On the anniversary of D-Day, Captain Speirs announced that they were being redeployed to the Pacific. For those who were allowed to leave, had to have the required eighty-five points. The points system didn't feel like a good idea for Charlotte. A lot of the men who had been around since Normandy didn't have the required points to leave, for some hadn't been injured. However, they did hold a lottery, allowing one man from each Company to go home.
Shifty Powers won the lottery from Easy.
They were starting training again. Six days a week, from morning till night.
And with that, 2nd Platoon were placed on guard duty at the crossroads.
Checkpoint duty was always boring. Considering what they used to do.
And Charlotte thought her fighting days were over in Europe. She figured she'd never have to shoot another German again because the army had surrendered. But that wasn't the case. On that same day after the ceremony, once she and the men were changed out from the Class A uniforms, Speirs approached her.
"Take Webster and Sisk". He told her, "we have information on the whereabouts of a commandant from one of the death camps. One of the Polish guys pointed him out. They're sure it's him. We also have more information regarding his whereabouts. He wasn't always a resident in the cabin he stays in. And once he confesses to you, shoot him".
Charlotte's eyebrows twitched;
"what?" She whispered.
Speirs sighed;
"you heard me, Sargent". He pressed, "shoot him. You're the right person for the job. Get it done".
Charlotte didn't think she was the right person for the job. It was far too personal for her to deal with. She had no problems with shooting a camp commandant, but Charlotte did worry that they'd mistaken this supposed camp commandant.
Captain Speirs gave her a knowing look;
"well? Quit standing there. Get your men ready".
Charlotte quickly gathered Webster and Sisk. The three of them got into a jeep, where Charlotte began to drive them away from the town and towards the rural parts of Austria. She didn't say anything for a few moments until they hit a country road.
Sighing, she eventually told them;
"the DP's have pointed out a camp commandant". She said, "Speirs wants me to kill him".
Pulling a face, Webster, who was in the back, leaned forward;
"how do they know it's not some officer?"
Charlotte shrugged;
"the Polish guy saw him at the camp he was placed in".
She then added;
"I'm 'gonna question him first".
"You don't speak German". Webster pointed out.
"He'll probably speak English". Charlotte said, "most of them do".
Driving in silence again for a few minutes, Charlotte broke it once more;
"you two stay outside". She told them, "we don't want him frightened".
Sisk rolled his eyes;
"fuck him, Lottie". He muttered, "who gives a shit if we frighten him".
"I do". Charlotte said firmly, "he'll not talk if he's scared, Skinny".
"Does Major Winters know about this, Lottie?" Webster asked, still sceptical.
She shrugged;
"no idea, man". Charlotte mumbled, "I fucking hope so".
Even she felt uneasy about all of this.
Charlotte didn't know if she could fully trust herself.
But it was an order and she had to follow it.
Cutting the engine, Charlotte jumped out of the jeep and began to walk towards a tiny cabin perched on the edge of the hill. She couldn't see anyone outside, tending to the sheep, who seemed to scatter away, when the three Paratroopers approached the small cabin.
Webster and Sisk hid behind the corner of the cabin, while Charlotte knocked on the front door.
Like she had imagined, she received an answer within a few seconds of knocking.
A middle-aged man answered.
He was wearing a white vest, suspenders and dark trousers.
And he smiled at Charlotte;
"hallo". He greeted warmly, "wie viele helfe ich Ihnen?"
Giving him the smallest smile back, she asked;
"do you speak English?"
He nodded;
"sorry". He apologised, "I do…but only plainly".
"That's okay, sir". Charlotte assured him, while reaching into her pocket and grabbing her notepad and pencil, "I have to ask you a few questions, sir".
"What about, dear?"
"If you're happy with the current curfew". Charlotte said, "we're planning on changing our curfew again, sir and my commanding officer has sent me around nearby houses to check in on how you all might feel about that, sir".
He smiled and nodded;
"of course, dear". He opened his door wider, "come inside – would you like something to drink?"
"A water would be fine, sir". Charlotte replied, while entering the cabin. "I think I've done enough drinking".
"Ah, yes". He chuckled, "the war has ended, yes? Did you all have a big party?"
Shrugging, she sat down on the chair by the kitchen table;
"I guess, sir". Charlotte said, "I drank a lot of wine".
Humming in amusement, the man poured out a glass of water for her.
Sitting the glass down in front of her, he sat down opposite Charlotte.
After taking a sip of water, Charlotte opened up her notepad;
"so, my commanding officer suggested two times, sir". She said, "1800 hours until 0600 hours, or 1900 hours until 0700 hours?"
"Ah – well, I might suggest the first". He said, "for many work early here…especially farmers, like me, dear".
Charlotte looked around the cabin, with a soft smile;
"have you lived here long, sir?"
