Only a Cabaret

5th October 1944

Bull had been found, safe and sound and had returned to Easy, much to everyone's relief. Taylor, having quietly broken up with Joe, was now like a little lost puppy. She seemed to go everywhere with Lith; toilet, food, sleeping… Trying to get some alone time with my own wife, was once again like panning for gold in a dried up creek. Well, between that and the patrols. If she wasn't on one, I was.

"You dick." My wife huffed, coming into the barn and slumping into a seat at the table beside her sister. "D'y'know I've had that song in my head, all fucking night?"

"What song?" Taylor asked, feigning innocence.

"You know, that one from Mario Paint! It's just been going round in my head-"

Ah, they were talking about something from back in their day. I tuned out, looking at the dog Tab had brought back. It was just staring, watching me eat and I felt an almost familiar feeling… almost as if someone did the same thing.

"Don?"

I turned my head to find Lith gearing up.

"I said, I'm going. I don't know when I'll be back."

I sighed; she was going on another patrol. She sighed and smiled, telling me not to pull a face.

"If the wind changes, you'll stay like that." she smiled. "Play nice with your sister."

"Yeah, yeah. Be careful!" I called, as she joined the others.

All quiet. Tab and Dukeman were playing with Trigger, Winters and Luz were sitting off somewhere to side, Lip was getting some shut eye for a change and Taylor was sitting with me, Miller and Babe, playing cards. Suddenly, she burst through the doors of the barn.

"We need a medic! Taylor, clear the table! Now!" She had blood on her hands, but nowhere else. Everyone jumped into action and Doc Roe appeared from somewhere. "We made contact and Alley's been hit; grenade, left side."

She seemed so calm and collected, as the others brought Alley in, she barked orders, told them what needed to be done and rallied her unit. I don't think I'd ever seen her panic during combat, well, other than when I got hit, but her cool-headedness and the tone of her voice seemed to keep everyone else grounded.

"Tay, take the others, go with Lipton and 1st squad. You're in charge."

"You betcha." Taylor took the others and dashed off, leaving Lith with the others who'd been on the patrol and Doc Roe.

She hovered over Alley's head, gently stroking his hair.

"Keep your eyes on me, Al, okay?"

"Am I gonna die?"

"What? No, you're not going to die."

"What's it like?" Lith flinched. That was something she didn't want to talk about. The last time anyone asked her that, which was Perconte (obviously, he has his foot in his damn mouth all day), she shut down, gave us all a shitty excuse and left. It wasn't until two days later that she turned up again, saying she'd been sick with flu or something.

"Unpleasant enough that one wouldn't like to do it more than once." I could see she looked pale. "Zero out of ten. I don't recommend it."

"Okay."

Lith looked nervous, but all I could do was watch.

"You always take such good care of people."

"Who? Gene?"

"Him too… but I think we got you for a reason."

My wife smiled, softy, warmly, kindly. "Oh, yeah? I wonder what Allfader Odin wanted me to do here."

As Alley was whisked away to the aid-station, Joe and Lesniewski started arguing over why Alley had gotten hit. Les said it was Joe's big mouth, Joe said it wasn't his fault. They'd gotten in each other's faces, until someone got between them.

"Stop it!" Lith, still with Alley's blood on her hands, pushed them apart, holding them at arm's length. "Isn't it enough that he's hurt? Stop biting each other." She sighed and walked outside. Joe looked like he was going to say something but walked off in the opposite direction.

I followed Lith outside, with a scrap of cloth and my canteen, crouching in front of her as I used the cloth and water to wipe the blood off of her dainty hands.

Tri nornar eg ber

at liv skal du spinne

Tri nornar eg ber

at liv skal du tvinne

Tri norner eg ber

at liv skal du binde

...binde til rota...

"What did you say baby?"

Lith looked up at me, surprised. "What?"

"You were saying something? Nornar?"

"Oh…oh! That?" she went a little pink. "It's a song… well, was. It's asking the Norns, the fate spinners, to spin life and bind that life to Yggdrasil."

I guess I must have looked at her a little blankly, because she chuckled and shook her head.

"Never mind…They've stopped fighting, haven't they?"

"Yeah, for now. Liebgott went to cool off and Joe is grumbling about it somewhere else."

Lith sighed, grabbing at her chest for her lighter (which was in my pocket), looking vexed when I gave it back to her.

"Remind me to buy you your own." Lith rolled her eyes. "Oh, wait. I did buy you your own."

"Sorry."

Lith

It was time.

The ACS were to follow Winters and confront the enemy. As soon as the smoke deployed, Easy was to follow. On his signal, the four of us advanced with Winters.

Holy fuckballs.

There, in the field, was an entire company of Germans troop, SS troops. We opened fire, before they had a chance to react to our presence. The battle started and it seemed to be going our way, until another fucking company appeared from over the hill, to our right. I was just about to say something to Taylor, when everything went black. The next thing I knew I was looking at a red sky and there was a searing pain in my eye and cheek.

