serialized novel

Moving In

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Evans walked into the office. Tiscornia was leaning on the desk, “Hey Evans. Good to see you. How’s Zwev and the kids?”

“Anna’s fine. Got to spend a few nights with her and the kids before being shipped back here. So, how’s the Squad? I tried picking Howe’s brain, but her brain’s on Nivelle.”

“Seems good so far. Two team leaders are Lances Callahan and McGilligan. Callahan’s been with us for a while. Never really been that noticeable, but he’s survived since Northern Gate, and that ain’t nothing. He’s got a good grenade throwing arm. Personally, I like him. He wants to go to university to study history. Get’s along with everyone pretty well. Cool head under fire.

“McGilligan is a transfer, I sent a letter to her last unit asking for any information, but she’s got some medals and has been in since the first Tsiv River. Seems to have plenty of command experience. Personally, she’s a bit of a loner, mostly just reads books when off duty.

“For the Privates, Howe is still a bit nervous about going back combat. She can run pretty fast and can fire the fastest. You know her personally already so we can skip that.

“Nivelle is a good kid. Strong as an ox. Good with bayonet play. And I know it’s a stereotype, but he’s a good cook. Terrible with jokes. Though Howe laughs at everything he says.

“Sheppard follows orders well. A bit tetchy with dirt. So you needn’t worry about her during inspections. Plus her rifle is very clean. I’ve actually been getting her to clean my rifle. She says she likes it. And never wear civvie clothes around her. She is up to date on all the fashion and will go on about how some sort of thing is last season. What the hell is last season?

“Madison is…. I really don’t know, came in a few days ago. Says he wants to be a Pastor when the war is over. So I’ve been calling him Pastor Junior.

“Next is the Marksman team. Leader is Corp Johnson. You’ve managed to perfectly miss her career. She was a marksman with the 202nd up until White Beach. She took some shrapnel there and when she recovered she was reassigned to a training battalion to teach shooting. She complained until she finally got back to the front. She kinda acts like she’s a lady though.

“Finally is Ollie. Just like your wife, he has an unpronounceable Silesian name so his name was shortened to Ollie in bootcamp. He joined the show after Northern Gate. Good shooter. He’ll be the spotter for the Corp. Plus, he’ll fight like Hell if you need it. At Third Tsiv, he held with a few other soldiers to cover our retreat.

“And that covers the whole lot. Our Lieutenant hasn’t been assigned quite yet, so Captain Gates just stops in every once and a while to check in.

“We’re having a Sergeants and Corporals meeting later so you can meet the other Sergeants in the Platoon. Corporals and me. Still refuse that promotion on principle.”

Evans nodded, “So how are you doing Dom? Last time we talked at Tsiv you weren’t doing so hot.”

“I’m taking it day to day Evans,” Tiscornia laughed grimly, “How is it that someone who has nothing in the world makes it out of that mess when all these kids with everything get killed.”

Unit

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Coming to a slow halt, the train pulled into the station. If you could call it that. It was a small wooden platform with scattered piles of crates. There was one wooden booth so the two soldiers on duty could have some shelter for their shift. Beyond the platform was a thick maze of tents. And just beyond the tent city, Evans could make out the drilling grounds. There was Platoon of soldiers practicing their marching.

“202ND INFANTRY, STOP FOR THE 202ND INFANTRY!”

Using his cane to push himself up, Evans grabbed his pack and made his way off the train. He didn’t really need the cane for most walking, but the pack was a bit easier to lift with it. Plus the doctor told him to use is it for the next two weeks. Luckily, these two weeks were just getting his new squad put together. And Tiscornia had already started that. Because, even better, Tiscornia was the rifle team commander.

Apparently, the army had selected the 202nd as a trial for a new fighting system. Instead of having the standard Sergeant commanding two three soldier teams with a Corporal as an assistant, Now, the Corporal was in charge of the two rifle teams, and there was an additional two person special team. Evans was assigned a marksman team. The Corporal would have a scoped rifle and the Lance Corporal would have a spotters scope and regular rifle. So his was considered a Rifle Squad. Two of the other squads in the platoon would be Grenadier Squads with a dedicated rifle grenadier and assistant each. The fourth squad in the platoon was the Automatic Squad. They had an Automatic rifleman and an assistant.

As he got onto the platform, Howe greeted him, “Sergeant! Lance Corporal Tiscornia told me to guide you to our squads tent and to take your bag Sergeant.”

