'll be making use of that real soon!"

"You can't be serious John! This is a suicide mission we've been sent on! We're outnumbered by the enemy ranks!" bellowed Wallace. The gunfire was deafening now and the yells grew in number.

"Listen, we have our orders! We have to go in and capture Oberleutnant Shultz before he tries to escape the battle!" barked John.

"We don't even know where he is! He could be anywhere John!" countered Wallace.

It was true the Oberleutnant could be anywhere amongst the chaos. Lt. John and what was left of his company had gotten nowhere near close to the enemy's camp in order to scout out Shultz before the reinforcements arrived. Now they had lost their element of surprise and with only three men left briefed on the mission of capturing Shultz before the cavalry arrived, things were looking bleak for the Jones boys. The gunfire was dying down and was now distant as the Americans advanced on the retreating German army. John peeked out from behind the rock formation and glared, "Dammit we're losing time!"

"He might be already dead." said Sam as he lifted his helmet to relieve the heat from his head. The sweat rolled down in rivulets from his temples to his collarbone and Sam never felt more scared in his life. John glared at him and stated calmly, "Alright boys enough chatting. We're moving in with the others and as soon as we see sight of the Oberleutnant we shoot on sight understand?"

"Shoot on sight? John that wasn't our order-" started Wallace. John roughly interjected, "The damn with our orders! That man does not deserve the right to be breathing in MY world."

Wallace just stared hard at John's face. He was seriously considering going against a direct order from the Major? Oh yes, John was very serious Wallace could tell. He had that fire in his eyes, the same fire the Wallace saw whenever John pointed that wooden rifle at his face or when trained on the targets at boot camp. There was no stopping John now and the younger Jones brothers knew it. "We'll follow you Lieutenant, sir" leveled Wallace and Sam merely
nodded in agreement. John smiled at his best soldiers and bellowed, "Today is a good day!"


By dumb luck or skill unknown the Jones boys, they had managed to sneak by enemy lines and into the camp. The American reinforcements had not yet made it to the camp and John smiled on his good fortune, "Looks like hope still shines upon us yet boys."

"Yeah and I'm exhausted." Sam groaned. However, even as his muscles ached Sam still managed a wide grin at his older brother as John smiled back and growled, "Take your lumps like a man, Private Twinkletoes." Sam could not help the laugh that broke out from his weary throat at his old nickname from back when they still were playing pretend.

"Hey keep it down you idiots? You trying to get us caught?" exclaimed Wallace in a hushed tone.

"Sorry sweetheart." John teased as he came up beside his brother. They were currently shielded from enemy eyes in the thicket of the surrounding forest that neighbored the beach.

"They're pretty clever for setting up here in the forest. They would have been torn apart had they set up near the beach," acknowledged Wallace as he peered carefully behind the tree.

John scoffed, "More like they're running scared."

"How are we going to do this? If that's the Oberleutnant's tent it's going to be hard infiltrating it. The whole tent is surrounded by men," declared Wallace as he counted off the men in his head.

John chuckled and laid a heavy hand on his brother's shoulder, "Ever the cautious one Wally?"

"Someone has to make sure your ass doesn't get killed," Wallace smirked back at his brother who chuckled lowly again.

"We'll wait until nightfall and sneak into the Oberleutnant's tent while the most of the men are sleeping. We'll strike then and shoot him even before most of the men realize what's happened," declared John.

"Wow John I never knew you were capable of actual strategy and planning" teased Sam as he sat on the ground, waiting for night to fall.

"You think I got this strap as a gift private?" commented John as he playfully punched his brother in the arm. He settled down next to Sam as the boys waited for the moon to rise.

It was nightfall and the Joneses slipped their way by the sleeping men and hid behind tents to avoid guards on watch. "Damn they're not making this easy," huffed Wallace as he and his brothers hid behind another tent. That time they narrowly missed the patrolling guard that stalked in front of the cream colored fabric.

"War wouldn't be fun if it was easy," smiled John. Blood thundered in his ears and his heart started to race again. The thrill of the upcoming battle made his body shudder in anticipation.

"Who said war was fun?" asked Sam puzzled and slightly disturbed by his brother's revelation.

