bob
She made it but the rocks shifted and threatened to tumble. Nelly was close to falling again but then, a hand took a hold of her hand. Nelly closed her eyes, when dust and chalk rained down on her, as other hands from above started to clear rocks and rubble out of the way. Slowly, pockets of air appeared in front of her, and strips of light shone down into the rubble.
The sunlight felt warm against her pale and chalky face. Nelly took in a deep breath of fresh air through the small pockets close to her face. The sunlight intensified. Nelly couldn't open her eyes. But she didn't need to do anything.
Someone was beginning to pull her up but then stopped.
"I need some help!" He said, "I've got them!"
It took three men to pull Nelly and Bill out from under the rubble. And once safely outside, Nelly started to gasp – her lungs panicked at the first taste of fresh air, they wanted to gobble it all up quickly. Someone was keeping Nelly in an upright position, as they unfastened the belt around her waist. Bill was no longer attached to her, and she slumped forward against the man.
"Easy, sweetie – I've got you". He said to her calmly. "Medic!" He called, "I need a medic!"
Boots running across loose rocks sounded around Nelly while she struggled to breathe through a coughing fit. Her lungs were trying to expel all the dusk and chalk trapped inside. Two medics arrived on the scene – one went to Bill, the other to Nelly. Everything happened so quickly, her mind was trying to process everything. Because one moment, she was trapped and now she was above the ground.
Something was strapped to the back of her head and placed over her mouth and nose. Air was soon manually pumped into her mouth.
That confused Nelly.
It confused her so much, she forgot how to breathe. Weakly, she tried taking the strange mask off her face, but a hand gently pulled her wrist. "Breathe normally, Cherie".
Following his instructions, Nelly calmed down and breathed.
"There we are, good girl".
She was still leaning against someone. But then, she was pulled back – Nelly was leaning against something firm. Hands moved up and down her body, probably checking for any broken bones. And then, she felt something cold and wet trickle over her eyes. After a moment, she felt fingers rub against her eyelids.
Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.
Things were still a little blurry and bright but in time, she saw Roe and Grant.
"Hey". Grant smiled softly, "You're okay?"
Weakly, Nelly nodded.
"You just keep breathing, Cherie". Roe said to her warmly. "You're doing great".
Again, she weakly nodded.
She was exhausted. Nelly just wanted to drink water and sleep.
Grant placed his hand on the side of her face and said, "How can someone so tiny, be this brave, huh?"
Chapped lips parting, Nelly whispered behind the mask, "Hobbits…".
Grant almost looked tearful when he smiled again. "You'll never cease to amaze me, Nelly".
Nelly's eyes raised when she heard boots rushing toward them.
It was Speirs.
And once he was close enough to Nelly, he dropped to his knees in front of her. Roe shifted to her side, and he continued to pump air into her lungs. Speirs took Roe's spot. He grabbed a hold of one of Nelly's hands – which looked tiny compared to his hand. And as Nelly tried to say her cousin's name behind the mask, she ended up coughing. Nelly coughed so hard, that tears sprung to her eyes – she coughed so hard, that she gagged.
"Oh – it's alright". Roe quickly pulled the mask up and away from her mouth.
Nelly's bruised body bent forward a little, where she gagged again and choked on all the dust and chalk that was rushing up her throat. In a whirl of panic, Nelly reached out with her free hand and grabbed Speirs's jacket weakly. Shoulders jerking up toward her ear, she ended up vomiting – but only saliva and chunks of whatever she had managed to digest, rushed out of her mouth.
Roe's free hand rubbed her back, "It's okay, Cherie".
Nelly whimpered faintly, "Ronnie…".
"I'm right here, kid". Speirs said to her softly but also firmly. He thought he had lost her. And for almost an hour, Speirs had to mentally prepare himself that they might end up pulling his cousin out of the rubble, dead. But he underestimated Nelly and her courage.
Nelly coughed and choked again – bringing up more of what she swallowed.
"There we go, it's okay". Roe continued to soothe during the process.
And when she finished, Speirs used his jacket sleeve to wipe her mouth.
Grant shrugged off his jacket and placed it over Nelly's lap.
She had no trousers or boots.
"Anybody got water?" Roe asked.
Bringing out his canteen, Speirs pressed the opening between Nelly's lips. "Big sips, kids". He instructed her quietly. "Let's get you better".
Nelly could have finished the entire canteen – she was so thirsty. And the cool water soothed the pain and dryness in her throat and mouth. Energy bounced back into her body. Her lungs were filling up with fresh air and she was no longer thirsty. She was going to be okay.