“So you’re in my squad Private Howe?” Evans let Howe take the bag from him.

“Yes Sergeant! I won’t let you down. I owe you,” she smiled and started walking off the platform.

“You owe me nothing Private, I was just doing my job,” Evans walked next to her, occasionally remembering to use the cane properly, “So, What can you tell me about the rest of the squad?”

“I don’t really know them that well besides Lance Corporal Callahan and Privates Nivelle and Sheppard. As well as Lance Corporal Tiscornia,” Howe took a breath and continued, “Lance Corporal Callahan has been in for a while. He was at the Crater Battle where everyone got all those awards. He’s one of those smart people who aren’t all mean about how smart they are. Mostly he’s shy and likes to read books on his own. Next would be Nivelle. He was born in Newacre, but he grew up in an Ambarian community, so he still has that accent. Which just adds to his overall… cuteness. He know’s a lot of plays and is so funny. Ooh, and when we were in Newacre before we shipped here, his family came to see him off, and they had the cutest little dog.”

Evans rolled his eyes at the description.

Not noticing, Howe continued, “Finally is Sheppard, she looks like she should be in one of those moving pictures. She seems a bit full of herself, and she has a boyfriend that she talks about a lot. She does have like the most beautiful dresses when we’re on leave, and, like I don’t know where she gets the money, her parent’s work in a factory in Strongfield. I thought for a bit that it was her boyfriend, but she doesn’t seem like one of those women.”

Evans took a moment to formulate his response, “I meant to… inquire about their abilities as soldiers. Not the gossip and who you have a crush on.”

Blushing, Howe pointed to the tent, “Here we are Sergeant. Lance Corporal Tiscornia is in your office. I’ll put your pack in your bunkroom.”

“Thank you Private.”

Smoking

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Well… At least Major Kestel was still alive. Evans read the message from Lucy for the third time. Time for a smoke break. Evans folded the envelope and slipped it into his gown’s pocket. He then grabbed a pack of cigarettes and his lighter and put them into the pocket. He then grabbed his crutches and limped to the smoking area. It was pretty late, so there wasn’t anyone out at the moment. Good.

Evans put a cigarette in his mouth and pulled out the lighter and paper. He lit the paper and stared at the fire for a moment. He then used it to light the cigarette, put the envelope on the ground and  put the lighter away.

Evans took a drag on his cigarette. Someone opened the door behind him. He stamped out the smoldering embers of the paper and turned around, “Lucy?”

“One last thing before I go,” Lucy put on her hat and continued,  “You’re being sent back to Fox Company when you get better. Unless… Captain Ricci heard I was going to visit you and wanted me to tell you that her offer still stands. She’s got discretion over her command and can transfer you anytime. Just say the word.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“I don’t get it Goldfish. No one would blame you. You’ve done more than enough already,” Lucy turned away from him, “What? Are you worried people will think less of you?”

“No it’s-”

“After the glory then, need a few more medals on your chest? I’m sure your children will prefer those over a living father than I few shiny trinkets.”

Evans dropped his cigarette on the ground and spit on the ground, “You couldn’t understand.”

“You’ve got a loving wife, a job waiting for you, three children… real friends,” Lucy turned, put her back against the wall, and slid down to the ground, “Who the fuck am I? You know what’s going to happen to me? I’ll stay in after the war. Eventually I’ll grow older and men will stop being interested because eventually they’ll want to have kids. And well, who wants to associate with some asshole from the fringes of society? I’ve been practically disowned by my family for being a shame on them. Even though I’m by far the most fucking successful member of it. I’m going to die alone surrounded by cats. I don’t even like cats. But an unmarried career woman? I’ve gotta have like a half dozen fucking cats. All I wanted was some kids. Fuck this war. Fuck this life. Fuck this army. Fuck this country. Fuck the Vledscans. Fuck you and Fuck me.” Lucy bowed her head.

Evans knelt down next to her and patted the back of her head.

“I’m sure it will be fine. The war makes everything chaotic, afterwards, you can settle down and adopt a kid or something. God knows how many orphans this war has created.”

 

Healing

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“Sergeant Evans?”

“Yes Lance Corporal?”

“You have a visitor.”

“One moment please,” Evans swung his feet around and slowly got out of his bed. He straightened his gown and looked around the room. The other bed was empty. Howe had been sent back to the 202nd a few days earlier and he hadn’t gotten a roommate yet. He sighed, “Send them in Lance Corporal.”

