Combat! is owned by ABC TV. This story is meant only for the enjoyment of Combat! fans, with no intention to infringe on any copyrights, and no monetary compensation has been received.
This story has been rolling around in my head for a long time. It was finally time to make it to paper (I write in notebooks). Another adventure for that dynamic duo, Saunders and Kirby.
Due to some medical issues, you may be catching up to me soon. Hopefully you continue to read and reread all 53 of my stories. I enjoy doing that myself. It's like visiting old friends.
In the meantime, here's a new tale of First squad. Enjoy and please consider leaving your comments. I love to hear from you.
HOG WILD
CHAPTER 1
It had been a long and hard patrol. Even though it had started out as just recon, the squad had been involved in two skirmishes. Fortunately, both were quick and successful. Saunders' men had suffered no casualties, unless you counted the scrape on Billy's knee as he dived for cover.
But as the rush of adrenaline faded, the soldiers had been left almost completely drained as they slowly made their way back to their billet.
No one had spoken for a while, with each man lost in his own thoughts. Sergeant Saunders was only thinking of his bedroll and the soft dry hay in the warm barn where the squad was bivouacked. He was bone weary from the patrol and watching over his men. And there was a distinct chill in the air. His bedroll and the warmth were beckoning him.
King Company had advanced recently, and had settled in to make their billet not far outside of a decent-sized French town. The Germans had initially taken the town with almost no resistance. As a result, when they finally withdrew, the town was left unscathed and the townspeople tried to return to their normal lives.
The Company had taken over a farm, complete with a farmhouse and a large barn, along with numerous surrounding pastures and fields. It was roughly a mile from the farm to the town, following a twisting narrow dirt road.
The owners of the farm had left just before the German occupation, according to another nearby farmer. Taking over the main farmhouse for a CP, Captain Jampel had also turned it into the officers' quarters. The barn was large enough to house all of Second platoon, with First and Third squads in the stable area and Second squad up in the hay lofts. The rest of King Company was scattered around the surrounding pastures and fields.
Knowing that the owners could return at any time with the Germans gone, Captain Jampel had ordered everyone to be mindful of the structures, fields and animals. Local residents came daily to tend to the animals with feeding, watering and milking. Jampel had declared that all farm animals were off limits, no matter how tasty they appeared. Fresh eggs, however, were considered fair game.
First squad entered their billet as the sun was beginning to inch toward the horizon. It was a crisp fall afternoon, and the leaves were beginning to change to their scarlet and golden hues. At home in Illinois, it would have been a perfect time for a stroll along the river. But this was France in the middle of a war, and the barn and bedroll were calling to the sergeant.
As tired as his men were, with every step that the soldiers took down the path to the barn their mood began to lighten.
They had a four-hour pass into town.
CHAPTER 2
Before they reached the barn doors, Price came running over to them. Saunders held up a hand and all of his men stopped.
"I know, Price. I'm heading over to see the Lieutenant right now."
"No," the young soldier replied. "Actually, Lieutenant Hanley wants you to hold off. He's finishing up a meeting with Captain Jampel right now. He said take it easy for now, and he'll send word over when he's done."
"Got it," the sergeant answered. "I'll be in the barn."
Turning to look back at his men, Saunders saw that Kirby was already unhooking his utility belt and taking off his helmet.
"What's the rush, Kirby?" Caje asked. "We can't leave for town until 1700 hours."
Slinging his utility belt over his shoulder, the BAR man grinned. "Never too early to start getting ready for the ladies. I'm out these doors the minute my pass starts."
Going through the barn doors, Saunders looked back over his shoulder. "Just remember to be back through these doors by 2100 hours."
Kirby unslung both his BAR and his utility belt and set them down near his haversack. Dropping his helmet on his bedroll, he replied, "I know. Don't you worry. I'll make it back."
"That's what you said last time, Kirby," Brockmeyer reminded him.
"That was different," Kirby huffed. "Had a difference of opinion with a local."
"You mean you got into a bar fight," Nelson corrected him.
"Wasn't my fault!" the BAR man replied defensively.
Saunders propped his Thompson against a hay bale and dropped his helmet next to it. Lying down on his bedroll, he said simply, "Yes it was."
Shifting uncomfortably, Kirby changed the subject as he ran a hand over his cheek. "Maybe I'll shave."