No longer drinking gulps of water, Nelly asked, "Bill?"
Speirs told her, "You did fantastic, Nelly". He expressed, "We're so damn proud of you".
Again, she croaked, "Bill?"
A spell of silence surrounded her.
That was her answer.
Bill didn't make it.
Nelly wondered if he was even alive when she found him. But it wasn't a wasted rescue mission. She brought his body back to the surface. Bill could be buried and mourned properly. Nelly was very lucky to have come out of that ordeal with only shallow cuts. There were a lot of moments down there, that could have instantly killed her. Nelly didn't think it was a miracle, she thought of it as, "the right place at the wrong time".
Roe patched up the cuts that required a plaster – or a band-aid. Nelly wasn't sitting for too long. But Speirs did help Nelly onto her feet. And once on her feet, Grant's jacket fell to the ground. A tiny blush reached her cheeks, as she stood there in her long underwear.
Grant huffed out a tiny laugh and said, "You need new clothes".
Speirs tied the jacket around Nelly's waist. "Let's go find you some, kid".
But before Nelly moved, she looked up at Grant. "Thank you…for saving me, Chuck".
"Hell, you did all the hard work, Nelly". Grant said softly, "I just found you".
Nelly nodded. "Exactly". She whispered, "You found me".
Looking at Grant, Speirs sent him a tiny smile and a nod. "Thanks, Grant".
Blinking away sudden tears, Grant then rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine – you're both welcome".
Lips almost twitching, Nelly placed her arm around Speirs's waist. "Let's go…sir…I'm cold".
"Actually". Speirs stopped walking and got in front of Nelly. Back to her, he crouched down and said, "Get on my back – you don't have any boots, kid".
A fond memory popped into Nelly's head – where she remembered first meeting Speirs in the woods after a sleepwalking adventure. Nodding to his request again, Nelly got onto his back, and he carried her all the way to Battalion HQ.
Once at Battalion, Nelly slid off Speirs's back and sat down on the couch while her cousin went off to find her some boots and trousers. She still had Grant's jacket tied around her waist, it was like a skirt on Nelly. Speirs disappeared inside a room right across from the bar where Luz and Vest were busy sorting out supplies inside boxes.
It was strange. Mentally, Nelly was still stuck under rubble but physically she was inside HQ, sitting on a couch as if nothing had happened. However, her mental and physical state both had something in common – exhaustion. Vest and Luz worked; Speirs was inside Winters's office trying to find her clothes. So, Nelly settled back on the couch.
Eyes closing, she drifted off.
She fell asleep sitting up, though her body was slouched. Head to her shoulder and legs hanging off the couch, her socked feet barely reached the floor. When Luz spotted Nelly sleeping, a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. And very quietly, he placed supplies into new boxes.
Winters and Speirs left the office with new trousers and boots.
But Nelly was sleeping, and they didn't have the heart to wake her.
Very carefully, Winters took a hold of Nelly and moved her into a more comfortable position – she was now lying down. And she didn't even stir while being moved. Taking the blanket from the back of the couch, Winters draped it over her body and tucked it under the cushions she was lying on.
...
In the morning, men were ordered to pack up and get ready to leave. They were heading to the same camp they went to after Holland – Mourmelon-Le-Grand. The men looked forward to a rest – a well-deserved rest – showers and hot meals. Throwing her duffel bag on the back of a truck, Nelly turned her back to the vehicle and walked along the road. Things went on as normal after yesterday's events. Nelly slept on the couch at Battalion HQ, woke up, brushed her teeth and then packed away all of her gear for the move. Things had to go on as normal. Yesterday was a little traumatising for Nelly but she pushed on – she continued to move forward because that was the only way to go.
Lieutenant Jones had been promoted and was no longer a part of Easy. It seemed Malarkey was destined to lead 2nd Platoon as a Sergeant.
"Sergeant Murray". Jones greeted with a tiny smile.
"Lieutenant Jones". Nelly greeted him back.
"I don't suppose you'll miss me an awful lot". He said lightly, "But I do hope, our paths cross again".
Nelly nodded. "Me too, sir". She meant that – Nelly was beginning to like Jones. "After the war?"
"You've got it". Jones held out his hand.
Nelly took his hand and shook it. "Good luck, sir".
"Good luck, Nelly". He said, "You're one of the bravest Paratroopers, I've ever met".
When the handshake ended, Nelly saluted Jones.
Jones's smile widened and he saluted her back. "Until then, Sergeant Murray".