An officer stepped through the door, head bowed so he couldn’t see their face… for some reason. Lieutenant and a woman. Evans didn’t have to salute because he was out of uniform, but he came to attention, “Ma’am?”

The Lieutenant used her right foot to close the door. Lieutenant Chambers looked up and smiled, “Miss me Goldfish?”

“Lucy?” Evans smiled, “You picked up Lieutenant?”

“Yep, So, I was in town and heard you were here and decided to stop by and say hello.”

“Aren’t you not allowed to just stop by these places?”

“Eh,” Lucy smiled and shrugged, “I greased a few palms… And a few other places. If you know what I mean.”

“Eww,” Evans shook his head.

“I fucked the guy who-”

“Please don’t,” Evans put his hand over his face, “Just tell me why you’re here.”

Lucy sat down on the empty bed, placing her hat on the end table, “Well first off, he was hot. Secondly… You’ve been asking around about the Duchess Medway.”

“You know what happened to her?”

“You can’t tell anyone I’ve told you this. Newacre wants in hush hush. I’m not even supposed to have this information. We Intel officers have our ways.”

“Please don’t tell me your ways and just tell me what’s happening with Major Kestel,” Evans sat down on his bed and leaned towards Lucy.”

Lucy pulled an envelope out of her jacket and handed it to Evans, “That’s the whole story. You’ll want to burn it when you’ve read it. Short story, she’s alive, but she’s had to go through multiple major surgeries and has been in and out of consciousness. Even if she pulls out of this, she’s definitely out of the war. In a private letter I… Got my hands on… it was said that they’re going to force her to either take a posting in Newacre or resign her commission.”

Evans took the envelope, “Thank Lucy. I appreciate it. I owe you one.”

Lucy smiled and patted him on the shoulder. Then smirked and said, “I know a way you could repay me.”

“Still happily married.”

“So not even you and her Grace?”

“Eww… That would be disgusting.”

“Well that ruins the smutty books I read,” Lucy frowned, “Well I should be going, I have a shit ton of documents to translate.”

Waking Up in Hospital

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Slowly opening his eyes, Evans looked around the dark room. Where was he? Pain shot down his side when he attempted to sit up. He swore.

“Ughhh…” A somewhat familiar voice spoke up, “You’re up Sergeant?”

Rolling his head to face the voice, he recognized Howe, “Private?”

“Yes Sergeant. We’re roommates for the moment.”

“Why?” He paused, “Why aren’t you off in a room with a bunch of lower ranks? No offense.”

“You Sergeant. According to what the nurses told me, you brought me to the aid station, gave my name, and collapsed. Your rank warranted you a room with one other person. They didn’t know who you were and since I appeared to know you, they put me in your room so I could identify you… Your wounds were much worse than mine… And once I woke up, they didn’t have enough space to bring me back to the lower enlisted room.”

“Oh God. So they thought I was… Did they… Anna, my wife… Did they tell her I was killed or anything… Again?”

“I was only unconscious for a few days. And they sent a telegram to her.” Howe pointed to the nightstand next to Evans’ bed, “You’ve got some letters next to your bed.”

“And any word on the Duchess Medway?”

“Wounded in the retreat. Very badly from the rumors I’ve heard.”

“And the battle? Did we hold?”

“We held.”

His eyes started to feel heavy and the world went black again.

 

His right hand was warm. His bed was tilting to the side. Someone was stroking his hair. His eyes slowly opened, “Anna?”

The blurry figure above him smiled. He heard a confused “Yes” to his right followed by a quick, “Oh, right… Your wife…”

Anna laughed, “I’m here James.”

“The kids?”

“At home. In Medway. Someone’s taking care of them. They’re too young to travel that distance.”

“I love you Anna.”

“I love you too James,” Anna smiled, “Get better soon so we can work on the fourth kid.”

“Ewww… No married talk,” Howe paused, “Sergeant.”

Anna giggled.

“My leg hurts pretty bad and I’d rather not try anything. Plus with Private Howe in the room.”

“Yes. with me in the room Sergeant.”

Anna turned to Howe, “So do you have anyone in your life Miss Howe?”

“No Mrs. Sergeant Evans.  Still waiting for my knight in shining armor,” She laughed, “Really, anyone who I haven’t seen covered in mud or blood.”

Evans looked at Howe, “How long was I out?”

“Ten days the first time. One week this time. And before you ask, No news on Duchess Medway. They’re keeping that locked up pretty tight.”

