Chapter II
"Bloody brilliant!" It was a bright sunny day, almost a fun day for some but for a person nursing a hangover it was hell. Elizabeth grumbled as she made her way across the gates, one hand on her hip the other on her head to shield her from the cruel sun. "Just bloody brilliant, who made the sun shine in the morning?" She wobbled forward almost toppling over with her army uniform when she heard someone clear his throat, "Top of the morning, soldier." She greeted facing him.
"Would you like some assistance, ma'am?" Her eyes landing on the soldier a lot taller than her with dark blue hair.
"You know, you're supposed to say 'The rest of the Day to you.'" She grunted, looking him straight in the eye and down to his medic badge. "Sergeant?"
"It's Roe, ma'am. Eugene Roe, 506th, under Captain Meehan, Easy Company medic." He felt grounded as he averted his gaze to his feet. Those eyes, it unnerved him; contrary to his, they were very bright in color almost as if you could reach in and touch her soul.
"That accent, I've been to the Americas before but I've never heard of it." Quirking her head to the side.
"Louisiana." He stated without even giving her a second glance.
"Intéressant. A part of the Americas we Limey's never got our hands on. French bollocks got you before we did." She shrugged, looking forward-shielding her eyes from the vile sun. "The early birds gets the juiciest and biggest worms of all. Hop in." She motioned beside her as she went for the jeep, smiling brightly. "I believe we're both heading to your CP, sergeant?" to which he only gave a nod, complete silence following thru until she heaved a sigh.
"A man of few words? Contrary to your intelligence officer, are we?" Elizabeth frowned at him as she saw his queasiness, small beads of sweat forming on his forehead, her pupil constricting in to tiny dots at his form before looking up front and giving the driver a nod.
"This is my stop." She stated as she climbed down the jeep. Eugene hurriedly jogged towards the empty aid tent busying himself inside the storage area until someone opened it marched inside.
"Jesus! Roe! Don't you scare me like that!"
"Good morning to you too, Ed. I've taken all the inventory needed-we just need to pack it up and give the men some kit." He glanced up holding a bottle of plasma.
"Knock, knock!" They heard Nixon's voice as he entered the tent followed by a smaller figure. "Good morning, docs. I would like you both to meet Lieutenant Slaughter, she's here to observe. Elle, this is Private First Class Ed Pepping and…"
"Eugene Roe, the man who doesn't know how to talk to a woman." Nixon gawked as he glanced down to his friend in surprise, Eugene's face turning red in shame.
"Please excuse her bluntness, it's a thing for the Brits. Well, we're heading out, see you in class." Nixon gave them a final acknowledgement before dragging her across the field. "A little grumpy, are we?"
"Something you wanna tell me about, Eugene?" Ed probed as he looked at his blushing comrade.
"Would you look at the Lord's blessings'started to pour after getting rid of Sobel!" Skip yelled as he did the sign of the cross, he saw two figures heading there way.
"Hallelujah!" They all started chanting as they saw Nixon dragging someone behind him.
"Boys!" They ceased giving both the officer a perfect salute. "I'd like you all to meet, again. Lieutenant Slaughter. She's her to observe and join our aid training for the whole week. Come now, head inside, nothing to see here, class' about to start.""
"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am!" They all chorused as she started marching around, watching each and everyone of them. "Pleasure is all mine gentlemen." They all stood in awkward silence, glancing at the blonde. "You sure could learn a lot from your men, Lew. They know when to put the sock in it." Giving them a nod as she headed inside, and observe she did. She was silent the whole time. Glancing around the soldiers, Elle wasn't new to this type of lectures, she had it during her time at the university, even before going off to the pacific together with other doctors that she knew. The loud voice of the lecturer and the chatter around her fading at the back of her head as she saw the strange faces around her morphed to the faces of the people she was acquainted to during her time at the pacific. Explosions and guns around her.
'Angus, 27, killed in action, shrapnel through his entire body.'
'Thewlis, 28, severe head concussion, killed in action after protecting a wounded soldier from a friendly airstrike fire.'
'Allans, 22, killed in action, blown up to pieces.'
'Steve, 23, killed in action, a bullet to the head from a sniper.' All those names, all those faces, all those lives wasted. Parents without a child, widowed wives, husbands without wives. All these lives paid for a pointless war.
Looking sideways, Eugene was met by Elizabeth's limp, blank, unfocused-despondent stare. It was as if her mind was thousands of miles away from where she stood, unflinching and numb from the noise around her. Her pupils, constricted into tiny dots and unmoving giving him a feeling as if she's trying to reach through his very core.
"That would be all." His attention immediately brought back to the lecturer, standing up to salute. He gazed at the tiny figure at the back of the room before making his exit-heading towards the mess hall.
"Are you okay, Lieutenant? Lieutenant Slaughter?" She snapped her eyes towards the men staring anxiously at her. Glancing around, she saw that the class has ended.
"I, yes. I'm sorry, I might've zoned out during the last part of the lecture." She offered them a tiny smile as she stood up collecting herself.
"We uhm.. We're about to get some chow before heading out for the jump training, ma'am. Would you like to join us?"
Entering the mess hall, she couldn't help but smile at the loudness of each and every table around her. "Stay put, ma'am. We're gonna get you some grub. George Luz here will keep you entertained." The men exchanged worried glances among each other before heading for the line. She was then greeted with a highly contagious wide grin from a man who she believes to be George Luz.
"George Luz, company's most eligible bachelor, here to serve you in utmost convenience." She couldn't help but laugh at his antics. "These other ugly and not the most eligible assed bachelors are Penk, Popeye, Bull, Smokey, Liebgott and Mclung. No need to remember those names, ma'am. This dungheads are worthless compared to jolly ole Luz right here."
"I see, your charms' finally fixed. Now shut the hell up and let the lieutenant eat. Name's Bill Guarnere, ma'am. This eggheads call me Gonorrhea." Handing her plate, she couldn't help but gawk at how he managed to sound cool.
"Elizabeth Slaughter. You either call me Elle or Slaughter House."
"Slaughter House, huh? We sure like the sound of that."