With no shade to protect them, Charlotte felt doomed from the glaring sun.
It shone down on Easy and 2nd Battalion, while they stopped on the side of a mountain. Every so often, an explosion would go off, while the men tried to shift the boulders and rocks, blocking their way up the rest of the mountain. Nothing seemed to budge the blockage, so, they called in for the engineers to move the boulders. But they called the engineers over half an hour ago. And the men were still lounging on the side of the mountain, while the sun-kissed their skin.
"I don't see what the big deal is". Charlotte mumbled, "it's just a fucking town".
Webster huffed;
"Lottie!" He exclaimed, "it's Berchtesgaden! The heads of the Third Reich live there. It's a pretty big deal if we capture it".
"Exactly". She said, "it's a town, man. It's not like we're knocking on the Kings door, eh? This is where a bunch of vile bastard's lives. I don't 'wanna step foot in that shitting town".
"Think of it like this". Webster said to her, "we're taking over their homes and grabbing all that expensive loot. We can sell that and make a good amount of money".
Taking in a drag from her cigarette, Charlotte looked up at him;
"what? Like pawning that shit?"
Smiling, he nodded;
"exactly, Lottie". Webster confirmed, "we're taking those over-paid murderers' money".
Nodding slowly, Charlotte flicked away her cigarette;
"aye…I like your perspective better, Web – cheers, man".
Smiling still, Webster clapped her shoulder;
"no problem, Lottie".
"Hey, Sarge?" Janovec stood in front of her, blocking the sun.
And Charlotte let out a tiny sigh of relief.
She looked up at him;
"what?"
"Can I take my shirt off?" He asked, "I figure…I might as well, you know?"
Raising an eyebrow, she asked;
"what? Like getting a tan?"
Janovec shrugged, "sure, why not?"
Sighing, Charlotte nodded;
"aye, sure – why not, Jan. Live your best life on the side of this mountain, eh?"
Grinning, Janoven began to unbutton his shirt.
When he walked away, Charlotte let out a tiny laugh;
"he's a funny kid".
"Yeah". Webster agreed, "he only ever says good stuff about his Sarge".
Sighing a little, her lips twitched;
"that's nice of him". Charlotte mumbled softly.
He shrugged;
"kids got a soft spot for his old Sargent".
Snorting, she said;
"hey – I'm younger than you, mate. I'm not even twenty-one".
"I'll be twenty-three this year".
"Exactly". Charlotte said, "your practically an old man now, Web".
Webster smirked;
"I think I'll take an early retirement".
She huffed out a laugh;
"that's unheard of, man".
Charlotte then added;
"besides, I want a detailed fucking book about sharks, man". She said, "and if you've got the time, I'd like to learn more 'bout them Killer Whales".
Webster shrugged;
"I'll see if I can fit your request in, Lottie".
She pulled a face;
"are you flirting with me, man?"
Webster laughed;
"no, Lottie". He assured her, "sorry if it came across that way".
Looking up at him, she asked;
"what's wrong with me, like?"
His eyes widened a little;
"what? No – nothing! Nothing's wrong with you-"
"I'm kidding". She smiled, giving his arm a nudge, "sorry, man".
He huffed out a sarcastic sort of laugh;
"you had me going there, Lottie".
Clearing his throat, Webster then added;
"I'm not stupid, Lottie".
"Never said you were, pal". She said to him softly, "you're pretty fucking smart, eh?"
Webster's face got a little serious;
"Irena…she wasn't just your friend, was she?" He asked her, in a low voice.
Face forming into a frown, Charlotte looked away from him.
Rubbing her lips together, she said;
"you think the army's stupid for letting me in?"
Shaking his head, Webster's features softened;
"no…they made a smart move".
Sighing, Charlotte looked down at her hands;
"I don't even know where she is, man". She said quietly, "it kills me not knowing, eh? But I'm hoping one day, she'll turn up. And we can live together, with folk thinking we're a couple of spinsters with four dogs".
A smile reached Webster's lips;
"It won't always be like that, Lottie". He said softly, "maybe one day, you'll get to marry her".
