For a while, it looked as if the threat of the wolves attacking disappeared, but Winters insisted that the solders continue to escort the children to school. When Johnny Martin and Shifty Powers showed up to escort the children, Peggy Hinshaw refused to let Johnny inside.
"I warned you not to hurt Virginia. Do not think that she is unaware that you plan to return to your time."
Johnny dropped his head. "I wanted to tell her. I just couldn't find the words. Did Miss Daniels spill the beans?"
"Do not be ridiculous. Malarkey told Amon, who told me and I told Virginia. I am astonished that you have the nerve to show your face here."
"M'am, I am here to escort the children to school."
"Fine, they are almost ready."
"Mrs. Hinshaw, with all due respect. I thought it best to leave now. I found myself becoming too involved with Virginia and the children. No matter, what year it is, I still consider myself a married man, and I do love my wife."
For a few minutes, Mrs. Hinshaw stood there staring at Johnny. "Perhaps I judged you too harshly Sergeant. You are in a difficult position, and have been from the very beginning. I apologize. Would you like to come inside?"
"No, m'am. I think you are right. It's better that I stay out here and wait for the kids."
Finally, the children came outside, but they had little to say to Johnny. It tore him up inside, but he knew he was doing the right thing. If only this damn weather would clear up, he could leave and go back to what, he thought. I wonder where Easy Company was the first week of February. Finally, they arrived at the school. "Have a good day kids," said Johnny" Jeff and Ali went inside without ever saying a word to Martin.
"Buck up Sergeant," said Shifty. "Just think soon you will be back in 1945 giving the Germans hell. The war will be over by August and soon you will be back home with your wife. We sure will miss you though. It won't be the same without you."
"Thanks Popeye." Neither man said a word the rest of the way back except to greet their buddies bringing in the other children. When they got back, Johnny went into his cubicle and lay down on his bunk. He started thinking things over again.
The children quickly settled down into their classes. While everyone worked on their lessons, the snow began to fall again, and the wind blew so hard, you could hear it whistle through the windows. Thea Kronigbern looked outside and thought she saw a dog, but quickly realized it was a wolf. Then she saw another one. "Lewis, I need to go across the hall and ask Miss Caldwell something. I am leaving you in charge. Class, please continue with your lessons." Walking down the hall, she reached Katie's classroom and motioned for her friend to come out into the hall. "I saw two wolves outside my classroom window."
Katie casually strolled back into her classroom and looked outside the window. Seeing four wolves, Katie tried to maintain her composure and went back into the hall. "There are four just outside the window. I am going back in there and close the shutters."
"Good idea, I am going across the hall to tell Dottie. What do you think we should do?"
"Let's just keep an eye on our four-legged visitors. We can't send the children home for lunch. Someone is bound to come looking for them. My communicator doesn't work well in this weather."
"Nor does mine." They heard a door open and Dottie looked down the hall. Closing the door behind her, she headed for her friends.
"You are not going to believe it, but there are three wolves fighting outside the school. I know the children can hear them. They are terrified. I closed the shutters, but I think we should move them to a safer location in the building."
"I agree, but we must do this calmly. We should tell the children what is happening and that they should not worry. Then have them proceed upstairs in an orderly fashion," said Thea.
"If we could manage to ring the bell, we could warn the others. What if only a couple of the men or the women come to school? They won't stand a chance against that many wolves," said Katie.
Hearing a door open, the teachers looked down the hall and saw Lewis Winters coming towards them. "Miss Kronigbern, the others saw the wolves. Billy and I think we might could ring the bell, but we need a long stick."
"Lewis, that's an excellent idea, but we need to move everyone upstairs," said Thea.
"Yes m'am."
In minutes, the children were upstairs in the loft. Some of the younger ones whimpered, but their older siblings or a teacher help calm them down. Gillian was beside herself because Lewis, Hank, and Billy were looking for a long stick to ring the bell. Seeing her anxiety, Dick Nixon sat down beside her. "It is going to be fine," said Dick. "You will see Gilly. Either Nix or Major Winters will rescue us." He reached out and held her hand. She squeezed it back. If the wolves don't eat us before they do, she thought.
Perconte and Luz decided to head for the school early to retrieve their respective charges. Cutting across the Daniels yard to get to the main road, they were almost at the school, when Frank said, "Whoa shit, George look."
"Holy shit, they've seen us. Head for those trees Perco and start climbing."
Frank did not need to be told twice. Soon both he and Luz were making their way up two Maple trees. "Jesus, that was close. Now what to we do," said Perco?
"For starters, I going to try and shoot over their heads and see if that scares them off."
George let off a few rounds as did Perco, but all that did was send them right back over to the school.
