Hello again, everyone! I'm having a good time rewriting my story, but at the same time reading my old writing is so cringeworthy ugh. Let me know if you are liking the changes so far, any feedback would be appreciated! Thank you all for reading and supporting, enjoy! xoxo
Chapter 2: The March to Atlanta
November 1942
"Wake up," a voice hissed in Marie's ear, urging her to open her eyes.
With a groan of reluctance Marie opened her eyes slowly, only to be greeted my Emilia. She gave Marie a shove on the shoulder, still trying to arouse her from slumber. It was still dark out, and Marie could tell that it was early than usual to be woken up. She usually felt well rested enough, but not this time.
"Sink called for a meeting, we need to get in formation outside. Get dressed, c'mon," Emilia added, her impatience ringing in her tone.
Marie sat up quickly, feeling her head spin as she swung her feet over the side. After three long, strenuous months she expected to be used to unexpected wake up calls. But this wasn't Sobel crowing like a rooster, it was Sink. That set off an alarm in her head and lit a fire under her ass for her to hustle. As the two women finished getting dressed and rushing outside, they noticed some straggles from Easy Company hurrying to where they were supposed to meet. The men also appeared groggy from the rude awakening.
The air was chilly enough to cut sharp into Marie's skin. She crossed her arms, hoping to bundle a little bit of warmth from her Class A uniform. The sky was dark enough to hide the morning sun rising to the east. Even the ground of Toccoa was covered by thick dew that had started to freeze.
Easy Company stood outside under the overcast sky, waiting to hear why they were summoned at dawn. Sink came strolling toward them, Sobel at his side. Sink gave the company of curious soldiers a carefree wave. He was caring a magazine in his hand, only adding to everyone's confusion.
"Good morning Easy Company," Sink greeted.
"Good morning, sir," they all answered in unison.
Sink went right into detail with his plan, and what he had proposed shocked the company. Everyone thought Sobel had come up with every way to shape Easy Company into the best company in the Army, but this time it would be Sink who would outdo Sobel in grueling tasks.
Sink held up the magazine, even though it was too dark to see the pictures or read the print, he explained what the main story was about. The Japanese Army had set a world record by marching one-hundred miles in only seventy-two hours. Sink being the patriotic son-of-a-bitch that he was decided he wanted to beat that record. The older man ordered the 2nd Battalion to march from Camp Toccoa all the way to Atlanta. That was about one-hundred and eighteen miles. Sink was so determined that they could do it and fueled by the passion of success to notice the displeased expressions on the Company's faces. To make the order even more challenging, Sink also added that the march must be done while carrying full field equipment.
After Sink said goodbye and left the shocked Company in Sobel's "capable" hands, The Black Swan wasted no time in ordered the Company to grab their gear and meet back in formation. Sink was not what Marie would describe as a cynical man, but this task had really got her mind reeling with doubt about his true character.
"This doesn't seem very fair for the men who are carrying sixty pounds of weight on their backs," Marie said to Emilia as the women made their way back to their barracks.
"Just be thankful that we don't have too much supplies to carry," Emilia sighed.
0000
At the entrance of Camp Toccoa, Easy Company was assembled into formation. Shortly after the march began and the stopwatch started ticking. Marie marched beside Malarkey, glad to have been paired with a friend. She felt small being in the middle of the sea of soldiers, totaling over one-hundred. As they marched Marie felt at ease, realizing that the overcast sky, cold air, and company she had made this easy. She had been given harder orders, that was for sure.
"You know, this isn't so bad," Marie said to Malarkey, keeping her voice low from Sobel, who was prowling around the Company. He ordered for quiet to help concentration, so everyone had to speak in whispers.
"It's only the first day, Marie. We haven't covered that many miles yet," Malarkey informed her with a bitter laugh.
He was right. They had only marched forty-five miles. Soon after it started to drizzle, making the temperature drop even lower. But Marie preferred the chilly November atmosphere to the unbearable heat of August. The first day felt like an accomplishment to Marie. As Easy Company pitched tents and readied themselves for rest, they all felt like tomorrow would also be a cinch.
