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DARK WINTER
PART 2
CHAPTER 15
Slipping past the three German sentries was not too difficult for the sergeant. As with the GI's, the soldiers were watching for any enemy that might be trying to sneak in, not slip out.
It seemed that the third sentry was working on a cold. He sneezed again as Saunders began to slide between the men. Mentally he couldn't help automatically thinking, 'God bless you' as he passed him.
The soldier on the far side whispered, "Gesundheit."
Saunders sensed that the three men seemed bored, growing tired of staring into the darkness while sitting in wet snow. He had no trouble passing them.
Once he'd put some distance between him and the krauts, the sergeant shifted more toward the north, heading back to the American lines. Reaching the second wooded area in pretty much No Man's Land, he was comfortable standing up. He began to move faster in the darkness, slipping from tree to tree.
When he reached the tree line that he knew would come out where the Company had set up its most forward position, he stopped.
Saunders weighed his options. Trying to sneak past them again could get him killed. But he had no excuse to offer for being out there, especially if Captain Jampel had passed down orders that no one was to leave the billet.
After pondering all of his limited options a bit more, Saunders took a deep breath and called out, "Don't shoot! I'm an American!"
CHAPTER 16
Saunders could practically feel the rifles being pointed directly at his position. His gut tightened as he repeated, "Don't shoot!"
After a tense moment of silence, a voice shouted out the challenge, "Three!"
Saunders didn't hesitate. "Ten!"
"Advance!" came the much welcomed reply, and the sergeant slowly and cautiously stepped out of the tree line and walked toward the wary soldiers. He approached them with his Thompson pointed at the ground.
As he drew closer, one soldier also pointed his rifle toward the ground, and Saunders could feel his muscles relaxing and the tension draining away.
"What're you doing out there, Sarge?" the private asked as the sergeant came nearer out of the darkness.
"Recon," Saunders replied, trying to keep it as vague as possible.
"Recon? How the heck did you get out there? We didn't see you go out," the soldier said skeptically.
Think fast, Saunders, the sergeant said to himself. At least now he knew that Captain Jampel hadn't sent any orders to the front lines.
"What time did you come on?" he asked, hoping for the right answer.
"2300 hours. Why?" replied the private.
"I went out at 2200 hours," Saunders said, knowing that he was getting himself deeper.
"Didn't the other guys tell you that I was out there?" He held his breath, waiting to see if it worked.
"No," the soldier answered in frustration. "Geez, no one tells us nothing. We coulda killed you."
Saunders let his breath out in relief. "That's what passwords are for."
He started to leave when a thought came to mind. Turning back, the sergeant added, "I'll be going back out in a little while. I'll be sure to find you. Private…?"
"Winters. Private Winters," the young man responded.
"See you soon, Winters," Saunders said casually. At least when he went out again he would be saving precious time by not having to sneak past his own men. He needed to somehow get Bette and the others out of there before dawn broke.
As he ran through all of his options in his head he made his way back to their bivouac.
CHAPTER 17
As Saunders slipped out of the darkness into their bivouac, he stopped abruptly. His entire squad was standing in a group…looking at him.
Everyone stood in awkward silence until Caje finally asked, "Is she ok?"
Saunders was at a loss for words. He felt like the kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. After another awkward silence, Doc added sympathetically, "Sarge, we know that Bette's missing along with the other two nurses and the doctor."
"We know you've been out to the town," Brockmeyer said.
When their sergeant started to object, Kirby quickly interrupted. "Sarge, you're soaking wet and have fresh camo paint on. Don't think you've been playing in the snow. Doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to know where you've been."
"So is she ok?" Billy repeated.
Saunders looked at his men, and finally nodded. "The krauts have all of them. One nurse is wounded…but it isn't Bette."
"Why didn't you ask us for help, Sarge?" Littlejohn asked. "We all like Bette. We'da helped you."
After another long moment, the sergeant responded, "No one knows I went out."
"We heard that Captain Jampel gave orders that no one leaves the billet," Caje said.
Saunders looked at the Cajun and then stared off into the darkness. "I'll probably get court-martialed."
The silence among the squad was palpable as everyone struggled for something to say.