Shaking her head, Charlotte looked back up at him;
"we might end this war, Web but it's not 'gonna completely change the world, eh?"
"I don't get it, Lottie". He whispered, "after what we witnessed at the camps, why wouldn't they change their minds?"
Charlotte sighed and shrugged;
"you're asking the wrong person, Web". She mumbled, "some folk think the right way, is a straight and narrow path, eh? And then you get folk like me, who bend that path and branch out to something different. And folk don't like it, cause it's not what they think is normal".
"I don't think anything is normal". Webster said, "war isn't normal, is it? A lot of things are different in every country. Nothing is ever straight and narrow". He then added, "if everything was the same, then the world would be boring as hell".
Charlotte frowned;
"man…you're right, eh? But look how fucked up the world still is, outside of war".
"What do you mean?"
Shaking her head, Charlotte sighed;
"I'm just saying, man. Hitler wasn't the first person to persecute another race".
She shrugged;
"when this war ends, shit needs to fucking change. Or we won for nothing".
…
They reached Berchtesgaden by finding another way inside the town, through the autobahn. Easy was the first to reach the place, which was almost deserted. No SS officers were hanging around, but they left a lot of Nazi memorabilia behind. While the enlisted men found a place to stay, in some of the most beautiful houses they had ever seen, Winters found the perfect hotel to set-up Regimental HQ at.
All around them, were snow-capped mountains and ginger-bread houses.
And everything inside the houses, was up for the taking.
Looting began almost immediately. The men even found wine cellars inside their houses, which was an added bonus. Charlotte and a few other Sargent's lived in a home with a bedroom each, two bathrooms and a wine cellar. Martin, Grant and Charlotte immediately opened up a bottle and celebrated their new living conditions. Their celebrations ended quickly, when Speirs headed down into the basement;
"Grant". He greeted, "I need you up with me in the hotel".
"Yes, sir". Grant put his bottle of wine down.
Speirs then looked over at Charlotte;
"uh – you too, Sargent Gallagher".
Following the two men up the stairs and out of the cellar, Speirs then turned to face them both;
"we 'wanna take the Eagles Nest, right?"
"We do". Grant confirmed.
"Good". He said, "Sargent Gallagher will ask for permission".
Charlotte blinked a few times;
"me, sir?"
"Yes". Speirs said, in a matter of fact, "Major Winters will likely agree".
Grant smirked and looked down at her;
"use your natural charm, Lottie". He teased.
She snorted, half amused, half nervous;
"what charm?"
The Captain smiled;
"I'm sure it's in there somewhere, Sargent".
The hotel where Colonel Sink and his men stayed was simply over the top. It was grand, fit enough for the King and his family to spend the night inside. Charlotte stepped inside the hotel in wonderment.
The ceilings were high, the staircase was grand.
And despite everyone clearing the town, the hotel still held the majority of it's belongings. In one of the dining rooms, Welsh and Winters were gathering up silverware cutlery. Charlotte couldn't imagine how much that would sell for. But as well as silverware, she could see ornaments made out of pure gold. Her eyes wandered around the room, until her feet moved without permission. Charlotte crossed the dining room quietly, boots gently padding across the wooden floor. She picked up a rose gold bird; it was a dainty little robin.
Someone cleared their throat, while passing her.
Placing the bird into her pocket, her eyes moved towards Winters and Welsh.
They were both busy stuffing as much silverware into their helmets.
Charlotte wondered why they didn't just take the case it was kept in.
With Speirs giving her a pressing look, she stood at the side of the two officers.
"Major Winters?" Charlotte called out softly.
Looking away from the knives and forks, Winters eyes looked over at her;
"yeah, Lottie?"
Rubbing the back of her neck, she asked;
"can we…can we go see the Nest now, sir?"
Speirs rolled his eyes, knowing that could have gone smoother.
"Hold on a minute, Lottie". Winters told her kindly.
The Major then looked at Welsh;
"Harry, have F Company put a double guard on the hotel. Set up roadblocks on the west side of town. I want Battalion HQ to seal off the north side and prepare for prisoners".