They faced day two with optimism, but their good moods soon faded. The overcast clouds brought hail and sleet. The hail pounded against Easy Company's helmets, and the sleet made their boots slide against the roads. The atmosphere had become dreary as the mood soon grew sullen.
Marie started feeling the deep burning ache in her leg muscles from walking such a far distance. She kept pushing herself, but the uncomfortable twinge and burning sensation made her gait stiff and slower.
"Why did I think this was going to be simple?" Marie groaned, angry at her ignorance from the day before.
Malarkey strained a chuckle. "I know, this mortar isn't helping," he pointed at the equipment he carried on his back with his thumb.
Seeing the sixty-five-pound weapon being suspended on her friend's back made her feel guilty.
"I shouldn't be complaining, I'm barely carrying anything," she replied apologetically, glancing down at her medical bag that was draped around her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, we're building character."
"Are you as thirsty as I am?" Marie asked, licking her chapped lips. Her throat and tongue had started to become bone-dry.
After another hour of marching, the Battalion took a much-needed break around noon. Marie and Malarkey found Emilia and Muck. They all sat on the side of the path together, moaning from exasperation and cramping muscles.
"Remind me to thank Sobel for escorting us on this fine march," Emilia chimed, her voice practically dripping with sarcasm. She cast Sobel a relentless glare as the CO spoke with his lackey William Evans in the distance. He eyed the Company with suspicion, as if he was in charge of patrolling a set of prisoners and he was the guard.
"Christ, what I wouldn't give for some water," Muck mumbled, massaging his thighs.
"Same," Emilia agreed with a sigh.
The group sat across from a farmhouse on the rural road. There was a woman coming in and out, watching the soldiers as they all rested across from her property. Her curiosity was well warranted, it's not every day an entire battalion of soldiers sits in the middle of a road by one's house. After a few minutes the woman came back, this time walking up to the fence, waving at them.
"Do you folks want some water?" She called, her Georgian accent thick and clear.
The four friends exchanged looks. It was a tempting offer, but water had been forbidden by Sobel at the moment. Bill Guarnere, the brash Philly with the square, firm jaw was sitting nearby, also considering the woman's offer. He was squad leader, and knew he couldn't break protocol with Sobel lurking so close by.
Malarkey stood up abruptly, "I'm going for it," he announced to Guarnere. Guarnere only shrugged in response.
Muck handed Malarkey his canteen, grinning from ear-to-ear in amusement at his friend's boldness.
"Don, that's not a good idea," Marie warned.
"Give me your canteen," Malarkey extended his hand.
"No, you're going to get in trouble!"
Malarkey looked up and scanned for any officers nearby. "I don't see Sobel, and Winters is way up toward the front," he observed. He reached his hand out again for her canteen, but Marie continued to refuse. Emilia handed Malarkey her canteen, giving Marie a nudge to give in. "Fine, you can drink from mine," Malarkey said before he jogged across the road.
Marie watched as the woman filled the three canteens with ice cold water from a large pitcher, gleaming with ice and condensation. Marie saw Sobel broke away from Evans and was starting to make his way down toward them. Her heart somersaulted in her chest as their CO announced their break was over. She tried to wave at Malarkey to get his attention, but he didn't notice her.
Sobel's dark, hawk-like eyes spotted Malarkey getting canteens filled with water, and was instantly infuriated. Luckily for Malarkey Sobel was still at enough distance for him not to notice who was disobeying orders.
"I want that man's name!" Sobel shouted, pointing at Malarkey. Sobel started to angrily march toward Malarkey, but Malarkey had taken his canteens and scurried into the mob of marching soldiers. He was well hidden amongst all the matching olive drab.
Malarkey expertly maneuvered his way around the other soldiers and ran over to join his waiting friends. He handed Muck and Emilia their canteens, smiling despite his close call with trouble. Muck laughed, drinking gratefully. He clapped his friend on the back. Emilia also drank, joining into the nervous and amused laughter.
"That was too close!" Marie exclaimed, her hand resting over her heart.