As each man looked at the other, Brockmeyer finally asked, "So when are we going in?"
CHAPTER 18
Saunders looked at his squad as they all waited expectantly for his reply. The sergeant was torn. He didn't want his men to get into trouble helping him. But he knew that he couldn't do it alone. He needed their help.
"I'm going back out in a little while," their sergeant replied, looking around them into the darkness for prying ears.
"If you come, it has to be understood that we're doing this without permission. When we get back, I intend to tell the Lieutenant that it was all my idea, and that I never told any of you that. As far as anyone else is concerned, you went into this believing it was a sanctioned mission."
The soldiers all began to object, but Saunders held up his hand. "That's the way it'll be…or I go alone. I won't drag you down with me. There'll only be one court martial."
He looked at each of his men. "Understood?"
His soldiers looked at each other and finally nodded their agreement.
"Ain't gonna say that I like it though," Kirby grumbled.
"I don't need you to like it," their sergeant replied. "But I really could use your help. And Doc…you're not coming."
The medic straightened up, ready to object. But Saunders stopped him short.
"We've got a doctor and nurses there to handle any injuries. And we'll be coming out trying to protect four noncom's as it is, and one's wounded. Besides, I could use you here."
"What can I do?" Doc asked, grateful that he could help.
"Anyone at the field hospital that you know and trust?" the sergeant asked.
The medic nodded. "I know most everyone."
Saunders took out his cigarettes and stuck one in the corner of his mouth. Fishing in his pocket with his cold fingers, he pulled out his lighter and lit it.
"I want you to get them on board. They have to keep this to themselves if this is gonna work. They need to be ready for casualties when we get back. That wounded nurse is going to need immediate attention."
He paused and looked at his men. "And there might be more by the time we get out of there."
"I can do that," Doc replied. "They'll be ready. No problem. And we'll keep it quiet."
The soldiers were all quiet as the reality of the situation sunk in. They were going into a kraut held town against orders.
Then Caje asked, "So how are we going to do this?"
CHAPTER 19
Saunders brought his men out farther into the field where he could find some virgin snow. As the soldiers gathered around in a tight circle and knelt down, their sergeant flicked his lighter open and lit it.
Using his finger, he began drawing in the snow. First he drew the location of the town to give them a reference point. Then he drew a line.
"This is where our lines are. I've already prepped the sentries that I'll be going out again, so we won't have an issue getting past them."
He drew another line. "Here's where the krauts are dug in, just on the other side of a small wooded area. If we swing farther south and west and then head toward the town, there are fewer krauts there."
"Do we know how many?" Caje asked.
"I found one area where there are only three sentries," their sergeant replied.
Taking one last draw on his cigarette, he flipped it behind him and it sizzled briefly in the wet snow. "They're pretty easy to spot…one of them has a cold. Sneezing and sniffling. The other two are pretty chatty and bored. If we can take those three out one way or another, that'll give us a fairly safe opening to come back through in a hurry."
"How many guards around the prisoners?" Littlejohn asked.
"I'm getting to that," Saunders responded. He began to draw in the snow again.
"Here's the town," he pointed. "Here's the med tents. This one here is where they're being held. According to the doctor, there's only one guard out front. I only saw one myself. And there's none behind the tent where we'll be going in."
Saunders snapped his lighter shut. "We'll need to take that guard out in order to get the doctor and nurses out of there, especially since one'll have to be carried."
"I'll carry her," Littlejohn volunteered.
"Ok, good," the sergeant answered. "Billy, you cover Littlejohn and run point. You can follow our tracks in the snow on the way out."
Billy nodded. "Got it."
Saunders continued. "Once we take the guard out at the front of the tent, we're going to be vulnerable with no one out there. Won't take long for someone to notice."
He looked up at Brockmeyer. "Brock, you up to throwing on a kraut helmet and picking up his rifle to do a little guard duty to give us some extra time to get everyone out?"
"I just happen to have some experience with that," Brockmeyer smiled. "Sure, Sarge. I can do that. Unless someone gets close enough to see my uniform, I should be able to handle that with no problem."
"Good," Saunders replied and turned to the Cajun. "Caje, I need you to cover the doctor. You're job is to get him out."
Caje nodded and gave a small wave of acknowledgement.
