Thank you so much for sticking with me!
I've always wanted to live in Austria, ever since I was a little girl… so I hope this is a decent chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Ruggedly Beautiful
Mirrored in the smooth clear lake water, breathtaking mountains sprouted from the earth. Essie closed her eyes to relish in the yellow rays that shot down and kissed her face. Her caramel hair fluttered in the breeze through the wooden boards that she rest her head against. Floyd softly watched her, admiring her sharp jaw line. It bore a scar she had earned in Brecourt. Her cheeks were pink with warmth, her ruby lips curved with pleasure.
Talbert couldn't help but smile down at her. He knew in this life, he wouldn't treat her like property, but like the badass princess she was. Esther had survived a war as a woman. There was terrifying times when Floyd was afraid he was going to lose her. She ran her fingers through the waves, pulling back the bothersome strands. Shifty was watching her as well, and he saw the rippled scar that engulfed her calloused palm. He was with her when the hot bullet ripped through her flesh. Darrell remembered it so vividly. The tears of pain rolling down her face, her trying to suppress the cries of agony. Powers tore his eyes from her, trying to forget.
"One of those American bastards sure has long hair…" Essie heard a German P.O.W. remark to his comrade. Holding down her bitter anger, she chose instead to open her eyes and take in the glorious scenery.
Towering trees were plush with the spring's green life. Modest villas had little cottage homes as they rest in the valley. Long lines of marching men in gray and green uniforms stomps were drowned out by the calming rumbling of the trucks. When she cracked open her alert eyes, massive snow-covered blue mountains stood proud before her. They made her feel so small and her eyes grew wide with fascination. Austria was the most beautiful country the war had given Essie.
"You reckon they'll make us run up those, or ski down 'em?" Talbert spoke, his brow furrowed by the blinding brightness of the snow. Essie blew out a breath of laughter, fishing around for Talbert's hand. She sat up on her knees, looking over the edge of the truck like an excited small child.
"It's beautiful here, Tab." Essie squeezed his hand a little tighter. Her face cracked in half with a beam, she didn't notice him staring over at her. Though they passed three young Bavarian maidens, Floyd couldn't tear his eyes away from his ruggedly beautiful bride-to-be. He swallowed hard, knowing the nerve-racking day would come when he would propose to the brave soldier. Tab shook his head, realizing how awkward that statement sounded.
"The war is over!" Malarkey excitedly grasped her shoulder, shaking her quickly with excitement. Webster leaned over her, outstretching his hand for the blonde-haired beauties that blew kisses to her boys. She smirked and sucked in a sweet tasting lungful of the Austrian air.
They pulled through a tunnel of tall and thick trees. Once a hole of light shone through, a massive and gorgeous building developed into sight. Her lower jaw swung open, her hazel eyes filled with awe. It was the most beautiful thing she had laid eyes on. A glass like blue lake lay on the other side, an elegant porch wrapping around the cozy rooms. For a short moment, Essie could picture herself rocking by Floyd's side, silver streaks in her hair.
Various companies gathered in a small smoke filled room, a speaking screen spewing war time news at them. Images of men shooting streams of fire into holes mirrored in her glazed over eyes. The brave boys in Okinawa helped carry a wounded warrior over trampled down tropical grass. She remembered holding onto Muck's back as he expressed his jealousy of the boys fighting in the Pacific. As she wrung her hands together, Essie saw no naked native girls. All she saw was terror; a terror she couldn't face again.
The crackling film clicked to a stop, men grunting their protests as they stood. A light switch was flipped on, the blinding light shocking her eyes. Winters, Nixon, Speirs and Harry all quietly conversed in the lobby area. Floyd was resting somewhere so she was on her own. Nixon's glance caught her eye and Essie weakly smiled in return. His 5 o'clock shadow curved as he drank from a coffee cup, making her heart thump.
"Esther, join us? A couple of us are goin' huntin'," a goliath palm touched the small of her back, making her jump.
As she abruptly turned, Bull's kind face looked down at her. He pulled his cigar stub from his lips, offering it to her, "Yea, I'll gladly go. 'Been a long time since I've shot anything." Essie winked at him, gladly excepting the smoldering cancer stick.
"What the hell you crouching down for, Perco?" Leibgott teased. "What? Deer gonna shoot back?" Essie giggled softly.