Malarkey only grinned triumphantly at her, handing her his canteen. She didn't want to take a drink because of her stubbornness, but her need for water overcame her feelings of disapproval. She took a few big gulps. The cold water felt wonderful on her dry throat.
0000
The last day of marching was by far the worst for Easy Company. Marie's legs now felt like they were on fire, but Malarkey's pain was even more severe. He struggled to walk alongside her as they neared their destination. She told him they were almost to Oglethorpe University, but any words of encouragement didn't help him. The Battalion took another break, pitching up tents again to protect against the cold elements. Both Marie and Malarkey collapsed inside one of the tents, both their legs shaking rapidly from being overworked.
"We're so close…" Marie said, her voice coming out in a groan. She didn't want to say anything negative, even though it felt like she'd never walk again.
"Chow time!" Someone called outside the tent. Food was being served all the way across the resting area in the small forest Easy Company was camping in. Malarkey couldn't even bring himself to stand up again, so he started to crawl on his hands and knees out of the tent. Worried, Marie followed stiffly behind.
"Are you okay?" Marie asked him, Malarkey only grunted in pain as an answer.
Muck walked up to his struggling friend, balancing a few trays of food in his hands. "No friend of mine crawls anywhere," he told Malarkey. He handed Malarkey and Marie their mess kits, filled with food.
"Thank you so much, Skip," Marie thanked.
"Of course."
Between mouthfuls of food, Malarkey still looked grim. "My shins are killin' me. I don't know if I can make it," Malarkey admitted, rubbing his legs gingerly.
"Almost there, buddy, only thirty-eight more miles," Muck answered.
"Only thirty-eight?" Malarkey moaned, Marie joined him.
"Eighty down. You can do this, Malark," Muck encouraged. "We can do this."
"I dunno, Skip," Malarkey sighed.
"I'll get you to Atlanta if I have to drag you."
Back in the privacy of the tent, Marie examined Malarkey's legs. She rolled up his pant legs, being careful not to pull too hard. His legs under his knees were severely swollen. His skin was so red and irritated that Marie didn't even want to touch his legs.
"I think you have tibial stress syndrome," Marie told him, still studying his inflamed shins.
"What's that?"
"Shin splints. This is serious, it could cause fractures in the lower parts of your legs if left untreated. You really need to take a good, long rest." She gave him a pitied look.
Lieutenant Winters entered the tent, ducking his head as he moved the flaps to come inside. Winters had observed Malarkey's struggle from afar, and knew something was wrong. He noticed Malarkey's swollen legs as he came inside.
"Why don't you plan on going the rest of the way in a rig, Malarkey?" Winters suggested, his voice calm.
Marie nodded her head in agreement.
"Sir, give me a night's rest," Malarkey begged, glancing over at Marie for support. "I think I can make it."
Marie swallowed down a lecture, knowing Malarkey was in no condition to keep walking, but his drive to continue was admirable.
Winters didn't seem convinced, but he sighed in defeat. "Whatever you think."
0000
At last Easy Company had reached Atlanta with the record-breaking distance and time of one-hundred and eighteen miles in seventy-five hours. Easy Company was greeted by busy streets of cheering people and radio news networks, reporting their amazing feat across the United States. There was a marching band playing upbeat music on the sidelines, raising the tired Company's spirits.
Marie had her arm draped across Malarkey's shoulder, helping him walk. The optimistic mood even made Malarkey smile, despite him being in a lot of pain. When the celebration was over, Marie and Malarkey climbed aboard a rig and drove all the way back to Camp Toccoa. When they returned, Marie took him to the infirmary at once.
Malarkey's bad case of shin splints landed him in the infirmary for three days. Marie applied ice to his legs, elevated them, and gave him anti-inflammatory pills like clockwork. But Marie was proud of her friend's perseverance.
"You're fortunate, your legs will make a full recovery. No fractures or torn muscles," Marie told him as she switched out his ice.
"Thank God, I don't know how much more bed rest I can handle," Malarkey responded. He had grown restless being cooped up inside for three days. "I hope the Japanese don't pull any more record breaking stunts like that that," he added.
Marie laughed, "agreed."