He nodded;
"yes…all my life". He told her, "now, do you mind if I ask my own question?"
She nodded;
"of course, sir".
"You are…a girl, yes? And you fight with American Paratroopers?" He said, "why did they allow it?"
"My dad was a Colonel during the great war, sir". She told him, "he managed to get me in".
He smiled;
"I too was an officer in the Great War". He said brightly, "it was indeed…a great war".
"It was supposed to end all wars". Charlotte mumbled, "guess that didn't happen".
He sighed;
"not all wars are bad, dear". He mumbled softly, "it's good to get rid of the evil".
Eyebrows twitching, she asked;
"you didn't fight in this war, sir?"
"I did". He said, "just an officer, dear".
Giving him a brief smile, she asked;
"do you smoke, sir?"
He smiled;
"yes".
Reaching into her pocket, she brought out a cigarette;
"try one of these, sir". She said, "I picked them up".
Placing the cigarette between his lips, he lit it up and smiled;
"ah…German cigarettes".
Charlotte lit up her own cigarette;
"ever been to Vienna, sir?"
"Of course". He replied, "Austria's capital".
"Locals tell me it's a good place". She mumbled, "I've spoken to a few locals. Some of them are nicer than others".
He laughed;
"yes…you find that a lot here, dear".
Smiling still, he asked her;
"you are not American?"
Charlotte shook her head;
"I was born and raised in Scotland, sir. Until we moved to America".
"I have never been to Scotland". He said, "I heard it is beautiful".
"Oh, aye". Charlotte confirmed, "Scotland is magic, sir. The highlands are stunning and Edinburgh, it's full of history".
He chuckled;
"more magical than Austria, dear?"
Smiling, she asked;
"why'd you lie, sir?"
He pulled a confused but amused face;
"about what, dear? You do not think Austria is more beautiful than-"
"nah…nah, not 'bout that". Charlotte said lowly, while leaning towards him. "See this cabin? The one you claim to have lived in, all your life. It was owned by an elderly couple, who died last year. They didn't have any children and the only family they had, was the wife's sister, who lives near the farm I'm staying in".
Face slightly dropping, he stubbed out his cigarette;
"what of it?" He muttered, "you cannot arrest me for lying, dear".
Shaking her head, Charlotte told him;
"it's just a bit funny…why you felt the need to lie". She said, "now, if you just moved in, then it would have easier to tell the truth, yes? So, why do you feel the need to lie?"
His hand slammed against the table;
"what is the meaning of this?!" He demanded.
Charlotte pulled a face;
"why are you yelling? I'm not yelling, am I?"
Sighing, he lowered his voice;
"very well". He said quietly, "what is the meaning of your visit?"
Leaning back, Charlotte stared up at him.
And she was quiet for a few moments, just thinking of her next move.
"Why don't we start with a simple question". She suggested, "where are you really from?"
His eyes shifted away from hers;
"Vienna". He said, "I moved here…because the Russian's will kill us all".
Nodding slowly, Charlotte repeated softly;
"Vienna".
"That's right". He said, the kind tone from his voice gone; "that's what I am telling you".
Charlotte shook her head;
"that's strange". She mumbled, "you don't sound like you're from there".
Sighing, she then added;
"wherein Germany are you from?"
His hand balled up into a fist;
"Munich".
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Charlotte told him softly, "next question. Why are you hiding?"
"From Russians". He hissed, "they will kill us all".
"Do you think the Russian's have it in for each and every German? Or perhaps the other type of German?"
His face turned serious;
"other type of German?"
Charlotte nodded;
"yeah…you know, the types that feel it best to murdered millions of Jews, gypsies, political prisoners…homosexuals?"
"I played no part in that".
"I never said you did". Charlotte pointed out, "why assume I was talking about you?"
Blinking, the man suddenly looked angry;
"do not try to twist my mind!" He yelled, "I played no part in that!"
"No part in what?" Charlotte asked him.
"In getting rid of those Jews!"
Nodding slowly, she continued to stare up at him;
"getting rid of?"
His eyes narrowed;
"yes". He hissed, "getting rid of".
"Getting rid of". She repeated softly.
He slammed his hand against the table;
"YES! GETTING RID OF!"
Charlotte nodded;
"I heard you". She said quietly, "what do you mean by getting rid of? Like, getting rid of the rubbish? Getting rid of a painting you don't like? Getting rid of the mud from your boots?"
Rubbing her lips together, she leaned towards him again;
"getting rid of?" Charlotte whispered, "it's not the words I'd use to describe what I saw in the camp. I'd say it was more…murder. A serious act of murder. Wouldn't you?"
The anger seemed to leave his eyes.
And Charlotte hated that moment.
A sickening feeling reached her gut.
Sighing, she asked;
"why?"
"God will forgive me". He whispered.