The salute dropped and Nelly moved away from Jones.
She saw Cobb – standing on his own, away from others. He stood on the pavement, one foot off the kerb. Nelly was never angry at Cobb. Though she did still feel a little embarrassed, she never felt betrayed by him. And she certainly didn't hate Cobb. Nelly walked over to the lone soldier – she had to talk to him and assure him that it would all be okay.
When Cobb saw her, he bowed his head.
Standing in front of him, Nelly reached out and grabbed his arm. "Look at me". Her command was soft.
Cobb raised his head and looked at the girl.
"Roy…it's okay".
His face almost crumbled. His eyes shifted away from her stare. "It ain't". Cobb's voice sounded rough. "It ain't okay, kid".
"We all have…days like yesterday". Nelly said to him quietly. "Johnny was wrong, Roy. It's not boring…what you feel…I hear you". She said, "I feel it too…a lot".
With a quiet sniff, Cobb cleared his throat.
"It's a dark and scary place, Roy". She sounded empathetic and genuine. "And you think alcohol will help heal the inside…but it only brings repressed anger and frustration to the surface…".
Cobb gently raised an eyebrow and his eyes looked back at Nelly.
She nodded, "I know…they're big words for an idiot like me".
Cobb huffed softly. "Christ, kid. You can say some really profound shit".
A small smile almost played on her lips. "Let me tell you something, Roy Cobb…anyone who can drag themselves away from fear…from doubt…they're the bravest people you'll ever meet". Nelly's eyes held a knowing look – she was thinking back to Holland, where she helped Cobb and Meth back to Easy Company during their retreat in Nuenen.
Cobb's face turned a little serious. He nodded at Nelly's words.
She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "We'll be alright, Roy. I promise".
"Thanks, Nelly". He sounded sincere. "Truly, thank you".
"You're…welcome, Roy".
When Nelly let go of Cobb's arm, she turned and left for her Platoon on the truck. Men began to climb aboard the vehicles which would take them to Saverne France, where they'd then board a train for eighteen hours, and then finally arrive in Mourmelon. Journeys went on forever without the use of a plane – they were Paratroopers, they could have been flying - it was somewhat funny for the men to joke about.
When Nelly reached the back of the truck, Webster reached his hand out for her.
But she shook her head, "I'm four foot eleven, David".
Webster appeared confused. "So, what do you do?"
Clearing her throat first, Nelly called out, "Chuck".
In a matter of seconds, Grant was by Nelly's side. Down on one knee, he cupped his hands and Nelly stepped onto them. Grant pushed her up and Nelly's chest fell onto the truck. Hands flat on the floor, she dragged herself across and eventually rose to her feet.
Webster chuckled and said, "Oh, I see".
Grinning, Grant wiped the mud off his hands on his trousers. "Piece of cake".
Nelly sat down next to Webster. Looking up at him, she said, "Thank you".
Once more, Webster looked confused. "For what?"
"On the patrol, David". Nelly said to him. "You've always been…reliable".
Before he could smile, Webster said, "Nelly, I shouldn't have gone behind your back".
"I think…I know why you did". She said quietly, "You and Jones…felt like the outcasts. And you wanted to…stick together". Nelly and Alex did the exact same thing when they first met.
"Yeah". Webster agreed. "Something like that".
Eyes leaving Webster, Nelly soon spotted Winters and Nixon standing next to their jeep. They were close enough for her to hear their conversation. Nelly saw Nixon hand Winters a box.
"This is from Colonel Sink". Nixon said, "Guess he forgot your birthday was last month".
Opening the box, Winters found a pair of golden oak leaves staring back at him.
Nixon saluted. "Major Winters". He said.
Winters wasn't the only man to receive a promotion. Lipton was discharged as an enlisted man and was given his Battlefield Commission – he was a 2nd Lieutenant now. But Lipton wasn't to leave Easy Company just yet.
Nelly's eyes spotted Welsh walking toward Winters and Nixon. Welsh had come back to 2nd Battalion the previous day. He was healed and left the hospital to join his friends. Winters and Nixon were happy to have their Irish friend back.
"So, what's next for us?" Webster asked Nelly.
With a small shrug, she looked up at him. "Rest".
Smiling small, Webster bobbed his head and said, "And after?"
"Well…". Nelly said quietly, "Maybe Germany".
He huffed, "Wouldn't that be something, huh?"
It certainly would be something, Nelly thought.
The trucks roared to life and the men said a final farewell to Haguenua and they finally left the front line.