Early that morning, I walked up to the latrines, as I saw the 'lucky six' finishing up their punishment. I smiled at them," Hey guys."
Toye looked up at me," Hey Lieutenant." The rest of the men glanced up at me, smiling back.
"How's it going? Punishment over yet?" I asked, trying to break the tension that was clearly marking their moods.
"Oh, you know...we've thought about licking them clean, like our boots, but thought that we'd save that for another day," Muck sarcastically stated, creating laughter from the men.
I chuckled," Well, as long as it's clean. I'll be sure to tell Sobel that, should he ask how it looked," I looked at them and saw how dirty they looked, not to mention the smell that came from them," Go get cleaned up."
"Aw, you don't want a hug, Lieutenant?" Muck tried reaching for me.
I stepped back, arm extended to stop him," If you touch me, I swear I will shoot you!"
The boys laughed. Guarnere cleared his throat," So, uh, Lieutenant, how many more times will we have to put up with that man?"
I glanced over to meet his gaze," There's not much we can do, Bill."
"We can't, but perhaps your old man could?" Bill stated.
I blinked. I had to change topics now, or we could all be in trouble," Go get cleaned up, boys. Lunch is being served."
"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison, leaving the area quickly, to get out of their soiled uniforms. Bill nodded to me, knowing that this was a conversation for another time.
I started to walk towards the mess hall. I had some time for lunch before we had to get tortured again by Sobel. Unfortunately, the mess hall would have to wait. Sobel had approached me, outside the latrine," Lieutenant Patterson, a moment."
"Sir?" I asked, cringing on the inside as I turned to face him.
Sobel stood closely to me, which I hated," I have a request of you."
Looking at him," A request, sir?"
"Yes. I am hoping that this can be left between us, however," Sobel stated.
I peered over his shoulder, to see Winters and Nixon walking into the mess hall, staring in our direction. They looked concerned for me. I smiled, to give them the heads up that things were okay, but I asked," What can I do for you, sir?"
Sobel was surprised by my smile, and sort of smiled back at me," Well, I was hoping that you could tell me how to get in touch with your father."
"My father, sir?" I was suddenly taken aback.
Sobel nodded," I was hoping to speak with General Patterson about your position here."
"Sir?" I was confused now. What was he up to?
Sobel explained," I am concerned that this may not be the best use of your abilities in this company...I was hoping to get you transferred to a more... suitable place."
I looked at him, in utter shock. The way that he paused at the suitable part, made my skin crawl," With all due respect, sir, you do know that my father assigned me to this unit, but because I am not of the...how shall I say...male species, that I was placed in a lower rank?"
Sobel's eyes flared," His contact, Lieutenant."
"I regret to inform you, sir, that I am not privy to that information," I waited a moment, to see his reaction before adding," Are we through?"
Sobel nodded, and I walked around him, to head to the mess hall.
As I walked into the mess hall, I headed to the line, grabbing a tray of food, which I couldn't make out what it was, but it was food, so I didn't care. I turned around, and saw Nixon and Winters talking quietly at a table. I started to approach, but didn't want to butt into a conversation, in case they wanted privacy," This seat taken?"
They both looked up at me, almost in surprise, but Nixon replied as he slid down the bench," Have a seat."
I sat down next to him, looking at Winters, who sat across from me. I smiled, suddenly feeling that I was not supposed to be here...of course, that could simply be from Sobel's conversation with me earlier.
"What did Sobel want?" Winters asked concerned.
I held in a laugh," He wanted to know how to contact my father to get my out of his company."
Nixon almost spit up his coffee," He wanted to ask General Patterson to transfer you, his only daughter, out of his company...the one he assigned to you?"
I nodded," That's right." I started pushing my food around my plate with my fork. What is this stuff?
Shaking their heads in disbelief, Winters had finally asked," Why are you here, Kate?"
I looked into his cerulean eyes," You know who you're talking to right? Me, being the daughter of a four star general, being highly trained and better qualified for combat...Besides, my father is the only family I've got left. I think that he wanted me somewhere close by, somewhere he could keep his eyes on, so to speak."
"You are better trained and qualified than Sobel," Nixon added as he thought about what I had said.
I chuckled," Everyone's better than Sobel. Oh, and he wanted to keep his little conversation between us...so...be careful with that information." We chuckled amongst ourselves about that, but stopped when we heard a familiar silence grow in the mess hall.
Sobel had walked into the mess hall, and strutted down to get something to eat. We just looked at each other, trying to avoid eye contact with that man.