Charlotte shook her head;
"you can't put forgiveness to a guy who lives in the fucking sky, man. What if he's not listening, eh? And even if he is, then why the hell would he allow this? What kind of person would think that was right?"
He didn't reply.
Charlotte clenched her jaw;
"I can't understand it". She whispered, "I'm glad I can't. I wouldn't 'wanna be down there with you – fucking hell!"
Hands slamming against the table, she got up;
"get on your knees – now!" Charlotte yelled.
He looked at her;
"you won't do it". He said, with a smile, "you will not shoot me".
And he was right.
The monster was right.
Charlotte's hands were shaking.
Biting down on her quivering lip, she looked towards the door;
"someone get in here!"
The German quickly got on his feet and ran for the door.
"Fuck". Charlotte cursed, following after him.
Sisk and Webster presented themselves.
"He's guilty!" She said, "get him!"
Outside, they saw the man run up the hill.
Sisk lined up his target and pulled the trigger.
The monster went down.
The journey back to the farm was quiet.
Charlotte didn't say a single word.
After placing Webster on crossroads duty to take over for Janovec, Charlotte walked over to the farm and found Speirs standing outside with Grant. When the Captain spotted her walking towards him, he felt himself frown. Her eyes were filled with tears and her hands were shaking.
She gave him a nod;
"it's done". She mumbled thickly, "that was him".
Speirs gave her a firm nod;
"good job, Sargent".
Feeling her bottom lip quiver, Charlotte pushed back the tears, preventing them from spilling over her eyes. The Captain continued to stare at her;
"what is it?"
Shaking her head, Charlotte felt her shoulders drop;
"I couldn't do it". She whispered, sounding ashamed. "I couldn't kill that fucking monster".
Speirs felt his frown deepen.
"I 'dunno why". Charlotte croaked, "he fucking deserved it but…I 'dunno, just didn't feel right".
Sighing softly, Speirs said to her;
"it's fine". He told her, "he's dead, right? That was your order".
Charlotte was beginning to think Speirs didn't like her for some reason.
He got along well with Grant.
But Charlotte figured she could have been feeling sensitive.
Giving him a nod and salute, she left the farm and headed over to HQ.
However, she never reached the hotel, for someone informed her;
"Winters wants a transfer out of Battalion".
The bad news didn't stop there.
An ambulance and a jeep pulled up in front of the farm.
Janovec was lying lifeless on a stretcher, while a medic pulled a blanket over his body. Charlotte raced towards the scene and felt her shoulders drop;
"oh, no". She moaned.
"Car accident". Webster told her quietly, "I tried to – I couldn't save him, Lottie".
Charlotte let out a tearful sigh;
Men shouldn't be dying now.
Not when the war in Europe was over.
…
A few days after Janovec's death, found Charlotte sitting on the deck.
Her legs hung over the side, nowhere near the water.
The sun was beginning to set, lowering behind the mountains.
Sunrises and sunsets were always so beautiful in Zell am See.
Apart of Charlotte never wanted to leave this gorgeous country.
"Hey, trooper".
Winters greeted, while sitting down next to her.
"Haven't seen you in a few days". He commented.
Which was true, Charlotte was childishly avoiding him.
Throwing a stone into the water, she mumbled;
"been busy".
"Captain Speirs has you all on a tight training schedule". He pointed out, "I'd expect you to be busy, Lottie".
Noticing the look across her face, Winters asked her;
"what's going on?"
Charlotte shrugged;
"nothing, sir".
"I know that's a lie". He raised an eyebrow, "how about the truth this time, Charlotte".
Sighing, Charlotte threw another stone into the lake;
"I'm mad at you…sir".
Winters frowned;
"that's not good". He said, "why's that?"
She felt her eyes sting with unleashed tears and dropped her head.
"You're 'gonna leave". Charlotte mumbled thickly, "and that hurts me loads".
Clearing his throat, Winters nodded;
"yeah…that was true".
Charlotte glared at her legs;
"you didn't tell me, sir".
"I didn't". Winters admitted, "I should have but I didn't 'wanna tell you, until I knew what was happening".
"Aye but – I would have gone with you". She said, "cause you're my family, sir".
His face softened.
Charlotte sniffed;
"and I love you – so, aye…family sticks together, eh?"
Clearing his throat, Winters said;
"well, you'll be happy to know that my transfer got denied".
Charlotte's eyes widened a little.
"So, looks like neither of us are going anywhere, Charlotte Gallagher".
She could feel her lips twitch slightly.
Slowly, Charlotte looked up at him;
"you're not just saying that?"
Huffing softly, Winters shook his head;
"no, I'm telling you the truth, Lottie".
With a smile lifting her face, Charlotte wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into his side;
"I'm happy, sir".
Winters snorted;
"I know you are, Lottie".
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders;
"and I love you too, buddy".