"Leave me alone," he sorely replied.
Bull looked over at Essie's comical expression, "How 'bout you all just shud up?" He chewed a wad of tobacco tucked away in his cheek, "Let Shifty kill us sum dinner…"
"Aw, what's the matter Bull? You tired of eatin' dried up spuds three times a day?"
"Shut the fuck up, Perconte," Essie warned.
Leibgott cradled his rifle, "Here's an idea, how 'bout we shoot Bull here… and feed the whole company for a week?"
Esther rolled her eyes, but her childish reaction was interrupted when a beautiful stag developed into sight. Shifty crouched, holding up a firm hand in order. She narrowed her eyes as her knees unwillingly bent. He nestled his soft cheek into the stock of the rifle, narrowing his sights on the mouthwatering prey. Anxiously, Essie gnawed on Bull's wet cigar.
The stag froze, and turned sharply on its heel, disappearing into the thick forest. "Aw goddamn it, Shifty! You let it get away! God, the Army'll be glad to get rid of you."
Darrell slowly lowered his weapon, defeated. "I wish, you know? Seems like they want me to stick around for awhile." His sweet accent made Essie miss her long conversations with Tala.
"You serious?" Leibgott was calming down.
Essie piped in, curious, "How many points you need, Shift?"
"Fifteen," he replied dryly.
Malarkey wiggled his toothpick, "Fifteen? Jesus Christ, I thought I had it bad."
"No Purple Heart, never was injured." She let out a frustrated sigh for her dear friend, recalling she only needed seven more points. As odd as it sounded, a part of Essie didn't want to go home. Her new family was here, and when normal life came back, she feared she would lose contact with her brothers in arms.
She tightened the belt that latched around her dress uniform. The dark material with a fresh Screaming Eagle was resting proudly on her strong left shoulder. Essie braided her hair back into a tight French braid, flattering her high cheekbones. Folding the end of her tan pants into her boots- like a paratrooper- she smiled broadly.
"Damn, I look good as a soldier!" She guiltily pointed out.
A voice emerged from behind the door, "I will agree with that." Floyd entered the room, a sly and loveable smirk crawling along his lips. "You ready? It's time to go down there."
She tucked a stray lock behind her ear, and happily took her lover's hand. Exchanging giggles, they walked past a locked door. A makeshift sign read, "Do not disturb". Essie's eyes grew wide as she heard moans and gasps from within. Floyd childishly held his hand over his mouth, suppressing knowing giggles.
Esther turned up her nose in disgust and began pounding on the door, "Taletta! Chuck! Are you in there?!" Scrambling and clinking of a pair of belts was heard.
"Uh… yea. We'll be right out!" Essie could practically feel the heat off of her friend's face through the door. So that's where they were during the failed hunting adventure.
"Crazy kids…" she laughed up to Tab's playfully face.
"Easy Company!" Ronald Speirs bellowed, demanding the uniformed men and women's attention. Her right boot met loudly with her left as she brought her rifle orderly over her right shoulder. She clentched her teeth together, eyes focused on the magnificent American flag billowing in the breeze.
The butt of her gun met with the concrete below her feet, the sound of each man ringing through the abandoned streets. "At ease…" Speirs proudly looked around at his men.
Standing firmly between Talbert and Eugene, Essie couldn't help but smile as the sun continued to dance on her skin. "General Taylor is aware that many veterans, including Normandy veterans, still do not have the 85 points required to be discharged. On this anniversary of D-Day, he has authorized a lottery." Her eyes grew wide, not even remembering that today was the anniversary of that fateful day nearly two years ago. "Send home one man from each company. Effective immediately."
Harry Welsh had a sly smile painted on his face as he fished through a nearly empty helmet. "For Easy Company, the winner is…" he unfolded the lone slip of paper with a familiar name scribbled upon it. "Serial number 130662666- Sergeant Darrell C. Powers."
Shifty's innocent face began beaming brightly as everybody whistled. "That's how it's done, Shifty!" George Luz called.
"Way ta go, Shift!" Essie leaned over to her side, making him smile even larger. He shook his head in disbelief.