"I wonder if the teachers know what's going on," asked Perco?
"How the hell should I know. It's not even noon yet," said Luz. "Oh shit, there's Virginia and Tia."
Luz and Perconte yelled at the top of their lung trying to warn the women, but the wind was blowing so hard, they didn't hear them at first. Luz let off another round but this time fired towards the fence along where the women were walking. That's when Tia saw the wolves and let out a scream. "Don't run," said Virginia. "Just start walking backward real slow."
"Frank, where the hell are you going?"
"I've got to save Tia."
"Listen to me Frank, they are walking backwards. If any of the furry bastards chases after them, we have a clear shot."
"I have just one question. Where the hell is everybody else?"
"How the hell should I know," said Luz. "What's that, someone is ringing the school bell? I can't see how, but that should bring them running."
It did. Soon Luz spotted Martin and Popeye who had been out in the field checking rabbit traps. They heard the bell, looked at their watches, and knew something was not right. When they got close enough, George yelled, "Hold up." It took Johnny a minute to figure out where the voice was coming from and then he spied Luz and Perco in the trees waving their rifles. Luz used hand signals to let them know what was going down. Martin immediately took charge, "Popeye go back and get everybody. Bring them up quick as you can. The Major will do what he does best." Popeye started back when they both heard a woman scream, but Johnny whispered harshly, "Go, go."
Johnny circled around the trees and headed in the direction where he heard the scream. He saw Tia and Virginia trying to make it to a tree, but the latter was limping. Then he saw three wolves heading towards the women. Spotting a larger boulder, he yelled, "Head for that big rock." Much to his horror, he saw Virginia fall, Johnny screamed, "Virginia." He burst through the trees, fired on the dogs taking two down immediately and wounded one. Running over to Virginia, he helped her up. She had twisted her ankle. Tia and Johnny helped Virginia onto the boulder, which she painfully climbed. From the other side Tia climbed up and pulled Virginia up as she used her good leg to make her way up the top. The wounded wolf first ran back to the back and then turned and made its way back to where they desperately tried to get Virginia out of harm's way. Finally, she was safe and Johnny started to join them, but the animal crazed with pain, jumped him and sunk his teeth right into Johnny's right butt cheek. Screaming Johnny pulled his bayonet from its holster and drove the blade right into the wolf, which yelped and fell to ground. Before he could whip his weapon around, Tia and Virginia pulled out their stunners and knocked out the dying animal. This enabled a bleeding Johnny to climb up and join them. Turning to Virginia and started untying her shoe. "Try not to scream, honey. We don't need anymore company."
"Oh, Johnny you're bleeding," she whispered. Virginia pressed her head against Johnny's forehead. She ran her fingers through his hair.
Patting her leg, Johnny said, "Don't worry, being wounded in the ass is an Easy Company tradition." He smiled weakly, but turned his attention to Virginia. In no time, he wrapped her swollen ankle with his handkerchief.
By this time, Winters brought up the rest of the men. Relying on the hand signals from Luz and using his binoculars, Winters scoped the area. None of it made sense. Some of the wolves started attacking each other, some were on the porch, a number kept circling the school and a few attempted to leap through the windows, but fortunately, the snow slowed them down. The biggest problem would be taking out the wolves without firing into the school. with "Take your shots carefully," whispered Winters. If the animal is close to the school, wait until it moves away from the building before firing. We cannot take a chance on ricochets or any of the shots going into the school. Select your target and on my command fire at will. All of the animals must be sick. Normally, the shots fired by Luz and Perconte would have scared them off. It's a shame, but there is nothing we can do for them" The men nodded. Dividing them into teams of two, Tab took Guarnere, Shifty, Bull, and Malarkey headed towards Johnny. Winters and the rest of the men began climbing the trees directly in front of the school.
Tab moved his men into position and waited for the Major's signal. The men encircled the school. They all climbed trees or boulders to give them a better angle and to protect themselves as well. The Major took one last look around to make sure everyone is position. He raised his hand and waited for the majority of the wolves to move away from the school. Using his binoculars, he looked into the school, but could not see any of the students because of the closed shutters. Then he looked into the window on the top floor of the building and saw Lewis, Dick, Hank, and Billy watching until Thea came up behind them and said something that made them move away from the window. Relieved, he saw a majority of the wolves moving away from the school.
"Major, it looks like they are going to head over to where Johnny is. He went to help Tia and Virginia. We heard a woman scream and then Johnny," said Perconte.