"Kirby, you'll cover the other nurse," the sergeant continued.
The BAR man smiled. "I can handle that."
Saunders looked at each man carefully. Each one willing to take a dangerous risk to help him. Under different circumstances he'd be proud to call any or all of them good friends. But here he had to be their sergeant.
"We go in, get them and get out," their sergeant added. "Hopefully no one notices and we get out without firing a shot. Just follow my lead. Any questions?"
All heads shook a negative. Saunders stood up and dragged his boot through the snow, obliterating his map.
As the rest of the soldiers stood up, the sergeant said, "Let's do it."
CHAPTER 20
It didn't take long for the soldiers to get ready. The air was thick with the tension as they prepared to cross into enemy territory on their unsanctioned rescue mission.
As they neared the forward lines, Saunders whispered, "Let me do all the talking."
Approaching the most forward soldier, the sergeant said quietly, "Winters?"
The private turned to see the six man patrol camouflaged and quite obviously heading out across the lines.
"Sarge?" Winters replied. "I thought it was just you going out again."
"Change of plans," Saunders replied. "We're going in to get the medical personnel that were taken prisoner."
"They're prisoners?" the private asked. "That's great. Some of us were worried that they were dead."
The sergeant shook his head. "No, they're prisoners. Wanted to warn you that we'll probably be returning in a big hurry, possibly with krauts close on our tails. Just don't want you guys to shoot us."
"Good to know. We'll expect you," Winters replied. "As soon as I hear any movement out there, I'll yell out the sign. Yell back the countersign and I'll know it's you. You'll be good to come straight in."
Winters looked around at his men. "Don't worry, Sarge. We'll cover your tails. Good luck."
Saunders gave a small wave, turned to his squad and said, "Let's move out."
One by one the soldiers disappeared into the dark woods.
CHAPTER 21
Circling south and moving silently, the patrol followed their sergeant who was in turn following his own tracks in the snow from his previous trip out. When he came to the edge of the woods closest to the German lines, Saunders stopped and knelt down. His men followed his lead.
The sergeant touched Kirby's shoulder and pointed off to the left. Kirby leaned closer and followed the direction that his sergeant was pointing. The men waited silently until the BAR man finally saw a slight movement in the bushes. He nodded, but kept his eyes glued to his target.
Saunders reached over and repeated the process with Caje. Soon he was satisfied when the Cajun nodded as well, and focused on his man. The sergeant signaled to the rest of the patrol to stay put. Getting down on his belly, he crawled slowly and silently through the snow and brush toward the kraut with the cold. Caje and Kirby's movements mirrored those of their sergeant.
With only the slightest of rustling noises, each found their man. Only Caje's ended up dead, but both Kirby and Saunders were satisfied that their sentries would easily be out of commission long enough for them to complete their mission.
When Saunders saw the other two soldiers wave 'all clear', he motioned for the rest of the men to move forward.
Once the men were all grouped together again, the sergeant led them to the edge of the small field that held the hospital tents just outside of the town.
He had gone over the next part of his plan several times with his men already. Each soldier knew his job. As long as nothing had changed inside the tent and there was still only one guard at the front of the tent, Saunders was confident that they would soon have the prisoners freed.
One by one the soldiers belly crawled through the snow toward the hospital tent.
CHAPTER 22
Saunders rested the side of his head in the snow again, and slowly lifted the edge of the tent. All was pretty much the same as before. Bette was still sitting on a cot facing him, but now the other nurse was sitting opposite her, facing away from him. The doctor was standing over the wounded nurse, checking her pulse.
Glancing up, Bette instantly caught sight of Saunders and straightened up. When he slipped his hand under the canvas and pointed to the doctor, she nodded and tapped the doctor's arm.
The physician turned, and his face brightened when he realized that the sergeant had returned. Quickly looking over at the tent opening, he slowly made his way toward the prone soldier.
"Is it still just one guard out front?" Saunders asked when the man drew close.
"Yes," the doctor replied, not taking his eyes off of the front of the tent. "They know that we won't leave Joyce…the wounded nurse. So they're not worried about any of us sneaking out the back of the tent. The guard still comes in and checks on us periodically."