"You shaved this morning before we left for patrol," Caje reminded him. "We all did."
"So?" the BAR man answered as he rummaged through his haversack for his only clean shirt.
"Wish I'd known yesterday that we were gonna get these passes. I'd a washed these pants." He looked down at his dirt and sweat stained pants.
"They're the only ones you got," Littlejohn said. "You tore up the other ones when we were sliding down that ravine the other day. Remember?"
"Yeah, well I still coulda washed 'em," Kirby replied.
Saunders pulled out his book and opened it to the page with his mother's last letter for his bookmark.
"If you'd washed them, you'd have gone on patrol this morning in wet pants…or your shorts."
"I'd have paid to see that," Doc laughed as he looked for his soap and towel.
Sitting on a hay bale, Brockmeyer grabbed a clean pair of socks and began to unbuckle his boots.
"You're not getting ready, Sarge," he noted as he pulled off his boots. "You not going into town with us?"
Saunders shook his head. "Still have to give my report to the Lieutenant. And I'm pretty beat. Probably just call it an early night. We've got another patrol tomorrow morning, remember."
"I remember, I remember," Kirby replied as he tucked in his shirt, trying to smooth out some of the wrinkles with his hands.
"But I'm not gonna let that spoil tonight. Tonight is for a little fun. Maybe some dancing with the ladies."
Adjusting the nearby lantern, their sergeant said, "Just keep it a little fun. Don't go hog wild."
"Don't worry, we won't," Nelson answered.
Saunders opened his book. "It's not you I'm worried about, Billy."
CHAPTER 3
The soldiers spent the next half hour getting ready for their evening in town. Brockmeyer had taped up a cracked mirror he'd found in a shed, and the men took turns using it.
"C'mon, Doc," Kirby insisted as the medic looked in the mirror while he combed his hair. "I wanna check my hair before we go."
The entire squad laughed…even Saunders. Doc turned around and stared at the BAR man. "You're joking, right?"
Looking sheepishly at the other men, Kirby replied, "Just…c'mon. Let me get in there."
Doc took one last look at himself and stepped aside, tucking his comb back into his haversack. The barn door cracked open, and Third squad trudged in from their patrol.
"You guys back already?" their sergeant asked Saunders, looking around at the men of First squad as they got ready.
"Well, either you guys are planning a barn dance, or you're going into town. My guess is that Lieutenant Hanley gave all of you jokers a pass."
"Good guess, Sarge," Caje replied as he straightened his collar.
After his men had filed past and began settling in at their bivouac in the back corner of the barn, the sergeant looked up to the haylofts above.
"Second squad back yet?"
Saunders nodded. "They were back before us."
Looking down at Saunders on his bedroll, Third squad's sergeant appeared confused. "You not going, Saunders? Oh, that's right. You already got yourself a lady. Can't hurt to go into town for a nice dinner and a little dancing though, can it?"
"I'm beat, Morales," Saunders answered. "Hot meal at mess, and catch up on my reading. Good enough for me."
Saunders smiled and looked over at his men. "Besides, four hours away from these jokers? It's like a furlough."
Morales laughed and looked back at his own men as they scratched and yawned, dropping their gear.
"I hear you."
He started to head toward his men but stopped. "Oh, Price said that Lieutenant Hanley wants to see you before you leave. But then again…you ain't leaving."
Saunders sat up and tucked his mother's letter back into his book to hold his place. "Might as well head there now."
Standing up, he looked over at his men. "I'm going to report to Lieutenant Hanley. Don't go anywhere until I get back."
"Aw, Sarge," came amid the groans.
Saunders held his hand up and looked at his watch. "You've still got fifteen minutes before you can leave. This shouldn't take long. I just have to make my report."
Grabbing his helmet and slinging his Thompson over his shoulder, the sergeant headed out the barn door.
CHAPTER 4
The farmhouse was fairly large compared to what Saunders was used to coming across. Must be a big family, he thought to himself as he knocked on the front door and waited. Standing patiently on the stone steps, he admired the bright splash of yellow and orange flowers on either side of the stairs.
Soon the door opened and Price appeared. "C'mon in, Sergeant Saunders."
Motioning silently off to the left, Price retreated to a small desk set up by the front windows. Looking to the left, Saunders saw Captain Jampel and Lieutenant Hanley together at a large dining room table. Various maps and papers were spread out in front of the two men. A crackling fire in the stone fireplace behind them kept the room almost uncomfortably warm.