"Malarkey!" I could hear Winters shout, wondering if he was calling me or my husband. His face, also blurry and red, suddenly appeared over me. My hand went up to my face, pulling back with blood on it. "Are you alright Malarkey?"

"My eye…"

He dragged me, just like he had at Brecourt, out of the way and called for a medic.

"Sir, I only need one eye to shoot with!"

Lith

"Alright Mouse, hold still." Gene murmured, holding my eye open as he poured water onto it.

"Owowowowow!"

"Does it hurt?"

"No, but my face does right where you've got your thumb."

Gene smiled, "You're lucky it was just a ricochet."

"I don't know about lucky… I think I'm cursed… or a magnet for medics." I grumbled, hissing again as he started to put a few stitches into my cheek.

"I don't think your cheek's broken, or fractured." He said, sitting back when he was done, letting me sit up. "But let me know if you can't see properly."

I nodded and then trudged over to the 3 Stooges. I sank down in the dirt beside Skip, laying my head on his shoulder, while he tickled Penk's ear with his spoon.

"You okay?" He asked, tickling my nose with said spoon. I chuckled and closed my eyes with a big sigh.

"It's always my face… I wasn't good looking to start with, but this is just rude!" I told him, still with my eyes closed, but pointing in the general direction of my latest ding.

"Are you kidding? Mal, tell your wife she's beautiful."

Don, who was sitting on the other side of the mound somewhere, next to Penk, did what he was told.

"You're only saying that because we're married."

"See? You tell her she's beautiful."

"Mouse."

"Yes, o' favourite Skip of mine?"

"You're beautiful."

"Thanks Skip."

"I think you're beautiful too." Penk chimed in. Oh, these boys.

10th Oct 1944 - Lith

"So…how the fuck are we supposed to get over there, to lay that line, to pull that over, if we don't have a fucking boat?" Taylor huffed. She, Milly, Babe and I were standing on the banks, going over our job as part of Operation Pegasus; rescuing 140 trapped British paras from the other side of the river. We were soon joined by Welsh and Moose, the new commander of Easy (Winters having been promoted after the skirmish with the two SS companies).

"Fucked if I know Tay-ter Tot."

"You thinkin' how to get over there?"

"Yep."

"Any ideas?" Moose asked. I shrugged.

"Got one."

"What if we throw it? Think we could reach?" Moose asked. Taylor looked at the coil of rope in her hand and apparently didn't think. She just threw it… right into the middle of the river…

All of us looked at her.

"I forgot to hold the other end."

I covered my face with my hands; this was going to be a long day. The rope was slowly but surely, making its way down river and sinking.

"Now what?" Babe asked. I sighed; I was going to have to get wet.

Off came the boots, the jacket, the braces, the shirt, everything until I was down to my vest and underwear. The guys didn't know where to look; Milly and Babe turned a full 180, Moose looked up at the sky and Welsh… well, he didn't actually look, but he wasn't looking away away.

"Dude, what the fuck?"

Listen, if you weren't shit at throwing, I wouldn't have to take a dip! I hissed at her in Norwegian as I waded into the water.

I'm going to tell your husband you stripped in front of the officers. She laughed, replying in Russian.

Don't you fucking dare!

"Just get the rope already!"

I was a strong swimmer, which wasn't widely known. I swam a lot in the sea at home, in the fjord where my bestemor lived in Norway and even went swimming when it'd iced over. What? It's a Scandinavian thing. I got the rope, swam to the other side, tied it on a tree and swam back with the other end. Making our way back, I got a few funny looks off the others, as I sloshed back, half dressed and wet through.

"Should I even ask?" Don smirked.

"Nope."

Lith

Once again, my Viking-esque make-up was on as I waited with Moose for the British to turn up. We'd gone together over the river with Colonel Dobie, the Canadian engineers and rescue the 140 British paratroopers.

"Hyliger, 506th of the 101st Airborne." Moose said, as a para appeared from the hedges and bushes.

"Never thought I'd be so glad to see a bloody Yank."

Ha, charming. I felt my eyes roll.

"Your show Colonel." Moose said and with that he and the other Brit disappeared. Joe appeared behind Moose and me to tell him the boats were secure and Moose called Bull over to pass the word that the Brits were on their way. It was a tense wait for them to return and they did eventually, after what felt like hours.

"Moose Hyliger?" The Brigadier asked, extending his hand to shake Moose's. "God Bless you my lad." Then he noticed me. "Mouse Malarkey?"

"Yes sir. Section Leader Malarkey at your service sir."

"A fellow Brit?" He seemed surprised (and glad) to hear a familiar accent. "God Bless you too m'girl."