"He due back in soon?" the sergeant whispered.
The doctor shook his head. "He just came in a minute ago. He won't be in again for another five or ten minutes at least."
"Good," Saunders replied. "Go back and sit down. Someone else is coming in. Just do what he says."
As the doctor returned to the others, the sergeant turned and whispered, "Brock!"
Brockmeyer slid forward, took off his helmet and laid it in the snow. Then he slipped sideways under the canvas, and in a low crouch he ran to the front of the tent.
Saunders turned to the others. Remembering when he first saw the lit tent with silhouettes moving, he said, "When you're in, stay on the ground or our movements will be seen from outside."
The sergeant grabbed Brockmeyer's helmet, and one by one the soldiers quickly slid under the canvas and spread out on the grass while staying on their bellies.
Brockmeyer pulled the doctor to the front of the tent and whispered in the man's ear. "Call the guard in. Does he speak any English?"
The doctor shook his head no.
"Then just wave him in and say, 'Hilf mir'," Brockmeyer replied. "Hilf mir…got it? Try to look worried. Like something happened with the wounded nurse."
The doctor nodded and repeated, "Hilf mir" as he nervously wiped his hand through his hair.
Brockmeyer stood back and raised his rifle just as the doctor opened the tent flap.
CHAPTER 23
The doctor called out in a worried voice, "Guard? I need help. Uh…Hilf mir!"
Brockmeyer nodded and gave a slight wave for the doctor to say it again.
"Hilf mir…uh…krankenschwester," the doctor said.
Brockmeyer's eyes widened in surprise, and he stepped back, tensing with his rifle ready.
The doctor took a few steps backwards as the German ducked into the tent. At the same time, Brockmeyer's rifle butt slammed down on the side of the guard's head, and the soldier dropped to the ground.
When Brockmeyer knelt down to be sure that the kraut was out of commission for the foreseeable future, the doctor asked, "Is he dead?"
The private shook his head. "That was a nice touch. How'd you know to say 'nurse'?"
The doctor knelt beside him and checked the German's pulse. As he looked at his head wound, he answered, "I made it a point to learn 'doctor' and 'nurse' in German. Figured it might come in handy in case one of the enemy was about to shoot us."
The doctor stood up. "He'll be out for a few hours at least. Heck of a headache, but he should be ok."
"Wasn't high on my list of priorities right now," Brockmeyer replied as he unbuttoned the soldier's tunic and began to remove it. "Just as long as he doesn't wake up and start shouting before we all get out of here."
In a loud whisper, Brockmeyer called over to his waiting sergeant, who was lying on the ground next to the rest of the squad. "So far so good. Another minute."
As he slipped the tunic on, Brockmeyer said, "How's the nurse?"
"Joyce?" the doctor said. "She should be ok if we can get her out of here. They let me give her a little morphine, so she's pretty out of it right now."
Slinging the kraut's rifle over his shoulder, Brockmeyer put on the soldier's helmet. "Don't worry about Joyce. Littlejohn will carry her."
As he started to slip out of the front of the tent, he said, "Go let the Sarge know that I'm all set and in place out front."
CHAPTER 24
Hurrying over to the cluster of prone soldiers toward the back of the tent, the doctor leaned over and said, "The soldier said it's ok. He's outside and in place now."
Saunders quickly went to his knees and whispered to his men, "Let's go. Let's make it quick." He grabbed Brockmeyer's helmet and stood up.
As much as he desperately wanted to hold Bette, Saunders knew that their time was extremely limited. Everyone knew their job and proceeded to do it.
The doctor was preparing Joyce for Littlejohn to pick her up. The sergeant went to the front of the tent to check on Brockmeyer when he heard a German voice.
"Ist alles in Ordnung?"
Everyone in the tent froze. Saunders tightened his grip on the Thompson and nervously waited.
"Kein Probleme," Brockmeyer replied in a bored tone. "Sie gehen schlafen."
Everyone remained frozen, barely breathing, until Brockmeyer finally whispered over his shoulder, "All clear. Someone just checking up because they saw all the shadows in the tent. I told him they were all getting ready to go to sleep. Figured that would cover the movement he could see inside. Anyway, he bought it."
