...
Roused to their feet after a short break in Carentan, the men were ordered into the French countryside, where they'd form a protective perimeter around the strategic town. Travelling back across the swampy fields, their feet soon grew wet and muddy again. Nora's feet were beginning to hurt, she could feel blisters forming on account of her wet skin constantly rubbing against her leather boots – Nora's socks had holes in them. She would have changed her socks, but Nora either forgot during a break or didn't have time. Approaching a hedgerow two miles outside of Carentan, a German mortar opened fire. With the sound of German rifles following, the American Paratroopers were quick to take cover behind the hedgerows. Dusk brought a lull to the firing and the men settled into quickly dug foxholes for the night. When it started to rain, men brought out ponchos to keep themselves dry. On a brighter note, they had been resupplied with water, food, and ammunition…
"It's cold". Hoobler warned Nora before handing her white navy beans in a tin.
"It's food. It'll do, Hoob". Nora said while digging her spoon into the mess kit.
Hoobler chuckled fondly and said, "Enjoy", before beginning to walk away…
"You're leaving me?" Nora asked around a mouthful of beans.
"Yeah". Hoobler said, "I'm on first watch, pal".
"Oh…". Nora tried not to sound too disappointed. "Well, I'll see you around".
Hoobler chuckled again and said, "Don't sound too sorry for yourself, Nora".
A tiny smile met Nora's lips at his comment. She stared up at him again. "So long, Hoobs".
"Goodnight, Nora".
When Hoobler walked away, Nora wasn't by herself for long. Perconte jumped into the foxhole and rolled up his sleeve, showing off his collection of wristwatches up his forearm. They were all working fine and Perconte was sure they were all worth something…
"Of course, all my findings are going straight to Evelyn, my wife". Perconte added, "And my son. He'll be one in October…". He huffed and shook his head. "Time goes fast. They don't stay babies for long. And I've missed that stage of his life".
"What's his name?" Nora asked.
"Richard".
A tiny smile met her lips. "Just like Lieutenant Winters".
Perconte shrugged. "It's a good name…a strong name, you know?" He covered the wristwatches back up with his jacket sleeve and then faced Nora. "So…what's your story?"
Nora swallowed the beans in her mouth and then asked, "What?"
He explained, "Well, we know you ain't a Jew…so, how come you're running from the Nazis?"
"What makes you think I'm running?"
Perconte pulled a face. "Aw, Christ…you ain't a commie, are 'ya?"
"No". She responded and added, "Communists really aren't that bad…a peaceful bunch, I think. I don't know why you Americans fear them so much…".
Perconte snorted. "You're kidding, right?" He warned her, "Don't go saying that too loudly, huh? You'll get arrested for such talk". Perconte was only half serious.
Nora told him, "I am not a Communist, Frank". She scrapped her spoon in the mess kit, gathering up the last few beans.
"But you did run from the Nazis, right?"
Nora faintly nodded while chewing on the last of her beans. When the food was swallowed, she used the water inside her canteen to rinse the mess kit out. "A lot of people are running away from the Nazis, Frank…because a lot of people don't agree with their laws and restrictions. They fight back, form resistance movements…and if they get caught, they will die".
"Huh…". Perconte huffed quietly. He asked, "You were in one of those resistance movements?"
"It's hard to explain". Nora admitted quietly. She told him, "And I won't tell you".
Perconte snorted with a tiny grin. "Well, geez…I'm hurt, kid. Truly".
Nora smiled small at his remark. Once her mess kit was clean, she tucked it inside her pack and brought out a small packet, which contained lemon powder inside. "I don't want Scurvy…".
Perconte chuckled. "You ain't 'gonna get that Limey disease from skipping that shitty powdered lemon drink, Nora".
"Drink?" Nora raised her eyebrow softly. Ripping open the small packet, she placed the opening toward her lips and said, "I don't put it in my water, Frank…". And then downed the dry powder.
Perconte grimaced. "I'll bet that's disgusting".
For all three seconds, Nora held the powder inside her mouth as she found it difficult to swallow. It was chalky and she started to cough when the dry texture began irritating her throat. Choking and gasping, Nora hunched forward, her hand against her chest, while Perconte rubbed and slapped her back. He found it hard to keep the amusement off his face, as he helped stop Nora from choking on lemon powder…a substance that was supposed to mix into water, to create a sort of juice.
