Chapter 2

Mr. Biddle glanced up at the colorless, winter sky and sighed. It had been three days since he and John had been separated, but it didn't take much to make Anthony J. Biddle miserable.

"How are you getting on, Captain?" Lieutenant Manfred asked, trying to be social. He'd noticed that the loss of John's company had affected Biddle greatly, and he didn't much like the results.

Mr. Biddle eyed him dubiously. "I'd be alright, Lieutenant, if you'd tell me the whereabouts of my friend, Private Lawless! We've been serving together long enough to realize that keeping together is good for morale!" Biddle huffed.

Manfred laughed and hunched down, as a shell made top of the trench wall crumble behind him. "Morale, eh? Well, nobody can deny any of you some of that while we're fighting the Kaiser. I'm afraid that I don't know the complete whereabouts of your friend though, Captain. Mr. O'Leary, the man that drives the medical cart, told me that by the time they reached the hospital, Lawless was missing among the wounded, sir." The Lieutenant said apologetically, cursing as a snowflake landed on his nose.

"Well where has the man gone, blast it!" Anthony raised his hands in the air, and shook his head exasperated. "He can't just have disappeared into thin air!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that that's the case, Captain Biddle!" Manfred shouted over the barrage of shells. "But I have some men combing the area for him, don't you worry!"

John shivered, at the cold breeze blowing across his shoulders. He glared at the burly German who was hoisting him up by the collar of his uniform, he'd lost his coat somewhere by the German lines, after he'd fallen asleep; using it as a blanket. The thug hadn't given him any time to retrieve it. "Well, you could be a little nicer about your greeting, sir!"

The man didn't say anything. He merely grunted, and started marching faster, his head bent against the wind that blew snow into his face.

"Ah, Adolf! Brought another one I see! And a wounded one at that! Good man!" A young officer hailed, in perfect English John noted. "Tie him up, and put him with the others. Now, you go with Adolf like a good man, and you'll make some new friends."

"You speak English, sir?" John stuttered, not quiet used to hearing the voice of an Englishman outside of the cramped quarters of his side of the trenches. But the thug named Adolf kept him on his toes…if he'd been able to stand up much at all.

"Of course I bally well do! And Sergeant Adolf found you hiding away behind our lines, didn't he! I'm afraid that I've been working for the Germs for quite a while. Now take care of him Adolf, I think the man is talking a little too much." He whispered in the Sergeant's ear, giving John another charming smile.

"B-but…" John stopped talking, as Adolf dragged him off, punching him roughly in the face.

"Keep quiet, you leprechaun." He barked. "You won't need to do much talking where you're going."

"It's time for another push, Captain! Are you ready?" Manfred was yelling at the top of his lungs, trying to wake the war-weary millionaire from his slumber, with little success. It seemed that the man had gotten used to the sound of shells pounding the sides of the trenches, not to mention the blood curdling screams and what not. "Captain Biddle!"

Anthony shook himself awake, his face paling. He'd thought at first that it was John calling him; he'd promised his daughter Cordie that he'd look after the young Irishman, ever since she got word that they were joining up with the British; dissatisfied with President Wilson's caution in getting mixed up with the war proceedings.

"Oh, Manfred, it's you." He said disconsolately. "Any sign of John yet? They have found him, haven't they?" He grabbed at his gun, and pulled his helmet down.

"No, I'm afraid they haven't sir! But we-we found this just behind German lines. Thought you might recognize it…" Manfred held out a coat, his hopefulness turned to fear as Anthony leapt upon him.

"Yes I do recognize it, blast it! That's John's coat; the poor man's probably freezing to death without it! Are you suggesting he's been captured by the Kaiser?" There was a frantic fear in Anthony's eyes now. He'd promised everybody in Philadelphia that they would come home in one piece…this was hardly keeping his promise. "I-I'd better go look for him!"

Manfred grabbed him by the elbow. "You can't do that, Captain! You need to lead the push of your men first! Duty before friendship!" He reminded.

Anthony shook his head. "I know that you blasted Scot! But I promised John, that I'd look after him. And when you're a man of your word, breaking a promise is taboo! I leave you in charge of my men, lead them in the charge. I have to find John!"