Saunders let out his breath. "Good. As soon as we've got everyone out the back, I'll let you know."
Turning to the others, the sergeant saw Littlejohn scooping up the injured nurse. Nelson grabbed a blanket, and both soldiers went to the back of the tent. Billy slid under the canvas, laid the blanket on the ground, and Littlejohn gently set the nurse down on the blanket.
As Littlejohn held the side of the tent up, Billy pulled the blanket and nurse under and out onto the snow-covered ground. Littlejohn turned to his sergeant, gave thumbs up and disappeared under the canvas.
"Caje," Saunders whispered and pointed toward the back of the tent. The Cajun led the doctor to the back, and they too disappeared under the canvas.
"Kirby," the sergeant said as he pointed, and Kirby and the other nurse slid under the canvas. As they were going under, Saunders looked at Bette and pointed to the back of the tent. She nodded and went back, sat down, and slipped under the side.
Still standing by the tent opening, the sergeant whispered, "Brock, let's go."
Brockmeyer took one last look around to be sure no one was nearby, and then he slipped into the tent. He dropped the rifle and took off the German's helmet and tunic. Scooping up his own rifle, he didn't bother to take the time to pick up his own field jacket. He just took his helmet from his sergeant.
Both soldiers hurried to the back, and Brockmeyer dropped to the ground as Saunders held up the canvas. Checking the tent one more time, Saunders followed the private and slid under the side into the darkness.
CHAPTER 25
Everyone was kneeling down in the snow when Saunders came from under the tent. He noticed immediately that the temperature was rising. The snow would be melting quickly now. He could see that it was already wetter and slushier.
The sergeant whispered, "Billy…point. Then Littlejohn, the doctor, Caje, Nurse, Kirby, Bette, me…Brock, you bring up the rear."
He looked around the tent and the field one more time. "Move out, stay low. And keep going…no matter what."
One by one the soldiers and medical staff crossed the field toward the woods. The moon had almost disappeared behind gathering clouds, making them all less visible.
But it also made it harder for Nelson to find the way back. With no compass or sun to guide them, they had to depend on Billy picking up the trail that they'd made when they'd first gone in. It was a relatively narrow path that they'd cleared of krauts up ahead.
Saunders hoped that no one had discovered the open gap yet…or the three krauts that they'd taken out…or that there was no guard on the front of the tent.
It took Billy precious moments to finally find where they'd originally come out of the woods, and then he whispered excitedly, "Here it is! I found it."
One by one they followed the soldier onto the trail, with Billy taking time here and there to help Littlejohn through the branches and brush.
Just as Bette reached the edge of the woods, Brockmeyer shouted, "Krauts!" and fired his rifle.
Germans coming up behind them from the town returned his fire. They must have noticed the missing guard, the sergeant thought. Bette stopped.
Saunders yelled, "Move!" but Bette remained frozen in place. As the krauts fired again, Saunders quickly threw himself at the nurse, driving both of them hard to the ground.
Bette screamed as the sergeant rolled off of her, turned and began to cover for Brockmeyer as the soldier ran for the trees. When Saunders tried to pull Bette onto her feet, she screamed again. Without hesitating, he slung his Thompson over his shoulder, scooped her up and began to run.
The others were a distance ahead of him, moving through the trees as fast as they could in the dark woods. The sergeant wanted to check on Bette, but he knew that he had to keep moving…and he was afraid to know just how badly she was hurt.
At that moment he was trying to concentrate only on the fact that she was still alive, and he intended to keep her that way. But he was also very worried that their window through the German front lines would be closing fast.
CHAPTER 26
"Move, Billy!" Saunders yelled anxiously ahead of him in the dark, even though he knew that the soldier was certainly going as fast as he could while helping Littlejohn.
Saunders knew that they'd made it to the German lines when he passed a prone soldier, lying unconscious in the brush. It was the kraut with the cold.
The BAR suddenly exploded ahead. Saunders could tell by the muzzle flashes that Kirby was firing off to the right. Their window was closing fast. He could hear Brockmeyer firing a ways behind him. The soldier was still ok…for now.
Saunders suddenly realized that Billy and the others up ahead still hadn't turned back north yet. Nelson had lost the trail in the melting snow and in the dark.