"Sirs?" the sergeant said hesitantly, not wanting to interrupt them.
Both officers looked up.
"Saunders," the Captain said. "C'mon over."
"How'd it go?" Hanley asked.
Both officers were seated. Neither asked him to sit down. He took his helmet off and tucked it under his arm.
"We stumbled on two separate kraut patrols. Managed to take them both out."
Jampel leaned forward. "I thought this was supposed to be just a recon patrol?"
Saunders nodded. "It was. But the krauts weren't cooperating."
The Lieutenant pointed to a map on the table. "Where'd you run across them?"
Leaning over the table, the sergeant took a moment to orient himself on the map. And then he pointed.
"The first was here in the northeast corner. Small patrol…only three men."
He studied the map once again, and then pointed. "Second patrol was about here by the river. Four men. I got the feeling that it might have been one patrol to start. May have split up to try to cover the sector faster. Probably recon, like us."
Both officers looked at the map silently. Finally, Hanley asked, "Casualties?"
Saunders shook his head. "Not a scratch."
"No other contact?" the Captain asked.
Again, the sergeant shook his head. "That was it. Rest of the sector looked pretty clear."
Captain Jampel studied the map again as the Lieutenant looked at his sergeant.
"Did you remind your men that there'll be no weapons in town?"
Saunders nodded silently.
"Ok," the Captain said finally. "Dismissed."
CHAPTER 5
"He's back!" Kirby exclaimed, jumping up from a hay bale when their sergeant walked through the barn doors.
"Can we go now?" Caje asked expectantly.
Saunders looked over his men. All cleaned up and as excited as a dog with a steak bone, he thought.
He couldn't resist. "We have a night patrol."
The soldiers stared at their sergeant in stunned silence. Saunders couldn't hold it in any longer. He broke into a large smile as he waved his men toward the barn door.
"Go on…get outta here."
The barn became an explosion of activity as the six soldiers made for the doors.
"Be back by 2100 hours!" Saunders shouted as his men disappeared into the darkness.
Heading back to his bedroll, the sergeant heard laughter coming from Third squad and even some from Second squad up in the hay lofts.
"Good one, Saunders," Morales laughed. "You had them going there for a few minutes."
Saunders flipped his Thompson off his shoulder and propped it against a hay bale. Setting his helmet on top of the bale, he settled down on his bedroll once again. Getting comfortable on the straw bed that he'd made for himself, he picked up his book.
Opening the book and laying it pages down on his stomach, Saunders slipped his mother's letter out of the envelope and began to read it over again.
CHAPTER 6
"Stay together, guys," Caje warned the men in the dark as they walked behind him on the road to town. "I don't want to be pulling any of you out of a drainage ditch."
With only a half moon to guide them in the crisp fall evening, maneuvering along the winding and narrow dirt road wasn't easy.
"Stay together?" Kirby asked. "Can't hardly see each other."
Nelson stepped on the back of someone's heel. "Sorry."
"That's ok, Billy," Littlejohn replied in front of him.
"This is taking a lot longer than I figured it would," Kirby grumbled.
"And it's gonna take this long to get back again, too," Doc reminded everyone.
"We're gonna have to leave town early," Brockmeyer added.
Caje stopped suddenly as two large figures loomed in front of them in the middle of the road.
"Halt," came a deep commanding voice.
"We're going to town," Kirby called out. "And we're late."
A flashlight beam glared in the BAR man's face.
"Figured it was you guys," a familiar voice responded.
"Newburg?" Brockmeyer called out to the figure in the dark.
"So that other moose has to be Jonesy," Littlejohn laughed.
"Who you calling a moose, big guy?" Jones replied good-naturedly.
"What're you two doing out here?" Caje asked.
"Could ask you the same question," Newburg countered.
"We're on sentry duty," Jones explained. "How about all of you?"
"We're going into town," Kirby answered impatiently. "And our time there is getting shorter and shorter."
"We gotta see your passes," Jones said, shining his flashlight on each of the soldiers.
"Aw, c'mon," Billy replied with a sigh of frustration.
Doc reached into his pocket for his pass. "Sooner we show them, the sooner we get into town."
"Doc's right," Newburg agreed. "You know it's our job. C'mon…passes."
With more sighs of resignation, the soldiers pulled out their passes and showed them to Newburg and Jones.