…
When the sun well and truly set behind the mountains, the men of Easy headed back to their houses. The town of Zell am See settled in for bed. They closed their curtains, served supper and had one last family meal, before turning in for the night. Charlotte was on her way back to the farm, with Winters a few feet behind her, preparing to enter the hotel. When Nixon suddenly walked out of the hotel and called for Charlotte;
"Lottie!"
Turning back around, she walked towards the man;
"Captain Nixon?"
"Need a word, kiddo".
Confused, she headed towards the hotel, Winters looked a little confused as well.
"What's this about, Nix?" Winters asked him.
The Captain nodded towards Charlotte;
"follow me".
Walking inside the hotel, Nixon led her and Winters into one of the living areas.
A woman was sitting on a chair, with her back to them.
She had a shaven head but wore clothes, which looked brand new.
The woman was one of the DP's, Charlotte could tell.
Frowning, she looked up at Nixon.
He gave her a tiny and encouraging smile;
"go on, kiddo".
Winters looked a tad concerned.
And he gave Nixon that same concerned look;
"is this a good idea?" He whispered to his friend.
"Yup". He whispered back, "this is a good idea, Dick".
Feeling nervous, Charlotte slowly walked towards the woman.
She was still and didn't move, not even upon hearing Charlotte's gentle footsteps.
Once behind her, Charlotte placed a quiet hand on the woman's shoulder.
And very slowly, the woman looked up and met Charlotte's eyes.
"Hello, Charlotte". She whispered, with tears in her eyes. "It's been a long time, has it not?"
Charlotte fell to her knees.
Her hand slowly fell from the woman's shoulder and handed on her arm;
"Mrs Sosnowska?"
It was Irena's mother.
"Mrs Sosnowska". She repeated quietly, "you're…you're okay?"
The older woman slowly shook her head;
"no". She croaked, a few tears falling from her eyes, "I am not".
She sniffed and added;
"but I am…alive".
Charlotte felt her bottom lip quiver;
"aye…you are". She mumbled tearfully.
Mrs Sosnowska's hand went to cover her mouth;
"my sweet Irena". She cried quietly into her hand, "she has left this earth".
A few silent tears rolled down Charlotte's face.
Mrs Sosnowska sniffed;
"and now we must live in a world without our beautiful Irena".
Feeling her face crumble, Charlotte buried herself into Mrs Sosnowska's lap.
The woman's hand fell onto the top of Charlotte's head;
"I have cried many tears". She said, "but tears…they are never big enough for Irena".
A soft sob fell out from Charlotte.
"I pray that Irena is in heaven". Mrs Sosnowska whispered, "a place where she can no longer feel pain, starvation and suffering. I pray she is in a place where she feels full and loved again".
The woman leaned down and kissed Charlotte's head;
"she loved us, Charlotte". She whispered, "and we will always love her".
It took a few minutes for Charlotte to get a better hold of herself.
Lifting her head, with tears still sticking to her cheeks, she stared up at Mrs Sosnowska.
The woman had a tearful smile when their eyes met;
"at the end of it, all…we were meant to see each other again".
Charlotte swallowed back another sob.
Mrs Sosnowska kissed Charlotte's forehead;
"my sweet Irena will live in our hearts forever, Charlotte".
Sniffing, Charlotte pulled back.
Wiping some tears away, she then reached into her pocket and pulled out the dainty rose gold little robin. Placing it into Mrs Sosnowska's hands, she told her softly;
"it made me think of Irena".
Mrs Sosnowska looked at the bird;
"yes…I can see that". She whispered, "Irena was a winter baby".
Charlotte nodded;
"aye". She croaked, "well, it's for you".
Placing a hand on the side of Charlotte's face, Mrs Sosnowska smiled;
"you were always her favourite person".
Captain Nixon had done a great thing.
Charlotte lost Irena.
Mrs Sosnowska lost her daughter and her husband.
And Charlotte still felt grateful, to have seen Irena's mother one last time.
When Mrs Sosnowska left the hotel, Charlotte stood before Nixon.
Giving him a nod, she felt tears reach her eyes all over again;
"cheers". She whispered.
"I'm sorry, Lottie". He whispered back.
Shaking her head, Charlotte cleared the lump away from her throat;
"Mrs Sosnowska's right, sir". She mumbled, "Irena's somewhere nice, eh? Like – like heaven or whatever. And she's probably feeling loads better".
Charlotte wiped her face;
"can always rely on you, eh, sir?"
Huffing out a tiny laugh, Nixon shook his head.
Letting out a small and shaky sigh, Charlotte cleared her throat;
"right". She said, "eh – thanks again, sir".
Nixon placed a hand on her shoulder;
"I'm glad you called me when you needed bailing out from jail".
Charlotte felt her lips twitch;
"aye". She whispered, "me too, sir".