Giving him a nod, Welsh called out;
"Sargent Grant".
"And Harry". Winters added, "nobody gets hurt. Not now".
The sound of Speirs bringing down a Swastika banner interrupted the small moment of silence. He turned over his shoulder, looking back at Winters;
"and Easy?"
"Easy'll head up the mountain through the obersalzberg". Winters responded. "And take the Eagles Nest".
The Major looked back at Charlotte, who seemed a little worried about one thing or another. With a tiny frown still stitched on her face, she looked up at Winters. He gave her a little smile;
"you don't 'wanna go, Lottie?"
"What's up there?" She wondered quietly.
"Not Hitler". Speirs said, as if he was trying to assure her, "probably no one".
Biting her lip, Charlotte looked down at her boots;
"it's 'gonna sound stupid…".
"That's okay". Speirs told her, "we can laugh about it later".
Clearing his throat, Winters asked;
"what is it, Lottie?"
"The thought of climbing up a mountain, eh? Just gives me the fear". Charlotte admitted.
She was met with silence at first.
"What?" Speirs eventually asked, "you jumped out of a plane".
"Aye, I did, sir". Charlotte agreed quietly, "that was…that was great and all but – I 'dunno, do you need work done here, sir?"
Eyebrows twitching, Winters slowly nodded;
"yeah…you could help me with things around here, Lottie".
Sighing quietly, Speirs gave the Major a salute and Charlotte a nod;
"we'll save you some champagne, Sargent Gallagher".
When the Captain left to gather up the eager men from Easy, Winters and Charlotte were the last two remaining inside the dining room. Winters nodded her way;
"you find something, Lottie?"
A small smile reached her lips;
"I did". She said quietly, "it's a wee robin. I'm 'gonna give it to Irena".
Winters felt himself frown;
"is that why you can't go to the Nest?"
Sighing, Charlotte shrugged;
"I reckon I'd lose it up there, sir". She admitted quietly, "best if I just stay here the now, where I'm not reminded of things".
Winters nodded;
"okay, that's fine". He said, "let's get to work".
"What we doing, sir?"
"Well, I have to find houses for my officers". He told her, "and one for myself".
Charlotte felt her lips twitch;
"you want me to find a braw house for you, sir?"
Winters chuckled;
"you think you've got a good eye, Lottie?"
He then added;
"I like the look of the houses scattered along the hillside. I'll put my officers in them. Where should I go, Lottie?"
"How 'bout a nice house in the middle of it all, sir?" Charlotte suggested, "so, like, you're still close to us, eh?"
"Well, if you can find a nice enough house then I'll consider it".
Charlotte smiled;
"you're well picky, eh, sir?"
Winters smirked;
"we deserve nice houses, trooper. We've been fighting long enough for one".
After the Major gave his officers the orders to pick out a house, they also had the responsibility for getting rid of the people living inside the houses. For men like Winters, Speirs and other veterans, that job was easy. But for one new Lieutenant, he couldn't get the couple inside the house to budge.
Winters, Charlotte and Lieutenant Cowing were standing outside the hotel.
After Cowing told Winters;
"I'm sorry, sir. The people said no, they will not move out".
Cowing was brand-new, he didn't witness the camps and he hadn't been hardened by war. So, to set an example, Winters said;
"follow me. Sargent Gallagher will show you how it's done".
The Lieutenant frowned a little and looked down at the girl;
"Sargent Gallagher, sir?"
Charlotte smiled;
"I know, sir. I don't look like much, eh?" She said, "but I'll get you that house".
Lieutenant Cowing looked amused;
"I appreciate your confidence, Sargent".
Frowning a little, she said;
"you're the first person who's ever said that to me, sir".
Approaching the large and stunning house, Winters and Cowing stood a few feet behind Charlotte, while she hammered on the front door. And she continued to hammer against the door, until a woman answered, who looked stern and pissed off.
Lowering her hand, Charlotte said harshly;
"we're moving in now". She practically spat, "raus!"