"I think it went down the wrong hole…". Nora croaked, once she finished coughing.
Perconte said, "I think you're an idiot". He handed Nora her canteen. "Go on, take a drink".
"Thanks". After taking a few sips of water, Nora's throat felt soothed and moist again.
Perconte chuckled while giving her helmet a gentle knock. "Don't do that again, for Christ's sake…".
She said, "It was like swallowing chalk".
Again, Perconte told the girl, "You're an idiot".
"You're very honest". Nora mentioned with a fond smile. "Like my old friend back home, she was very honest but caring".
"What's she called?"
"Adria". Nora replied. "We went to the same schools, grew up together. Adria lived in the richer part of the city because her father was a lawyer…but we were best friends, it didn't matter if she had more money".
"Adria's old man did better than mine…". Perconte quietly commented with a scoff. "Mines worked in a saloon and drank himself to death".
Nora frowned softly and stared up at Perconte. "Frank…".
He sighed and waved off her condolences. "It happened a while back now, kid". Perconte sent her a tiny smile. "It's why I don't drink, 'ya know? I don't 'wanna end up like him".
Nora admitted, "I never knew my father…he left after I was born".
"What an asshole". Perconte said, "Truly. What an asshole, kid".
Nora said, "I think we are both doing better than our fathers".
Perconte smiled warmly at the girl. "Me too, Nora". He watched Nora take another sip of her water before asking, "What's going on with you and Hoob? You two spend a lot of time together".
A soft smile met Nora's lips at the mention of her friends' name. "I feel…like we are two people in one body".
Perconte softly frowned. "What?"
She said, "Hoob's is my best friend…". Nora explained. "We share the same tragedy, and I feel less alone with grief when I'm beside Hoobs".
Perconte's frown melted, and he smiled sadly. After gazing at the girl for a moment, processing her touching words, Perconte looked away and rose to his feet. "Hey…don't knock back that lemon powder on its own no more, alright?"
Nora cast him a tiny smile. "I won't".
Perconte sent Nora a friendly wink. "See you, kid". And he climbed out of the foxhole…
…
It started to rain heavily shortly after supper. Wrapped up in her poncho, Nora sat alone in the foxhole while Winters checked on his men. She must have dozed off at some point because her eyes soon snapped open upon hearing a rustling noise. It was Lieutenant Winters jumping into their foxhole. Rubbing her eyes, Nora felt the raindrops hit the top of her helmet and poncho. She was dry under her poncho, but her feet remained wet and sore…
"Talbert's wounded". Winters informed Nora. "Smith punctured him with a bayonet".
"Why?" Nora frowned.
"He mistook Talbert for a German". Winters said, "Can't say I blame him much…Talbert was wearing a Kraut poncho".
She sighed. "That's unfortunate…but Talbert will be okay?"
"He should be fine, yeah". Winters got himself as comfortable as he could next to Nora.
Nora asked, "Did you eat, sir?"
"I did". Winters confirmed. "I did my rounds and ate at the same time. The men seem fine. But the Kraut's singing is annoying them".
She huffed out a tiny laugh. "Yeah…".
Slightly hovered over Nora, Winters grabbed the sides of her poncho and tucked it tighter around her body. When satisfied that Nora would remain dry, Winters leaned back against the wet mud. The poncho did a good job but became useless if ripped. A couple of men had a few tears and rips in their ponchos and had to resort to stealing from the dead to get a good poncho. However, ponchos didn't dominate Winters's mind that evening. "Do you remember Luz's prank on Sobel with the cows?"
Nora snorted softly with a nod. "Yeah, I do, sir".
Winters turned his head to stare down at Nora. "You were worried Sobel would interrogate you and the men…Lieutenant Nixon accused you of being interrogated".
She gave a faint nod. "Yes, sir".
"Did they interrogate you in Poland?" Winters kept his voice soft, kind. He could sense it was a sensitive subject for Nora to speak about. He added, "You don't have to answer…I just 'wanna understand you better, Nora".
"There was a room…". Nora began quietly. "In Poland where I was questioned…interrogated and hurt". She said, "I think…tortured is the word".