Winters nodded and turned his attention back to the animals. Raising his hand, the men selected their targets and then waited. He dropped his hand and yelled "Fire." That startled the wolves long enough for the men to fire off five rounds. Guarnere and Buck sprayed them with their Tommies. Some of the animals suffered multiple gunshot wounds but were so crazed they tried to get back up again until Toye, Shifty, Hoobler, and Popeye finished them off. Some of the wolves tried to flee, but the men took them out. "Johnny, how you doing," yelled Winters.
The men were relieved to hear Johnny say, "Sir, I am doing fine considering I just got bit in the ass by a rabid dog." They all started laughing. Virginia sprained her ankle bad, sir. We are going to need a medic."
"Hang tough for a bit," ordered Winters. "We need to clear the area and check on the children."
"Will do sir."
"Tab take your men and go around to the left. I will take the right. Let's go!"
After climbing down from their positions, they lined up on the road and carefully swept the perimeter to make sure all of the wolves were dead. Only a few had to put out of their misery. "It's a goddamn shame. They are beautiful animals," said Guarnere. "You would think they could cure rabies by now."
"Yeah, but at least they can treat Johnny," said Joe Toye.
"I can't believe he got bit in the ass," said Bull. I am going to mosey on over there and see if he needs any help.
Perconte and Luz went back for some medical help. It did not take them long to return with the sled, Dr. K, Eugene and Danielle. The men knocked on the school door and finally heard the children coming down the stairs. Then someone unlocked the door and the kids poured out jumping into the soldier's arms. Winters picked up Gillian who was still shaking. "Lewis went downstairs and rang the bell," she sobbed. "He could have been wolf food."
"No, way Gilly, we knew what we were doing," said Lewis. Putting his hand on the boy's shoulder, Dick squeezed it to let him know how proud he was.
Allison and Jeff saw the men helping their aunt down and ran over to her. When they saw Johnny on his stomach, they realized he was bleeding. "Oh, Johnny, did the wolf bite you."
"He's a hero," said Tia. "He made sure we were safe before climbing up himself."
"Thank you for saving Aunt Virginia," said Jeff. He patted Johnny on the back. Ali bent down and kissed him on the cheek.
"I wish you would stay," she said. Then Ali started to cry and turned to Virginia who held her tightly in her arms. Looking at Johnny, she mouthed I do too.
Perconte walked around in a daze. When they pulled up, Tia kissed him hard and thanked him for warning them. "Ti amo Franco," she said.
"Hey Frank, what's wrong. You in shock are something," said Luz.
"She loves me," he said.
Luz smiled at his pal, "I thought you knew that."
"She never said it in Italian before."
"And that makes a difference, come on Perco. We got to dispose of all of those wolves.
Amon and Vern brought some gasoline and a tractor. The bulldozed the bodies over to one spot. Using a motorized drill, they dug a large hole, and then took the tractor to push the dead animals into the hole. Pouring the gasoline all over the mass grave, they moved the equipment back. Taking a stick Vern dipped it into the gasoline; Luz lit the end with the lighter. Then Vern tossed the stick like a javelin into the hole. They stood around for a while. The stench was awful. Nothing had prepared any of them for what happened. Know one felt any pleasure in killing the wolves. The idea was for humans to live in harmony with nature, but this probably would not be the last time when the welfare of the community might supersede the animal life around them.
That night back at the barracks, the men settled down to a simple meal of stew and fresh baked bread. Apparently, flour was still plentiful which most were thankful. After dinner, Major Winters and Captain Nixon came over to see how the men were doing. Earlier the men pulled out Johnny's bunk so he could eat with them. He was still up when the officers arrived. "I'm real proud of you men today," said Winters. How are you doing Johnny?"
"All right sir, they gave me some medicine for the pain as well as to make sure I don't die of rabies.
"How about werewolf protection," asked Luz?
"Don't be such a wise ass George," said Bill. Johnny is following the fine tradition of getting shot or in this case bit in the ass. We should toast Popeye. He started it all on D-Day."
"I didn't mean to goof up," said Popeye sheepishly.
"That's all right, Popeye," said Winters. "You and all of the men have done more than your fair share."
"Does anyone know where Easy went after Foy," asked Lip?
"There is a book on Easy Company called Band of Brothers, I will lend it to you when I am finished," said Nix. Seeing Dick raise his eyebrow, Lewis felt obliged to inform him that yes, he was reading it."
"Does it do us justice," asked Toye?
"Yes, but to answer your question Lip. They do not take us off the line for quite awhile."
Malarkey came from the back. "I think Muck and I found the next two tapes. One is about Noville and the other is about Haguenau, which is where we would be that is if we there."
'As opposed to here," offered Muck. "By the way, I know I guy who left three grand back in an Army bank in Mourmelon, which he can't touch until after the war.