"Billy!" the sergeant yelled. "Head north! North!"
He could hear their movements shift to the right as Nelson responded instantly to his command. The krauts were firing blindly into the dark toward the sounds, but so far they'd missed their marks.
Shifting Bette in his arms as he ran, Saunders heard a faint but very distinct, "Six!" in the distance ahead.
"Seven, Billy!" Saunders screamed. "Seven! Seven!"
He was instantly relieved to hear Nelson yell out, "Seven!"
One by one the line of running soldiers and medical personnel charged through the American front line, passing the sentries who were ready to cover their backs.
As they passed, they all began to drop to the ground behind the line, looking for cover.
When Saunders went charging through the line carrying Bette, he yelled, "One more, Winters! One more!"
The dark woods were suddenly lit up with muzzle flashes as Brockmeyer came crashing through the brush.
"Seven!" Brockmeyer screamed. "Seven krauts!"
As soon as the private had passed them, the GI's began to return fire on the advancing krauts. Realizing that they were about to come face to face with the American front line, the Germans quickly halted and ducked for cover.
After a brief exchange of fire and recognizing that they were outnumbered, those still standing retreated.
"Everyone ok?" Winters called out when he was sure that the krauts were gone. "Casualties?" And then looking down the line at his men, he yelled, "Gimme a head count."
All down the line Saunders heard soldiers calling out their names as Winters mentally checked them off. The sergeant looked around at his own men and the medical personnel.
When satisfied that his own people were accounted for, Saunders asked, "Everyone ok, Winters?"
"We're good, Sarge," came the soldier's reply. "How about you?"
As Saunders stood up with Bette in his arms he answered, "Still alive so far."
"That was a great job, Sarge!" Winters added. "You made it back through kraut lines…twice...with the prisoners and not a single casualty."
Even as the others were standing up as well, the sergeant called out, "Let's get to the field hospital."
Nelson was helping Littlejohn up with the wounded nurse. "Where's the field hospital, Sarge?"
The sergeant suddenly realized that none of them had been there when the new field hospital had been set up. He wasn't even sure that there was a field hospital.
Just as he was about to ask Winters, a familiar voice called out, "Over here, Sarge."
CHAPTER 27
Doc came out of the darkness. "They're ready for you at the field hospital. Did you get everyone out alright?"
"Bette's hurt," Saunders replied anxiously. "Lead the way, Doc."
The medic called out over his shoulder, "Follow me."
With no further conversation they headed back toward the Company's billet. As they approached one of the medical tents on the outskirts farthest from the lines, the doctor stopped Littlejohn and said, "Let me take her. This is OR."
Littlejohn handed off the wounded woman and stepped out of the way as Saunders approached. When the sergeant began to go into the tent, an orderly blocked the opening and said, "I'll take her, Sarge."
Saunders hesitated and then reluctantly handed Bette off, who was still crying softly.
"Let me know how badly she's hurt…please," he whispered, finding himself staring at the closed tent flap.
"Sarge?" Kirby called from behind the sergeant. "Did they tell you anything about Bette yet?"
Saunders turned to look at him and could only shake his head.
"The rest of us are gonna go face Lieutenant Hanley right now," Kirby added. "He just heard about it and cornered Caje. We'll let him know everything that happened."
Saunders came out of his fog for a moment. "I should go."
"We can do it, Sarge," Kirby protested. "You should be here. I'm sure that the Lieutenant will understand you staying here. If he wants you, I'll come get you."
The sergeant was torn but he finally agreed. He needed to know if Bette would live. He was already going to be court martialed. What more could they throw at him now? "Remember, as far as you're concerned, it was a sanctioned mission."
"Sarge…" Kirby began to object.
"I mean it, Kirby!" the sergeant interrupted sharply. "Do I have to make it an order?" He knew, however, that it would be an order that would never hold up in a court martial.
With a sigh of resignation, the BAR man nodded and replied, "Ok…ok."
As the soldier turned to leave, he hesitated and looked back at his sergeant. "Hope she'll be ok."