"Sergeant Grant will see to it that 2nd Platoon takes over at the crossroads checkpoint, beginning tonight at 2200 hours." Taletta leaned over, raising her dark eyebrows, "So much for an anniversary…"
"General Taylor has also announced that the 101st Airborne division will defiantly be redeployed, to the Pacific." Esther felt her heart sink. The feeling of going home had slipped away with a few short words. How could this be happening? She asked herself as she looked sorrowfully over to Talbert. "So, beginning tomorrow at 0600 hours, we will be training to go to war."
The men all swayed silently, disappointment lingering in the air. The news was a low blow that crushed the uplifting fantasies of home. She felt her hopes and dreams slipping out of her loose fingers, and she desperately wanted to cry. Fucking Japs, she mumbled to herself.
B.o.B.
He anxiously wrung his banana cap in his hands, looking out over the lake. His hair was cleanly parted and combed to one side; the Bavarian sun highlighting his sharp jaw line.
Essie sorrowfully dodged under over hanging tree branches, searching for her friend who had just earned a trip back home. She watched as he sat on a boulder, blowing air through his lips. He was so distraught.
"I'm here!" Her voice croaked, despite her begging to make it sound brave. Shifty stood, his face lit up. He quickly came to her side and guided her over to the shore of the smooth lake. Darrell looked uncomfortably into the blue cloud free sky. As Essie looked down at the small black beetle marching across the toe of her boot, she sighed as she was completely lost for words.
"Why is the word 'good' in goodbye, Shifty? Christ…" a painful stone formed in her throat, and she wanted to apologize.
He slowly embraced her as she sobbed into his shoulder, "I don't understand it either, Esther."
"I'm so sorry… I'm being selfish. I should be happy that you are going home," she nestled in deeper to his hold, trying to muffle the weeps. "It's just… I want you to be here when this whole goddamn thing is over."
He pulled away, holding her at arm's length, "Essie? How am I going to explain this all? How on earth am I going to respond when somebody asks me, 'What was the worst part?' How do I let them know the sorrow I felt when I saw you in such pain when we took Carentan?"
Sniffling, Essie wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve, "You're the best damn sniper I know Shift. You've got nothing to explain."
He smiled slightly and hugged her pathetic body once more, "I'll see you at your wedding. Tab promised me I'd be his best man."
Essie began playfully punching his chest. God, I will miss him, she thought sadly. "Hey, remember the time you first called me Essie?" she shyly ran her hand against the back of her neck. "I had never been called anything but Esther, and the nickname you gave me stuck. I like it, Shifty."
He began to beam, shaking his head in disbelief, "Goodness, Camp Toccoa. Weren't those the days?"
She scoffed, "I guess you could call 'em that. Jesus, that seems so long ago…" They then stood in awkward silence, reminiscing.
"Have you said goodbye to Taletta yet? Warning, she'll be worse than me!"
He looked distantly up the hill, "Not yet, I should probably do that. The truck is waiting for me."
"She won't let go of you," Essie winked. "Bye, Shifty." She patted her heart, then held the same hand to his beating heart, "Never forget."
"I couldn't forget you if I tried, Esther Fusillade." When a trace of tears emerged from his eyes, he hurriedly hiked up the trail. She watched him through her blurred eyesight as he stumbled through the trees. Her feet begged her to chase after him, hug her dear friend one last time. She scolded herself, my still the urge burned in her chest.
Unwillingly willing, she tore up the hill calling after him. Before he could turn to prepare himself, Essie bounded on his back and tackled him. Shifty managed to stay standing as the small woman forcibly embraced the timid sniper.
"I just wanted to tell you bye… one more time." He removed his face from her hair and looked down at her. His eyes were swollen with tears, salty streaks lining his cheeks. Esther had never seen him cry before, and it broke her heart further.
He abruptly saluted her, his tense fingers shadowing his gloomy expression. She nodded curtly and saluted back, holding back more tears. "Currahee."
"Currahee." They rest their hands at their sides again and took one last look. This time when he left, she didn't follow him. He was gone, and this was the harsh reality.
Two days later, Shifty was on a truck, headed for a rear and a boat home. Unfortunately, the truck was hit head on by a drunken corporal from a different regiment. Shifty had a broken pelvis, a broken arm and a bad concussion. He survived, but had to spend the next few months in a series of hospitals.
Ah! It's quickly dwindling down- and it's murdering me! D:
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