"Damn, I forgot about that," said Malarkey. "Well, the Donald Malarkey whose back there gets a free ride to college."
"You sure you want to stay," asked Muck? "You know you want to see your family."
"I know, but I have my reasons for staying here too."
"One of which is named Sharon," teased Penkala.
"You are one to talk," said Muck. "I've seen you staring at that new school teacher."
Some how are another they ended up going around the room, until they got to Lipton and Martin. For the most part, the men were staying. They liked the adventure of being here and starting out fresh in a new country. Lipton shook his head to indicate he still was not sure what he was going to do, but to everyone's surprise Martin announced he was going to stay.
"Hey, that's great Johnny. What made you change your mind? Rescuing a damsel in distress or getting bit in the ass by the big bad wolf," said Bill.
"Jesus, Bill, why don't you irrigate the guy," said Babe.
"I thought that's what I was doing, thank you very much."
A knock at the barn door surprised them; Luz went over and opened the door. In came all the women and the children, Albie, even Amon and Vernon. "We wanted to come in person and thank all of you for what you did today," said Sarah. "Thank you for our children."
The men choked up a bit until Major Winters started talking. "We just did what had to be done. The men know their jobs, and they do them well."
"Don't leave yourself out sir," said Tab.
"I think some special recognition is in order. Let's hear it for Sergeants Luz and Perconte for alerting Virginia and Tia about the danger. Also, it is my understanding that Lewis, Hank and Billy figured out a way to ring the school bell which warned Sergeants Martin and Powers that something was wrong, which enabled them to seek reinforcements. Everyone clapped and the men slapped the four men recognized on the backs. The men shook hands with the three boys, who blushed. "Let's have a special round of applause for Sergeant Johnny Martin for risking his own life to insure the safety of Virginia and Tia. I am happy to announce that he just decided to remain here and will join us in New Harmony."
Virginia and the children ran over to him and hugged him. He grumbled about the pain, but he did not seem to mind when Virginia kissed him, which elicited a lot of catcalls and whistles from the men.
Johnny turned on them and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing Johnny," said Penk. He got up and made his way over to Thea, who kissed him on the cheek.
Finally, the women and the others returned home. Buck, Tab, Winters, and Lipton lifted up Johnny's bunk and took him and it back into his cubicle. All but Lipton left the little room.
"What's on your mind Lip," asked Martin? "As if I couldn't guess, you want to know what changed my mind."
"Yeah, you seemed real sure about returning."
"I realized that it is possible to love two women at the same time just for different reasons. I've seen my future, and I am not exactly thrilled to return to Haguenau even though I know I come out of the war just fine. In fact, I become a goddamn millionaire and my wife is with me every step of the way. She's a good woman, so is Virginia. Somewhere back in 1945, there's a Johnny Martin going through hell, but returns home and build a little piece of Heaven for himself and his family. Now, I get to the same thing here. It's like Frank said we are making history twice in a lifetime. I don't know what to tell you Lip. I do know the men would hate to see you leave, but if anyone understands what you are going through, it's me."
Lipton thanked Johnny for the advice and rejoined the men.
"Hey, Lip, did you tuck Johnny in tight," teased Guarnere. That brought a round of laughter. Winters could tell something was bothering Carwood. He asked him if he wanted to talk.
"Yes, sir, I do. I have listened to all of the men's reasons for staying, but I can't shake the feeling that it would be wrong for me to stay."
"Because of your wife or the not sticking in out to see the end of the war?
"How did you know about the last reason I mean?"
"I have thought about it. No one in Easy Company is the type of man who wants someone else to do is fighting for him. That's what we trained for, but I think after Bastogne, we were tired of the war, the smell of death, the cold, and the lack of every comfort we have enjoyed so far while being here. Now we have gotten to know the children and have formed attachments to some of the women. How about Anna, do you know how she feels?"
"I really do not feel anything for her but friendship, to be honest with you sir."
"And the boy," asked Winters.
"That is the hard part. I feel guilty for wanting to leave him when all the other men are staying here.
"There are not any easy answers here Lip, but I know you will do what is right. If it helps, friendship is a good place to start any relationship," said Dick.
"Thank you, sir, I appreciate that, and I understand what you are saying. I don't have to decide tonight. They are not expecting a transport anytime soon."
"That's what they tell me," said Dick. "Well, I am going to say goodnight to the men. Get some rest Carwood. Try not to think on this anymore tonight." Shaking the young Lieutenant's hand, Dick bid the men goodnight and stepped outside. It was still snowing, but he knew Sarah would be waiting up for him. The thought of that put a smile on his face and quickened his steps.