Shining his flashlight on each of the slips of paper, Jones reminded them, "Says here you gotta be back by 2100 hours."
"Yeah, yeah…we know," Kirby replied. "Can we go now? The ladies are waiting."
"They don't even know we're coming, Kirby," Billy answered.
Handing them all back their passes, Newburg added, "Just better be here by 2100 hours guys."
CHAPTER 7
Saunders adjusted the lantern and tried to concentrate on reading his mother's letter again. He absent-mindedly reached into his field jacket pocket for his cigarettes and lighter. With a sigh, he stopped and stuffed them both back into his pocket.
Bone dry hay covered almost every inch of the barn floor, with stacks of dry hay bales scattered around and lining the walls. When the platoon had set up their bivouac in the barn, it was quickly decided among the three squads that there'd be no smoking in the barn.
With vivid memories of a burning barn and agonizing pain, Saunders was in total agreement. As it was, the lantern even made him uncomfortable at times.
Try as he might to concentrate on his mother's letter, his mind kept drifting into town with his men. He knew that it was out of his control, but it didn't stop him from thinking…and worrying. Certainly his men had gone into towns on passes before. But his instincts were kicking in and this just felt…different. Checking his watch, he looked over at the empty bedrolls.
"I can see that mother hen in you coming out, Saunders," Morales said as he sat on a nearby bale of hay. An unlit cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth.
When he saw Saunders tense and start to speak, he held up a hand. "I know, I know. Don't worry, I'm not gonna light it until I get outside. I was just heading out there when I saw you checking your watch."
Morales smiled. "Worried about them?"
When Saunders didn't reply, Morales continued. "I know what you're thinking. Heck, I worry when my guys are out there somewhere without me, too. They're our responsibility. We worry…because we care."
"Just feels different somehow right now. And it's mostly Kirby," Saunders finally admitted. "He's the best BAR man I know, and I'd have him cover my back any day. But…" he hesitated.
"But he sure can be a handful sometimes," Morales finished for him. "Especially when it comes to the ladies."
With a smile, Saunders nodded.
Morales stood up. "C'mon. Mess won't be up and running for another half hour or so. Let's head over to First platoon. Someone's always got a pot of coffee brewing there. I'll buy you a cup."
CHAPTER 8
"We're late," Kirby grumbled.
"Kirby," Doc replied. "No one even knows we're coming."
"Yeah," Littlejohn agreed. "So how can we be late?"
"Well, I sure know," the BAR man answered grumpily. "And I know we're late."
"We're here," Caje said finally as the tops of the trees brightened and the men rounded the last turn of the narrow twisting road.
The road suddenly widened, and the packed dirt became a cobblestone street with houses and businesses lining both sides. The soldiers' mood perked up noticeably as they entered the town.
"Gosh," Billy said in awe as he looked around. "It's a lot bigger than I thought it'd be."
To the war-weary soldiers, it seemed that every building was radiating a warm glow of welcome. About fifty yards from the edge of town in the middle of the street stood a flowing fountain at the center of a tiny green. Water poured from a marble maiden's pitcher and swirled around the well of the fountain. The moving water sparkled, reflecting the surrounding lights from the store fronts.
Walking slowly, the soldiers fanned out as they peered into each shop.
"Hey, look," Nelson pointed at two buildings across the street from each other.
From the business on the left they could hear a woman singing in a soft lilting voice. The sign over the front door read 'Le Lapin Blanc.'
Across the street, the music was louder, yet almost drowned out by the boisterous laughter. The sign overhead read 'Le Cochon Fou.'
Kirby looked from one side of the street to the other. "Well, I'm gonna go there." He pointed to the right.
He pointed back over to the left. "The one over there says 'blank'…and the music's too soft for me. This one here looks like maybe it says 'couch.' Maybe it's got comfy couches, huh?"
The BAR man laughed. "My kind of place."
Caje smiled and shook his head. "No, Kirby, that's not…"
"Don't matter, Caje," Kirby interrupted.
With a big grin, he pointed to the right as more laughter and music spilled from the open door. "I'm going there!"
Leaving the others standing in the middle of the street, Kirby hurried to the door of Le Cochon Fou and, with a big smile, he went up the steps and made his way into the crowd.
The other men stood in silence as they watched the BAR man disappear into the light and laughter.