"Wahai, Mohammed!" Lt Sharpe, the British officer from earlier yelled at the top of his voice. He stood on a box at the front of the barn, where we officers and NCOs all gathered with our British counterparts, celebrating a job well done. No one died, no one got hurt, and everyone came back. It was great. Moose stood off at the side, wearing one of the officer's berets.

"Moose Hyliger and the American 101st have done the Red Devils a great service! Making it possible for us to return, and fight the enemy on another day." The Brigadier announced, standing by Lt Sharpe. "To Easy Company, to victory and Currahee!"

"Now! Let's get this party started, shall we?" Danni's voice asked from the back of the hall. We hadn't really seen her since we jumped into Holland, well, only for orders anyway. "Lithy, Malark." She grinned at us, as she walked by, stepping onto the box Sharpe had been stood on.

"Easy Company! A toast, to our Company sweetheart! Happy Birthday Mrs Malarkey!"

Eh? What? I felt quite bewildered; I didn't even know what day I was on, let alone knew it was my birthday. Danni waved me over to join her, standing me on a taller box. "Gods, is this what it's like to be tall?" I asked, a little loudly and the others laughed.

Then, suddenly, Taylor appeared at the front with The 3 Stooges, as all the Easy boys and my sisters began a rendition of Hurra for deg, complete with actions. Even my hopeless husband. I couldn't believe it; after two years of me singing it for their birthdays, they'd learnt it, just for me. I felt a bit emotional.

"Oh, you've made me cry!" I laughed, wiping at my face. These were the friends that I'd wanted all my life. "After two years of nearly 200 birthdays it's about time you learnt it!"

Don

I think Lith was still in shock from the Hurra for deg an hour later. She sat with me, Skip, Penk and two other British sergeants, looking a little bewildered, we listened to Moose singing another song (badly).

"Bladdy 'ell." One of the Sgts, Harper, I think his name was, groaned. "I've heard tanks that carry a better tune than 'e does."

"If only we knew someone who sings." Skip turned to Lith and she pretended not see, taking an interest in the hay behind us.

"C'mon Mouse! Save our ears!"

"No thank you." She mumbled, tugging her ear. Skip, Penk and the others pleaded and pleaded, until Luz turned up and demanded she put a stop to Moose's awful singing. She fidgeted a little, before she sighed and agreed. "You owe me big time."

"You can have my chocolate ration for this week if you shut him up." Luz grumbled, as the two wandered to the front. "Ladies and gentleman, for one night only; The All Singing, All Dancing, Mouse!"

Poor Lith looked real nervous, as she sucked in a deep breath.

What good, is sitting, alone in your room?

Come hear the music play!

Life is a cabaret old chum

Come to the cabaret!

Put down the knitting, the book and the broom

Time for a holiday!

Life is a cabaret old chum

Come to the cabaret!

The more she got comfortable, the more she got into the song, the louder and better it got.

"Jeez, where does she keep those lungs?" Luz asked, as the end of the song came up. I could feel the passion she had for music radiate from her.

And as for me, as for me

I made my mind up, back in Chelsea~

When I go, I'm goin' like Elsie~

Start by, admitting, from cradle to tomb,

Isn't, that long a stay!

Life is a cabaret old chum

Only a cabaret old chum

And I love, a ca-ba-ret!

After a few more songs and show tunes, she decided that enough was enough and bowed out and returned to me, grinning.

"You look surprised." She giggled, sitting on my knee with her arms around me. "Did you think I just did little songs?"

"I swear, half of your insides are lungs and the other half is stomach." I grinned, my arms snaking around her little waist. "But, I was surprised. If you end up on Broadway, I'll be in the front row." She smiled and yawned, rubbing her eyes.

"I'm tired… I'm going to hit the hay, I think."

"But it's still early!" Skip protested, but then Penk yawned too. "Not you too?!"

"I can't help it. C'mon Mousy, let's go sleep."

She chuckled, "Not many men would be brave enough to tell someone's wife you're going to bed together, in front of her husband."

Penk was about to argue, but decided he was too tired to care. I trusted Lith with all the guys, none more so, than Skip and Penk. She loved them just as much as I did, like brothers. The four of us were almost always together and had been for years.

"Big spoon or little spoon?"

"Toss a coin." The coin was tossed… then lost somewhere on the floor. "Shit."

"I'm just going to call it. I'm big spoon."

"You're too small to be big spoon!" they argued all the way to our regular hay pile.

"Oh fine, just make sure I'm in the middle then!"

When Skip and I eventually turned in, we found the two of them sound asleep, like big babies. Lith was half on her back, with an arm draped over her stomach and Pinky was on his side, both of them facing each other. There was one curious detail, though, that made us chuckle; the two seemed to have fallen asleep mid-pinkie promise, their little fingers still entwined. We did our best not to wake them, and I took of my jacket, draping it over Lith as a blanket. She hunkered down, pulling the jacket up to her face, taking a deep breath in while she slept. She must be able to tell my smell even in her sleep.