Winters frowned. "They tried to force answers out of you, by using methods that would hurt you".
"Yeah, sir". Nora kept her voice quiet.
"What answers did they get?"
"They didn't…". Nora said, "I didn't tell them, sir".
It could only mean that Nora was beaten beyond pain. Winters drew out a quiet sigh while trying to rid the mental image of a monster harming Nora until she was bleeding and crying out in the utmost pain. "What didn't you tell them?"
Frowning, Nora sharply looked up at Winters. "I'm sorry, sir…I didn't tell them, I can't tell you".
"That's okay…". Winters assured her with a small smile. He wrapped his arm around Nora's shoulder and said, "That's okay, Nora".
"I was lucky". She whispered while continuing to stare up at Winters. "That's what they told me".
"Who?"
"SOE agents". Nora quietly answered. "I didn't feel lucky…". She felt a sting reach her eyes and a lump form in her throat. "Not right away…I didn't feel lucky until I came to Aldbourne".
Before Winters could give a comforting and kind response, small firearms soon broke out, taking everyone by surprise. Immediately, Winters took hold of his rifle and climbed out of the foxhole. Winters was mildly surprised when Nora followed behind him…
"Stay alert". He told the girl. "Is your safety off?"
"No, sir". Nora replied.
"Good. Keep it on until I tell you otherwise". Winters worried that Nora would fire at the first thing that moved. She wasn't used to close combat. "Stay low". Came Winters's last order before they moved slowly away from their position. Along the way, a few men appeared eager to start firing. "Hold your fire". Winters ordered them. "I'll give the order if we need it".
Nora was only a few steps behind Winters, as they moved behind a hedgerow away from the mainline. Peeking out from behind the hedgerow, Winters could make out a few Germans close to their line. They appeared drunk, however, and aimed their rifles at nothing. With a few loud and sudden bursts from the enemy's weapons, Nora almost jumped five feet in the air. Crouched beside Winters, Nora grabbed a hold of his jacket sleeve…
"Sir?" She whispered, "What will we do?"
"Shh…". Winters hushed the girl. And said no more. He faced the drunk Germans again, watching as they stumbled away from American lines and back across the field. The Germans loudly sang and shouted insults at the Americans in their own language as they walked back. With a shake of his head, Winters stared down at Nora. "I'm glad that didn't turn into anything".
"Me too, sir". Nora confessed.
Winters smiled with a faint chuckle and said, "I didn't expect you to follow me".
"Well…". Nora sighed quietly. "You were just shot this morning, sir".
Winters gave her shoulder a gentle clap. "Thanks for looking out for me, kiddo".
"Does your leg hurt, sir?"
He gave a faint shrug. "A little…but don't worry about it, alright? I'm fine".
Nora asked, "What's going to happen about the Germans across the field, sir?"
"We're expected to attack them tomorrow, first light". He replied. "You'll stick with Lieutenant Nixon like before, okay?"
"Yes, sir". Nora let go of Winters's jacket sleeve. She gave the back of her neck a scratch, giving into a mosquito bite that had been bothering her for a while now. "It was a list of names". Nora decided to tell Winters. "The Gestapo wanted all the names on a list because they considered them criminals against the Nazi law".
Winters's hand went back on Nora's shoulder. "To have sustained that amount of pain and torture…it really shows just how resilient and loyal you are, Nora".
"I had no choice, sir". Nora quietly confessed. She could still see each name in order, written down on a piece of white paper. Boris was on the list, but they caught him. Usually, the Gestapo assembled their own lists and plastered them around the city with a reward for each address. But Boris stole a list, written years before the occupation of Holland. She cleared her throat and stopped thinking about Boris for the time being. Nora drew out a quiet sigh. "They've stopped singing, sir".
Winters looked around him and gave a nod. "The men will be pleased". He stared back down at Nora and said, "If only it would stop raining as well".
"We can't have it all, sir". Nora said lightly, "That would be asking too much".
The Lieutenant smiled softly at her words. Gosh, Winters was proud of his shadow. Despite what Nora had been through, she could still see some light in the darkness. Nora could still pick out something positive, no matter how small or insignificant…
"Let's try and get some sleep, Nora".
"Yes, sir".