OK next chapter is up!
In this chapter there is some reference to WW2 aircraft, and I just wanted to say I know nothing about WW2 aircraft so I did some research, but if I am wrong about anything, don't get offended. I'm sorry.
Anyway READ AND REVIEW!
"What?" Harper asked surprised.
"A bird," Jackson said pointing at the blue sky.
Harper followed his gaze and watched a sea gull fly over.
"I have wished that before," Harper said putting one hand under her head and closing here eyes. Jackson turned his head and watched a pained expression cross her face.
"When you were a youngun?" Jackson asked quietly.
Harper rolled over and stifled a laugh against his neck. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her so she was flush against his side. She wrapped a leg around his leg and sighed. She fingered the cross around his neck absentmindedly and said, "I don't believe Jackson. Doesn't your God say something about that?"
Jackson looked at her for a long moment then said, "He does."
Harper watched his eyes carefully then he touched her cheek.
"But for some reason I just don't care."
Harper's face lit up and she touched her lips to his cheek, then laid her head on his chest. They watched Wade, Upham, Reiben and Mellish splash and try to drown each other for a little while until Miller told them to get dressed.
They reluctantly drug themselves out on shore, still messing around. Harper and Jackson got up too and found their clothes. She pulled her pants and boots on then looked down at her olive army shirt. It was clinging to her chest and stomach. She went to her pack and dug around for another shirt. She found it and pulled the wet one off.
"Wow Lewis," Reiben said. "We didn't ask for a show. Maybe Jackson did but-"
A rock to the chest from Jackson silenced the smart ass with a laugh from Wade. Harper smiled and slid the dry shirt on. Jackson glanced behind him as Harper fixed her shoe. He smiled at her and she smiled dback until they both heard something out of the ordinary. Their expression changed dramatically and they sprinted toward the cover of the trees.
"Run! Get down!" Jackson yelled.
The squad followed and were undercover just in time as an aircraft came over a hill followed by two smaller plains shooting at it. Some of their bullets went astray and hit the tree Upham's clothes were drying on, though Upham didn't see. He had his face hidden between the tree he was behind and Horvath's shoulder.
"Are those one of ours?" Mellish yelled over the gunfire.
"The bomber getting chased is ours," Miller yelled. "It looks like a B-18 Bolo or a B-26 Marauder."
The next thing that came over the hill were two more fighter planes.
"Now those are American," Horvath yelled.
Mellish, Reiben and Weston whooped and Harper yelled across the open space between the trees to Miller.
"What's happening sir?"
"The first one was a bomber. I would say the Germans found the bomber, then its escort found them."
"What do we do?" asked Jackson.
"Exactly what we are doing," Miller answered. "Staying out of their way."
One of the American Fighter looped back over them, a German hot on his tail. The explosion of bullets that scattered across the lake the squad had been in not minutes before sent water seven feet into the air. The other two were looping and firing at each other on the other side of the squad. The bomber was disappearing forgotten in the distance. As the second American fighter came over them one of the German bullets caught the American's left wing, and it immediately sent the American aircraft nose diving into the lake.
The squad ducked behind trees as large pieces of rocks cascaded down. Jackson threw an arm over Upham and pulled him further behind the tree as dirt and water rained down. The German plane turned and came back around. They shot a round into the downed aircraft causing the whole thing to exploded, but after the initial blast, the fire was quenched by the water surrounding it. The German plane followed the last American plane and the other German plane and disappeared from view over a large hill.
Without any warning Wade darted out onto the field and stopped at the edge of the lake only long enough to rid himself of his gear. He then dove into the lake and splashed through the water until he reached the crash. Jackson was quick behind him, followed by Miller, Horvath, Weston, Upham and Reiben. Mellish started to go, but noticed Harper had not risen from her spot against the tree. He turned back.
"You alright?" Mellish asked.
"Fine," she panted. "Just a second."
She had her hand over the wound in her hip. Mellish kneeled.
"You want me to get the doc?" he asked.
"No, no. Let him work on the pilot. I'm fine."
Mellish didn't look convinced."Go on and help them," Harper said pushing his shoulder.
It didn't move as she had expected it to. He looked at her with hard eyes and planted himself next to her. Harper shook her head as Mellish pulled his dog tag out of his army green t-shirt. Harper notieced there was an extra dog tag attatched to his. She watched him turn the dog tag over twice, then wipe a tear from his eye. Harper looked back at his face and put her hand on his arm.
"Carpy?"
His bottom lip quivered and he kept his eyes on his hands.
"I have known Carpy for six years. Well I knew him. I met him a year before basic, then we happened to get stationed together. We both decided it was a miracle. Now I'm not so sure. This was a mistake," he said pullig the tag off and throwing it against a nearby tree. "We promised we wouldn't-" but he didn't finish his sentence.
His head fell into his hands and he began to sob. Harper got up carefully and retrieved the dog tags. She came back and sat down next to Mellish. She read the dog tags.
"PFC Adrian R Caparzo. New York, New York."
She looked back at Mellish's face again, and pushed the dog tag back into his lap. Mellish looked up and pushed them away. Harper stared hard at him and pushed against him.
"What would Carpy think if he saw you cryin' like a baby?"
"It doesn't matter," Mellish said. "Carpy is gone."
Harper grabbed Mellish's shoulders and turned him to face her.
"Look at me," she said quietly.
When he didn't look up, Harper shook him.
"Look at me Fish."
He slowly turned wet, dark eyes on Harper."As long as his family remembers him, he will never be dead. You, me, Miller, Jackson, Reiben? We are his family."
REMEMBER! READ AND REVIEW!