CHAPTER 28
Pacing near the tent, Saunders quickly wore a muddy path in the remaining slushy snow. He reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, pulled one out of the pack and stuck it in the corner of his mouth. Slipping his hand into his pocket, he wrapped it around his lighter and gripped it tightly for a moment before taking it out and lighting his cigarette.
Still pacing, he inhaled deeply on his cigarette as he stared off into the darkness. The wait seemed like an eternity, giving Saunders more time to feel guilty about everything. Bette…disobeying orders…not being with his men to face Hanley…his men having to lie…
A voice interrupted the sergeant's thoughts. "Sergeant Saunders?"
The sergeant turned to see a doctor at the tent opening. "Yes, Sir. How is she? Is she alive?"
"Nurse Anderson?" the doctor asked. "She'll be fine. Got the shrapnel out. She'll have an interesting scar though."
More guilt, Saunders thought. He'd totally forgotten about the wounded nurse. "That's great…how about Nurse Peters? Will she live?"
The doctor smiled. "Don't think I've ever known anyone who died from a dislocated shoulder, Sergeant. Although I must admit it can be mighty painful."
"A…what?" Saunders asked blankly.
"A dislocated shoulder," the doctor repeated. "She said some soldier gave her a cross body block and then fell on top of her. Guess that would do it."
The doctor chuckled. "She'll be ok. Pretty sore for awhile though. Got a lot of bruises. We gave her just a little morphine to take the edge off while we put the shoulder back in."
Saunders stared at the man in silence.
"Want to see her?" the doctor asked, pulling the tent flap back.
The sergeant stared off into the darkness. "Sergeant?" the doctor said.
Saunders looked at him, "Yes, Sir?"
"She's awake. Would you like to see her?" the doctor repeated.
Continuing to stare numbly in silence, Saunders finally shook his head slightly and turned, walking away into the night. His cigarette created a glowing arc in the blackness as he tossed it into the snow.
CHAPTER 29
Saunders kept walking until he was well beyond the Company billet. He stopped and looked out over the field and into the trees. The moon created a ghostly effect as it slid in and out behind fast moving clouds. Patches of snow were already disappearing with the warming temperature.
What an ugly, endless night, Saunders thought. Endless ugly night, and an endless ugly winter. Endless ugly war. He took off his helmet and dropped it into the slush.
Running both hands through his hair, he held the sides of his head and looked up at the night sky. Even the stars looked ugly to him. Like scars in the black night.
His world had just been turned upside down. That confident seasoned soldier seemed to have disappeared. He closed his eyes. He'd gone off to rescue the woman he loved, and instead he'd single handedly put her in the hospital in pain.
How could he ever face her again? What could he possibly say? 'I'm sorry' didn't even begin to touch what he was feeling inside. That empty hollow feeling. That feeling that he'd just lost the best thing that had ever come into his life.
What an endless ugly night.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" came a soft voice behind him.
CHAPTER 30
Saunders froze. He didn't dare turn around. Part of him wanted to find a rock somewhere big enough for him to crawl under. And part of him just wanted to keep walking straight into the German lines.
"Saunders, are you going to look at me?" she asked.
The sergeant hesitated, and then slowly turned around. Bette stood looking at him, confused. Her arm was tucked into a white sling. Both stared at each other for a moment until Saunders looked away.
"Are you mad at me?" she asked finally, tilting her head slightly.
"No," the sergeant replied quickly. "No…why would I ever be mad at you?"
"You wouldn't come in to see me," she answered.
Not quite knowing what to say, Saunders asked nervously, "How did you find me?"
"When you left, the doctor watched you," Bette said. "When you kept on walking straight out into the night, he came in and told me. He pointed out which way you were headed, and I just took a chance."
She paused, afraid to ask. "Why did you leave without coming in to see me if you're not angry with me?"
When Saunders didn't reply, she continued, "I figured it was because I was so stupid out there. Everyone was keeping low and running and I froze. Like a green recruit. I could have gotten everyone killed. I could have gotten you killed."
Saunders shook his head. "No…it was me. I went out there to rescue you and the others. Instead I ended up putting you in the hospital." He reached out hesitantly and touched her injured arm briefly. "I could have killed you."