But the woman didn't budge.
She crossed her arms and raised a thin and light eyebrow.
"No". She answered plainly, "we will not move".
Clearing her throat, Charlotte nodded;
"aye, fair enough". She said, "that's fair…this is your house, eh?"
Shaking her head, she turned around and looked at Winters;
"they don't 'wanna leave, sir". She told him, "guess Lieutenant Cowing will be sleeping outside. That's a right shame, eh? Our Lieutenants 'gonna need extra blankets and that…might be a cold one tonight".
Sighing softly, Charlotte looked back up at the woman;
"did we disturb you?"
She lifted her nose in the air and said;
"we were having coffee".
"With milk and sugar?" Charlotte asked.
The woman nodded;
"yes…and cake".
"Oh God, we're so sorry". She apologised again, "we're such rude American's, aren't we?"
The woman sniffed;
"you demanded us to leave-"
"your house, I know". Charlotte finished off for her quietly, "we're terrible, eh?"
Charlotte then extended her hand;
"here, I'm sorry".
With a raised eyebrow, the woman slowly shook her hand.
Charlotte smiled and tightened her grip against the woman's hand and pulled her towards Charlotte, so she could tell her quietly;
"how's it feel?" She whispered in the woman's ear, "to be shaking hands with a lesbian?"
The woman stiffened.
Charlotte huffed quietly;
"must feel pretty weird, eh? Seeing as you locked us all up…bet you don't feel so fucking pure now, eh?"
The woman yelped and let got of Charlotte's hand.
"You monster!" The woman exclaimed.
Nodding, Charlotte held up her rifle, aiming it towards the woman;
"alright…you and your Nazi husband have five minutes to leave this house. Get the fuck out".
…
With Lieutenant Cowing settling into his new home, Charlotte was led around Winters new house. They discovered all the rooms, looked through the bookshelves and checked the cabinets for anything nice to send back home. Charlotte ended the search after fifteen minutes and curled up on the armchair. Wrapping a fluffy blanket around her body, she sighed in content and watch the crackling fire from the fireplace in front of her.
Eyes feeling heavy, they caught sight of Winters placing a hot cup of something on the coffee table in front of the armchair. Smiling, the Major sat down on the couch close to her.
He nodded towards the cup;
"I made you some hot chocolate".
Raising an eyebrow, Charlotte looked towards the cup;
"thanks, sir".
"It's a thank you, for giving my officer the best entertainment since radio".
Snorting, Charlotte sat up and reached for the hot chocolate.
Winters smiled at her;
"so, I had an idea I'd like to run by you".
Blowing into her hot chocolate, Charlotte said softly;
"aye, sir?"
"The war here is ending". He started off by saying, "and providing we don't get redeployed to the Pacific, we'll be going back to Lancaster, correct?"
Charlotte nodded;
"if you still want me, sir".
His lips twitched;
"plans the same, Lottie". Winters told her, "why don't we live in our own place? It'll give us the motivation to start work and live a normal life after…. well, after all of this".
Charlotte nodded again;
"alright, sir". She agreed, "sounds like a good idea".
"I hope you go back to school". Winters said, "were you thinking about that?"
"I was, aye". Charlotte told him, "engineering".
He smiled;
"great idea".
"You thought of what to do?"
Winters shook his head;
"not really". He said quietly, "there's a – uh – well, there's a girl back home maybe".
Charlotte felt her lips twitch;
"maybe?"
Winters sighed;
"I met her during training on leave. I think she has an idea of our future together".
Nodding slowly, Charlotte asked;
"she nice?"
"Yeah". Winters smiled, "she's very nice, Lottie".
"And you's write to each other loads?"
"Have done since we first met". He said, "she was very worried for my safety a few times".
Winters then added quietly;
"all I ask, when this war ends, is for the world to let me alone".
Charlotte smiled softly at him;
"I get it, sir". She said, "would be nice just to live normally again, eh?"
Charlotte wondered what that might be like.
Working a nine till five job. Paying bills and looking after a house.
She smiled.
And figured, that sounded pretty good.