"Well," Littlejohn finally said, pointing off to the left. "I'm going over there."
The woman had just finished singing, and there was a smattering of applause.
"I think I'll go with you, Littlejohn," Billy replied. "She sounds really nice."
Caje looked at the open door of Le Cochon Fou. "I'd better go with Kirby. You coming Brock?"
Brockmeyer hesitated, looking back and forth at both establishments. "I don't know. What about you, Doc?"
The medic looked at Caje and back at Brockmeyer. "I think I'd better go with Caje. I got a feeling they just might need me."
"Then I guess I'll go with you and Billy, Littlejohn," Brockmeyer decided.
Before Caje and Doc left to follow Kirby, the Cajun reminded everyone, "Remember, we have to be back by 2100 hours. Let's plan to meet back here at 2030 hours. That'll give us enough time to get back in the dark on that road."
With nods of agreement, the five men split up and went to enjoy their evening.
"Good luck," Littlejohn called out over his shoulder.
"We just might need it," Caje answered quietly.
CHAPTER 9
As the two soldiers went up the steps of Le Cochon Fou, music, laughter and the aroma of food and beer filled their senses. They couldn't help smiling as they joined the crowd.
The town was larger than the soldiers were used to, with most of the townspeople working in a nearby city. Only a few of the locals were farmers. As a result, the café was filled with people enjoying their weekend, celebrating the arrival of the Americans, and trying to forget about the war for even just a short while.
It was exactly what the American soldiers were looking for.
"Where's Kirby?" Doc asked, checking over the crowd.
Looking around, Caje finally pointed. "There he is."
Sitting near the small stage, the BAR man already had his arms around two local French women. All three were laughing as they sat around a table with three beers in front of them. Kirby's was half gone already.
Catching sight of his fellow squad members, the BAR man waved the two soldiers over.
"Caje…Doc. C'mon and join the crowd."
He pointed to nearby empty chairs. The two soldiers grabbed chairs and sat down. The singer and music were loud, and the smoke hung thickly in the air around them.
"Ain't this great?" Kirby asked with a big grin as he looked around. He gestured to the young woman on his right. She was a pleasant looking woman with short light brown hair.
"This here's Avril." The woman smiled sweetly at the mention of her name. The music stopped and the room grew a little quieter.
Indicating the woman to his left, Kirby said, "And this here's Susie. Neither of 'em speak any English, but that's ok. We're getting along just fine. Ain't we?"
He looked at both women with a big smile and they returned the smile.
"Susie?" Caje asked doubtfully. Hardly a French name, he thought.
He looked at the woman on Kirby's left. She was older than Avril, and had long, raven-black hair. Caje spoke to her for a few moments, conversing in rapid fire French until the woman finally laughed loudly.
"Hey," Kirby said worriedly. "You ain't trying to take Susie, now are you? 'Cause there's lots of other ladies here…you know?"
Caje shook his head anxiously. "Kirby, her name's not 'Susie.' She said it's 'Souci.' Kirby, I don't think…"
"What're you talking about?" Kirby interrupted in confusion. "She said her name's Susie, just like I told you. Susie."
Suddenly the music started up again, and Souci jumped up and took Kirby's hand. Pulling him to his feet, she gestured toward the dance floor.
"Great song," Kirby grinned. "Susie and I are gonna dance. Hey, why don't one of you guys dance with Avril?"
As Souci pulled the BAR man onto the crowded dance floor, she smiled over her shoulder at the Cajun, who looked on worriedly.
"Veux tu danser avec moi?" Avril asked.
When Caje shook his head, she pointed out to the couple on the dance floor.
"Tu sais qu'elle est un gros problème." Then she added, "Elle comprend l'anglais, tu sais."
Doc looked from Avril to Caje's worried face. "What's up?"
The Cajun took a deep breath. "Trouble."
CHAPTER 10
The evening progressed with Kirby and Souci never leaving the dance floor, and Caje's eyes never leaving Kirby.
"Would you like a beer?" Doc asked, not quite knowing what the heck was going on, but somehow knowing not to bother Caje.
Without taking his eyes off of the dancing couple, the Cajun nodded, "Sure. Thanks, Doc."
The medic turned to Avril, but the chair was empty. "Avril's gone."
Caje turned quickly to glance at the empty chair, and when he looked back to the crowded dance floor, he realized that he'd lost sight of Kirby.