"Saunders," Bette said with both relief and frustration. "You risked your life to rescue us, and that's exactly what you did. We're all back safe because of you and your men. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't come for us? The others are very grateful for your actions. And so am I. A dislocated shoulder is a small price to pay for my freedom…and my stupidity."
With his own look of relief, he asked, "You're not mad?"
Bette laughed. "Of course not. I'm just relieved that you're not mad."
Saunders smiled for the first time in what seemed forever. How he loved to hear her laugh. Something he thought he'd never hear again.
Then the hard reality hit him. Hesitating, he said, "I still have to face Lieutenant Hanley and Captain Jampel. I went against expressed orders. That's a court martial offense."
CHAPTER 31
Bette smiled as she looked over his shoulder, and Saunders stared at her in confusion.
"You're a hard soldier to find," came a stern voice behind him. The sergeant turned to see his lieutenant standing in the darkness.
"Thought you'd gone AWOL until the Doc finally told me where you were both headed," Hanley added. "Practically needed a bloodhound to track you down."
When his sergeant remained in uncomfortable silence, the Lieutenant continued, "I just stopped by to see how Joyce and Bette were doing. Guess you're doing ok, Lieutenant Peters, since they've already discharged you."
Bette replied, "I guess I kind of discharged myself." She looked over at Saunders.
"I see," Hanley replied, trying to hide his smile.
"Didn't mean to interrupt anything," he said, "but I wanted to talk to you, Saunders."
And here it comes, Saunders thought. But he knew in his heart that if he had to do it all over again, he would. Now he had to face the consequences of his actions.
"Yes, Sir," was all that he could reply.
"When I saw Doc scurrying around the med tents," the Lieutenant began," it didn't take much for me to figure out what was happening. Especially when I couldn't find you or the rest of your squad."
Hanley stopped to stare at his extremely uncomfortable sergeant, before continuing. "I was looking for you to tell you that I'd already talked to Captain Jampel again, and he'd finally agreed to let someone go into town to check on the whereabouts of the medical staff."
He paused again. "Guess you got a little ahead of me. If you were taking your squad in, that meant you'd already checked out the town yourself and knew the situation."
Saunders finally spoke, "Lieutenant, my squad didn't…"
"Your squad couldn't lie its way out of a paper bag, Sergeant," Hanley interrupted with a slight smile. "How long did you think it would take before I'd get the truth out of any one of them? Doc came clean while you were all still out there."
"Sorry, Lieutenant," the sergeant replied, not knowing what else to say. "I was wrong."
Hanley shook his head. "No, you were right. It had to be done quickly if it was going to be done at all. Before the krauts got organized and fortified their positions. Or moved them somewhere else. I knew you were right. That's why I pushed the Captain so hard. He finally realized that it was the right thing to do too."
"So what happens now?" Saunders asked. He'd still gone against orders. The change in orders had come down after he was already disobeying the first orders.
Recognizing his sergeant's concern, the Lieutenant replied, "You're in the clear. As far as Captain Jampel is concerned, you followed orders…just a little too closely time wise."
Hanley smiled and added, "The brass have already commended him on a brilliant operation to free the noncoms with no casualties. He even gave you a little of the credit."
Hanley smiled again as Bette stepped closer to Saunders and touched his arm.
In an instant, Saunders' world had returned to normal, if he could consider years of fighting in a world war as normal.
Bette and the others were safe. She wasn't angry with him. And he and his men would not be in trouble.
"Thanks, Lieutenant," the sergeant said softly.
Hanley nodded in reply. "First thing tomorrow Captain Jampel wants you and the medical staff in his tent to give him everything you know or saw about the kraut troop strength, armament, vehicles, location in the town. Anything important. He's planning a push back into town now that the prisoners are all safe."
The Lieutenant turned to leave but stopped. "0800 hours, Sergeant. Sun'll be coming up soon. Better get a little shut eye."
"Yes, Sir," Saunders answered as his lieutenant slowly disappeared in the darkness.
He stood watching the officer until he looked at Bette and slipped his arm around her waist, being careful about her injured shoulder. They both looked out over the field as the moon broke through the clouds once again. The first pale rays of dawn were barely peaking over the trees to the east, already beginning to change the black of night into the soft grays of early morning.
"Beautiful winter night, isn't it?" Saunders said softly.
THE END