"Come on let's move, the guard is turned away!" urged Wallace as the boys shuffled across the camp ground as quickly and quietly as possible. They finally arrived behind the intended tent and Wallace turned to John and seriously stated, "Okay John it's your call now. We can still back out if you want, the reinforcements are due to arrive at anytime and we could simply just-"

"Like hell I will!" grunted John as he stared hard at Wallace, "A true solider never backs down from a battle! Sun Tzu never backed down from a fight and I'll be damned if I do to!"

"Yeah but you're not Sun Tzu John-"

"Enough chatting! In case you forgot private we're still in the middle of enemy territory and I'm still you're superior officer. You agreed to this," John said; he stood his ground firmly staring back into his brother's eyes searching for an answer.

Wallace nodded and Sam repeated their oath, "We're in this together John."

"Then let's go kick some ass!" growled John as he and his brothers entered the tent from behind. Unsurprisingly, the Oberleutnant was awake and in fact was sitting on a simple wooden chair facing right at them. "Guten abend boys," Shultz greeted.

"Zusätzlich," John ground out in the little, rough German he knew.

"So vhat brings you boys out here on such a momentous occasion?" Shultz continued as he smiled warmly at the Jones boys.

"Momentous occasion?" Sam inquired from behind John. He took as step closer towards Shultz. The Oberleutnant merely smiled and said, "Vhy yes. The Americans already seem to think they have von this war."

"You bet your ass!" John growled as he pointed his pistol right at Shultz's head, "You're just a maggot in the way."

"Ah ever the cowboy Lieutenant." Shultz smirked, "You may vant to lower your weapon or I'm afraid I von't lower mein." Audible gun cocking suddenly filled the tent as rifles trained on the Jones boys' heads. Four men suddenly stalked into the tent, their eyes and guns fixed only on John and his brothers. "Surely you could not have thought this to be that simple?" stated Shultz.

"No but war is never as simple as it looks," answered John. Wallace glanced around the tent nervously.

"John we should just lower our weapons and surrender. We may be able to make it out alive if we just sit tight wait for reinforcements to arrive," Wallace muttered beneath his breathe so only John could hear. Sam gulped but still stood his ground, erect and proud next to John.

"Vell Lieutenant my patience grows thin," Shultz declared his face now cold and hard. Shultz's men grew closer to the Joneses. John smiled and cocked his pistol, "Auf Wiedersehen."

The gunshots rang loud in the camp.


"Honored? HONORED? YOU'RE LUCKY IF I DON'T HAVE YOU ARRESTED LIEUTENANT!" John winced as Major Adam's voice rang through the tiny office.

"What we did was bravery, sir! Due to us killing Oberleutnant Shultz there was little resistance from the remaining men!" countered John just as loud.

"Yes and we also lost valuable information that will now die with the Oberleutnant! You also proceeded to put your men in danger! Hell I even lost a good solider out in that camp!"

John stopped mid-shout, no sound came from his mouth. He shut his mouth and looked behind him. Wallace looked up at him and both men stared at the vast empty space in the room.

"Yes," John turned back to the Major. "Sam was a damn good soldier. I regret that the most about my actions that night."

"As you should Lieutenant!" Major Adams sighed as he sat back down in his chair defeated. He looked at both men, sighed again and said "Listen don't you understand I'm protecting you boys right now? I have every right to have you arrested for disobeying a direct order and simultaneously betraying your country! Hell the higher ups at the Pentagon would love a scapegoat for this travesty! However, I know you boys and even though we needed that information I also know Shultz was a bastard. That's why I am going to have you both dishonorably discharged."

"WHAT? You can't do this to us Major we're heroes goddammit!" John bellowed. Wallace stepped in as he hobbled on his crutches.

"Sir, we accept these discharges and will relief ourselves of duty."

"The hell we do Wally! After all we have done for this country! After all we have been through! Think about us Wally, think about Sam!"

"I think about him every night John." Wallace stared deep into John's blue eyes. Wallace's own hazel ones have lost their sheen after all he had seen during the war. He looked tired and worn, a boy forced to grow up too fast on the battlefield. John just stared back and realized that Wallace was hurt.