Standing up abruptly, he scanned the room anxiously. Nothing. Doc watched him and looked out over the dance floor himself.
"What's the matter?"
Without replying, the Cajun began to walk between the crowded tables and the dancing couples, scanning carefully for the BAR man and Souci.
Doc followed, close on his tail until they reached the open front door. Cool air wafted in as rolling cigarette smoke drifted out into the night sky.
As the two men stood in the doorway, the medic finally asked, "What is it, Caje? What the heck's going on? Why are you so worried about Kirby? And where'd they go?"
"That woman Kirby's been dancing with isn't 'Susie.' She's trouble," the Cajun replied, still scanning the room hopefully.
"How do you know that?" Doc asked in confusion.
"She pretty much told me so herself," Caje answered. "Her name's not 'Susie'. Her friends and neighbors call her 'Souci'. She told me that's what everyone in town calls her."
"Ok, so it's Souci. What's it mean?" Doc asked, now growing concerned himself.
Caje looked at the medic. "Souci means worry. And I am worried, Doc. She's trouble. Even Avril warned me."
Turning back for one last look out over the crowded dance floor, he added, "We gotta find Kirby."
CHAPTER 11
Caje stepped out of the café and looked up and down the street. Nothing. Except for the occasional locals coming and going, the street was dark and empty as businesses closed for the evening.
Heading down the steps, he went across the street. "Let's go get the others."
With Doc close on his heels, the Cajun opened the door to Le Lapin Blanc. Scanning the room quickly, he picked out the three soldiers through the smoky haze and scattering of people seated at tables.
Littlejohn, Nelson and Brockmeyer were off to the far side of the room. Each had a beer in hand as they listened to a woman softly singing with a piano behind her. Half-eaten plates of food sat in front of the men.
Weaving their way through the tables, Caje and Doc came up behind the three soldiers.
"Have you seen Kirby?" Caje asked hopefully.
The three men looked up.
"You lost him already?" Littlejohn asked with a grin. "The night's still early."
Brockmeyer and Nelson both laughed. But their laughter quickly faded when they saw the worried look on Caje's face.
"What's wrong, Caje?" Brockmeyer asked with concern.
"I think Kirby's in trouble," the Cajun replied. "C'mon outside."
Taking a last sip of their beers, each soldier rose. Littlejohn stuffed a last piece of cheese into his mouth as Brockmeyer and Nelson dropped a few dollars down on the table. With a final glance at the singer on the little stage, they followed Caje out of the café and into the street.
As the men gathered in the middle of the road, Littlejohn asked, "So what makes you think he's in trouble?"
"Yeah," Billy added. "It's not like Kirby hasn't disappeared on us before when we've gone into a town."
Brockmeyer agreed. "Usually just means he's found himself a young lady."
"I know he's found a young lady," Caje replied. "I talked to her a little before the two of them disappeared. She told me everyone in town calls her Souci."
"So?" Billy said in confusion. "What's wrong with Susie?"
Caje shook his head. "That's the mistake that Kirby made. It's not Susie…it's Souci." He spelled both out.
"Souci means worry or trouble. She thought it was funny."
With heavy concern, he added, "And she only spoke in French, even though another woman told me that Souci speaks English too."
"What'd Kirby say about all of that?" Littlejohn asked.
"Before I could tell him, she'd heard us talking and hauled him onto the dance floor. And she kept him there. I tried to keep an eye on them, but when I looked away for a moment, they were both gone."
The soldiers stood silently for long moments as they thought about everything that Caje had told them.
"So, what d'ya think we should do?" Nelson finally asked, looking around the street.
"We need to start looking for him," Caje replied.
"Don't you think we should let the Sarge know?" Doc asked.
Thinking a moment, the Cajun answered, "You're right, Doc. But we still need to look for him too. Littlejohn…Billy, why don't both of you head back to the Company and let Sarge know what's going on. The rest of us'll look for him. Just be careful on that road. Don't try to hurry or you'll end up in a ditch."
"What if we don't find him before 2100 hours?" Brockmeyer asked.
Caje looked the others. "2030 hours," he reminded them. "We need time to get back ourselves. If we don't find him by then, we'll just have to leave him and hope the Sarge can figure something out."
"Well," Doc replied. "Then let's get started."