"John?" The Major looked at John and John stared back. The air was thick and the tension between the men in the room was high. John merely stated clearly with no emotion, "I accept the discharge, sir. I will relief myself of duty." Both brothers left the room, John helped Wallace walk as he hobbled through the hallways. All the secretaries stared at them; the argument could be heard throughout the whole floor and it was no secret what had happened that night at Schultz's camp. News spread like wildfire of Lt. John Jones's crazed attempt at assassinating Shultz and inadvertently leading to Private Sam Jones's death. Wallace pressed the elevator button for down. The ride down the elevator shaft was silent between the men. Finally when it was too heavy for John's taste he said, "So, this is how it ends?"

"Afraid so." Wallace answered

"It's nothing like what I dreamed it would be."

"And what exactly did you dream war would be like?" Wallace countered, glaring at John. John sighed and said, "Like Dad's old stories."

"Oh please John those were fables that Dad made up to cope with the war. War is an ugly, horrible and unbelievable nightmare and personally I am glad to be done with it."

The silence fell again as the elevator doors opened. Both men walked out, John still helped Wallace down the stone steps of the military headquarters. The sun was shining and promise of Spring shifted in the air. People walked to and from as they tended to their own business, oblivious to the two soldiers standing erect in front of the old stone steps. "Well I'm going to go back home," announced Wallace.

"To Nevada?"

"Yeah. Mom's all alone out there and while I may be injured now as soon as I get better I'll take care of her and me. Besides I could use some peace and quiet." Wallace sighed as he looked around at the bustling city.

"I'm going to stay here in Chicago," declared John.

"Work?"

"I'll find something."

"House?"

"I got a friend here in the city that's willing to room with me for a few months."

"You're lying John."

"Yeah but it's a nice thought right?" John smiled at his brother. Wallace managed a small grin and said, "Good luck Lieutenant." John smiled and helped Wallace hail down a cab. "Remember John I'll always be around to help you."

As the cab veered off Wallace peered back through the rear window and saluted. John brought himself full height and saluted back. Wallace was gone and John was left alone on the street corner, people shuffling past him as he stood lost in thought.

"Lieutenant John Jones?" a rough voice inquired behind him. John turned to see the most peculiar woman he had ever laid eyes on. Dressed in a light purple coat and wearing dark sunglasses was a woman nearing late 50s with prominent gray streaks in her hair, staring right at John. She took another drag from her cigarette and tapped the ash gathering at the tip. John watched fascinated as the ash crumbled and disappeared into the gray of the street. "Well are you or are you not Lieutenant John Jones? Son to Thomas and Sarah Jones and born in Elko, Nevada?"

John was now suddenly alarmed. "Who the hell are you and how do you know all that?"

The woman nearly smirked and continued, "We know a lot about you John. We've always been watching." She blew smoke that willowed and spun in the light Spring air.

John continued to stare at this woman and then repeated, "Who the hell are you?"

"Take a seat John." A driver suddenly got out of the car beside her and opened the back door for them. John continued to stand stock still, as if frozen to the very street corner. People still rushed by them never taking notice of the woman or the jet black car beside her. "Well John?"

John finally felt the numbness leave his legs and moved forward to the car. He got into the back seat and the woman followed. The driver shut the door and climbed into the driver seat. The car hummed as it sprung to life and they were off. John had no idea where they were going as the windows were heavily tinted and only allowed little light to filter through.

"So am I going to get an answer to my question?" John asked.

"Yes and no." The woman answered as she took a drag from her cigarette. The little orange light illuminated her face in the darkness and gave it an ominous yet mysterious glow. She blew the smoke into the space and the car immediately smelled of heady cigarette smoke and expensive leather. "I am representing my client in this meeting, Lieutenant. My identity is unimportant in the matter."

"Okay then what does your benefactor want with me?" inquired John, now impatient by the avoidance of his questions. He needed the truth, he could not trust this woman. Something was off about this whole meeting he just could not place it at the moment.

"Excellent question Lieutenant. That is what you'll be proving in this upcoming game we have planned."

"Game?" John did not like where this was going.

"Yes. You see Lieutenant, we are in a war. This is not the about the war you just fought or in fact, a war anyone knows about. It is a private war, a business transaction between two rival companies. However while most companies play corporate wars with lawyers and cheap tactics, we play ours with more convincing strategies."