CHAPTER 12
Saunders had hurriedly eaten dinner and was back lying on his bedroll. Morales was right, he decided. He was being a mother hen. But he couldn't help the nagging feeling about the passes into town. First squad was the first to go into the town since the Company had billeted there.
An unknown town. No information. First squad had been out on the left flank when the town was taken, so they'd never actually entered into the town before this.
Trying to relax, the sergeant had taken off his field jacket and boots. In spite of the chilly night air, the solidly built barn held the warmth of all the soldiers' body heat. Resisting the urge to keep looking at his watch, he picked up his mother's letter again. Try as he might, however, he just couldn't seem to stay focused long enough to get through it.
Mother hen.
Reaching over to his field jacket hanging nearby on a nail, he fished in his pockets for his cigarettes and lighter. He'd go outside and grab a smoke. Get some fresh air.
Hearing the barn door open, Saunders looked up to see Nelson and Littlejohn standing over him. Checking his watch and glancing behind them, he realized they were early…and alone.
"What's wrong?" their sergeant asked, sitting up. "Where're the others?"
Nelson looked at Littlejohn nervously, and the big man answered. "Caje thinks Kirby's in trouble."
"Kirby's disappeared," Billy added. "With a woman."
Saunders began to quickly pull on his boots. Kirby generally found a woman, he figured. But if Caje thought the BAR man was in trouble, that was good enough for him.
He knew this pass to town wasn't going to go well. He just knew it.
Buckling his boot tops, he asked again, "Where're the others?"
"They're still back in town," Littlejohn replied. "Looking for him."
Standing up, Saunders slipped on his field jacket. "Go tell Lieutenant Hanley everything you told me. Tell him I'm going into town."
Looking over at all of the squad's empty bedrolls, he went to Doc's and picked up his med kit. Opening it, the sergeant took out most of the supplies and stuffed them into his pockets. He dropped the open kit on the medic's bedroll.
He thought about getting a flashlight, but he didn't want to waste time requisitioning one. He'd just have to make do with what he had he thought as he went back to his own bedroll.
Reaching over to grab his Thompson, the sergeant stopped. Captain Jampel's orders were clear and still in effect. No weapons in town without his permission. There was no time to go up the chain of command for permission.
Saunders left his Thompson behind as he opened the barn door.
CHAPTER 13
The large figure looming out of the darkness looked familiar.
"Jones?"
"Newburg," came the reply as the soldier turned on his flashlight. "A little late to be heading to town, ain't it, Sarge?"
Saunders pulled out his pass and handed it over to the soldier. "Got a bit of a problem I gotta check out."
"Don't tell us," Jones said as he joined the two soldiers. "Kirby, right? I knew something was up when your two guys came back early without the others."
"Yeah," Newburg agreed. "Littlejohn may not be the smoothest around the ladies, but he'd never come back from a pass into town any earlier than he really had to."
"Go ahead, Sarge," Newburg said, handing back the pass. "Just watch the time."
"Hopefully this won't take long," Saunders replied as he tucked the pass back into his pocket and continued down the road.
As much as he felt the urgency of the situation, Saunders was forced to take his time on the dark, narrow, twisting dirt road.
This end outside of town held just a few farms. He knew that on the other end of town the road widened and was paved. It led to a small city where most of the townspeople worked. Many people had some kind of vehicle as transportation. That city was where the Company would be headed next, once patrols were sent out to check for lingering kraut activity.
The sergeant absent-mindedly tried to look at his watch, even though he knew he couldn't see it. Although making it back to their billet by 2100 hours was important to him, it was certainly not his top priority at the moment. He was focused on the safety of his missing man.
After what seemed an eternity to him, Saunders finally saw the soft glow of the town become brighter as he rounded the last bend and came out of the trees. He immediately began to assess the situation, scanning the entire area. He'd never seen the town before and was automatically getting the layout mapped in his head. All the while he was painfully aware of the absence of his Thompson.
Walking to the center of the street, he stopped and stood between the two cafés. Looking left and right, he focused his attention on the music and laughter spilling out from Le Cochon Fou on his right.
That's where Kirby would have gone.
As he started up the steps he heard, "Sarge?"
Turning back, he saw Caje running down the street.
Saunders wasted no time. "Any ideas where he might be?"
Caje shook his head. "He left the café with a local woman. Long dark hair. Very pretty. Everyone I talk to says she's trouble."