"I'm lost here lady." John admitted. The woman smirked and simply said, "What my benefactor wants Lieutenant is for you to prove you can win. You see our team needs a strong man, a man who does not cower from battle; an experienced warrior who understands the art of war and can successfully lead them on missions against our competitors. Simply put Lieutenant, we need a soldier."

John stared at the woman for a moment. He folded his hands and brought them to his lips, deep in thought. After some time as said, "You want me to fight a mercenary's war?" The woman grinned.

"Not just any mercenary's war John. The best mercenary's war. Our competitor has spared no expense in hiring the best mercenaries in the world to fight this war and we share that sentiment."

"So you've recruited more than just me in this?" John asked.

"Well of course Lieutenant. You'll be leading a team to fight this war."

John thought long about what this woman was asking of him. Had she not realized what he just went through? He already failed one team and now she expects him to lead another? The irony of the situation seemed to mock John. He sat in silence as his thoughts were rampant with different emotions of confusion, doubt and guilt. The woman finally put out her cigarette and airily stated, "The expense for your brother's funeral must have cost your family a fortune."

John sharply looked up as he was yanked from his thoughts by her sudden and blunt statement. The woman merely continued ignoring his hard stare, "I mean after all how can you and your brother hope to take care of things at home with your menial pension as a soldier. Sad to say but this country does little for its boys at arms once they return home."

John stared long and hard as the woman stared back at him arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing upon her painted lips. "How much am I getting payed to do this?" John finally asked. The woman smirked and stated, "More then what you could have ever dreamed of Lieutenant." John was silent and the car finally came to a complete halt. "Well Lieutenant my time is short and I'm afraid I will need you to make your decision now."

What had John to lose? A chance to redeem his honor on a battlefield was now presented to him as well as taking care of his broken family. He looked up at the woman and in a leveled voice declared, "Where do I sign up?"

"No need Lieutenant. You see, we've already prepared everything. In fact we're here." The woman turned as the back door was opened for them. The sharp light from the sun momentarily blinded John as he protected his sensitive eyes with his hands. The woman climbed out the car and John followed. It was not long before the sounds of battle could be heard from distance. "You can see better from here Lieutenant," the woman called as she beckoned John to her side. As soon as he stood next to her John could make out what seemed to be a gated area. Bombs were blowing debris high into the air and gunfire could be heard even from the hill John and the woman were on. "Welcome to 2fort Lieutenant. It is one of the designated areas the government has agreed to give us so we can conduct this war in extreme secrecy." Indeed as John soon realized 2fort was in the middle of nowhere. The area was surrounded by flat grass land and dirt and seemed to be made up of two abandoned warehouses and a wide sewer area running between them. John turned to the woman and remarked, "I thought you said no one knows about this war."

"Yes that is true John. No one does know about this war."

"You just said the government was in on it though."

"Oh well yes of course we have a few placed officials in office to ensure secrecy. Not to worry though not even the President knows about what's happening. Ah, I'm afraid I've revealed too much now. I am getting a bit ahead of myself. So let me just brief you fast before my assistant takes over. You see I'm a very busy woman and while unfortunate, I cannot give you the grand tour of your new home myself. So, you will refer to me for now on as the Announcer. I am the mediator of both companies and review the battles on a purely neutral basis. For this operation you will be now known as Jane Doe. Your previous life does not matter, all that matters is here and now. You also do not exist in any records anywhere and you were killed in action on D-Day. You may communicate with your family but reveal nothing about what is going on here. Any attempts at leaking information will be censored and if repeated severely punished. Have I made myself clear?"

John stood agape in front of the Announcer. His name was now Jane Doe, a ghost name used to identify dead bodies of soldiers that were so mangled they could not be properly identified. He also did not exist it any record, meaning he was never born, never went to school and never served in the war. It was literally a brand new slate for him starting here atop of the hill. "Mr. Doe?" the Announcer quipped, clearly annoyed by John spacing out.

"Yes ma'm." Jane answered, a new man.

"Good. Do not fail us Mr. Doe. We'll keep in touch." With that the woman entered the car and disappeared on the highway. Jane looked to his new home called 2fort. He smiled and said to himself aloud, "Today is a good day."