"Where're the others?" the sergeant asked.
Pointing back up the street, the Cajun replied, "I sent them out to look in all the alleys. Sent them together. Figured it was safer that way."
Saunders nodded silently. Studying his surroundings once more, he finally said, "Give it fifteen more minutes, and then I want you to find the others and get back to the billet. Report in to Lieutenant Hanley. At least it'll only be two of us AWOL if I can't find him in time."
"Ok," Caje replied. "Where'll you be?"
His sergeant pointed. "I'm heading out to the other end of town, and I'll work my way back."
The two soldiers split up and began their search.
CHAPTER 14
When Saunders reached the far end of town, he could see where the cobblestones ended and a wide paved road began. Taking a quick moment to check the surface of the road, he couldn't help but note what good condition it was in. At least from what he could see in the darkness. It looked like it might be an easier advance for the Company when Captain Jampel decided to move forward again. He didn't know if anyone had been out this far yet. He'd have to talk to Hanley about it.
Turning back toward town, Saunders began a systematic search, short of knocking on doors. It would definitely present a problem if the couple had gone indoors somewhere. He was trusting that Kirby had enough common sense to stay away from private homes.
The sergeant continued to make his way slowly down the street, searching every corner and dark alleyway. Since he'd heard no shouts or anyone calling out to him, he assumed that the other men had abandoned their search as ordered, and were returning to the Company.
Except for the two cafés, the town almost seemed deserted. Those who weren't celebrating their day off or the retreat of the Germans all seemed to be settling in for the evening. As he walked the cobblestone street, Saunders could feel the slight fall chill in the air. He listened for any unusual sounds, but only heard the laughter, music and sound of his own boots on the cobblestones.
Suddenly he stopped when he heard something different down the street. A woman's laugh…and it wasn't coming from one of the cafés. It was much closer. Straining to see in the dim light, Saunders could barely make out the fountain in the center of the tiny town square.
A couple sat on the edge of the fountain's low wall, facing away from him. He could see movement as the woman occasionally dipped her hand into the water, making little splashes.
Saunders moved closer cautiously. He didn't want to frighten or embarrass anyone if it turned out to be an amorous young French couple. Stopping a moment to listen, he could hear the two speaking softly. Drawing a little closer, he could see that the woman had long dark hair, and it looked like the man could be a soldier.
She began to fumble for something in her purse at her side just as the man laughed. Kirby.
And then the sergeant's heartrate spiked, and he bolted toward the couple.
CHAPTER 15
Just as the woman's arm drew back, Saunders grabbed her wrist and wrenched a knife from her hand. She cried out in pain, twisting to try to see who her attacker was.
Startled, Kirby jumped up and spun around. A look of confusion on his face quickly turned to alarm.
"Sarge! Look out!"
Out of the darkness from behind them, a figure rose up and jumped on the sergeant's back. Reaching around his head, the figure tried to claw at Saunders' eyes. With his eyes tightly shut, the sergeant jerked sideways, grabbed an arm and tossed the person over his shoulder into the fountain.
With the loud splash came an even louder scream. It was another woman.
Kirby's look of shock and confusion quickly turned to anger when he saw the knife in his sergeant's hand, and realized what was happening. Souci stared at her partner for a moment as the other woman floundered in the water trying to stand up.
When Souci suddenly started to run, Kirby grabbed her arm, scooped her up, and dropped her into the fountain on top of her accomplice.
"I oughta…he began in his anger.
"Not now," Saunders interrupted him, throwing the knife into the other side of the fountain. No weapons in town kept echoing in his head. They could very well be in enough trouble without adding that to it.
"We've gotta move before the authorities come. I'm sure someone's heard all of this."
Not wanting to be bogged down in the local's red tape, Saunders grabbed Kirby's arm and yanked him down the street.
As they ran back toward the dirt road, Kirby yelled, "What the heck was that all about? What's going on?"
His sergeant continued to run and Kirby followed. "Not now," he repeated.
Without a glance back, the two soldiers made it to the narrow dirt road just as a commotion grew behind them back at the fountain.
Saunders finally stopped and looked back briefly. In the strobe of numerous flashlights and swinging lanterns, he could now see crowds of people gathering around the fountain. Taking out his lighter, he opened it and flicked it on. Holding it to his wrist, he quickly checked the time.
2045 hours. They just might make it.
TO BE CONTINUED