“Thank you Private. Now, could you give my wife and I some privacy?”

There was a pause before Howe responded, “Not really. Sergeant. I did get shot after all.”

“Right,” Evans turned back to Anna and shrugged, “Well I guess you can’t say anything private.”

“That’s alright,” Anna bent down and kissed him, “We can talk about the kids.”

Rally Point

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After a few minutes, he found his way to the line of soldiers retreating from the first two lines. They parted to the side when saw Evans had Howe over his shoulders. He eventually reached the rally point at the fifth line. He shouted at the first officer he saw, “Ma’am! Which way to drop off wounded?”

The officer pointed towards a communication trench, “That way Sergeant.”

“Thank you Ma’am,” Evans replied as he ran into the communication trench. A shell burst on the ground above nearby and showered Evans with dirt, with some of it hitting his legs. He shuddered a bit and kept running. After a few more minutes, he made it to the dressing station.

A soldier directed him to a litter, “Over here! Put her down, a nurse will be with you quickly. Stay with her until we can get the information down.”

Nodding, Evans made it to the empty litter and put Howe down. She smiled and said something softly. Evans nodded and put his hands in his pocket. Fuck. Her blood had gotten down there too. At least he was at the dressing station.

A Nurse came over with a clipboard and asked a few questions, “Her Name and Unit?”

“Private Anna Howe, 202nd Infantry, Fox Company.”

“Nature of Injury?”

“Gun shot to the stomach area..”

“Any Treatment?”

“I cleaned the wound with alcohol and applied a field dressing.”

“And how about you?”

“Excuse me?”

“How are you wounded, who are you, etcetera.”

Shaking his head, Evans responded, “Oh, I’m not wounded, the blood’s from Private Howe.”

“You might want to sit down soldier.”

Evans looked down. His leg had several pieces of shrapnel sticking out of it. He lifted up his shirt and saw more blood coming from there. He looked at the Nurse, “Oh Fuck Me.” And passed out.

Retreat

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“FALL BACK TO THE SECOND LINE!” Major Kestel shouted to the remains of Fox Company.

Evans heard a short gasp to his right. He turned and saw Howe crumple to the ground. Evans knelt down next to her and pulled her head towards him. She blinked. Good. No time to find the wound. Dropping his rifle, Evans picked up Howe and put her over his shoulders. She said something softly into his ear which he couldn’t hear, on account of the gunfire and artillery. He felt something hot and sticky dripping down his neck. It pulsed. Blood. Not a huge amount, but she would die if she didn’t get to a dressing station soon. Evans hated himself for having this knowledge. Fuck. A few years before, he had been a simple farmer. And now he was a fucking expert on death. He hadn’t even written a letter to his his family in over a month. What was he supposed to say?

He tried to get to a dressing station, but they seemed to be in a general retreat. Fuck. Running out of time. Evans knelt down and laid Howe onto an empty firestep and looked her over. Blood seemed to be centered on her abdomen. OK. Evans unbuttoned her jacket. Her shirt was stained red. Peeling up her shirt slowly, Evans got a better look at the wound. He pulled out his field dressing kit. Huh, small bottle of alcohol. Evans looked at the label. He poured a little bit into Howe’s mouth then poured the rest onto her wound.

Howe screamed quite loudly.

Evans reached his hand over her mouth and muffled her scream.

Reaching into his kit, Evans pulled out a long bandage and started to apply it to the wound.

She mouthed the word “Thanks.”

“No worries kid. I’ll get you out of here.” Evans finished bandaging her up and slowly buttoned up her jacket. Alright. Now to get her out of here. Putting her back over his shoulders, Evans attempted to make his way back up the line. He reached the third line where the Ethslin infantry was holding.

Shouting, an officer said, “WHO ARE YOU WITH?”

“202nd!”

“WE’RE THE 107TH! FIRST TWO LINES HAVE FALLEN, AND WE’RE GONNA FALL SOON FALL BACK TO THE RALLY POINT AT THE FIFTH LINE!”

Evans nodded, shifted Howe to a more comfortable position and kept running back. Fuck. Third line about to fall. How many others from the 202nd had survived? I mean, he was on the tail end of the retreat, and he hadn’t seen any enemy troops to the Second Line yet, so… With any luck, limited casualties.

Combat

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The rumbling and creaking got closer and closer. Evans’ hands gripped tighter and tighter to his rifle. He looked to his right. Howe had a terrified look on her face. He reached out with his right arm, patted her shoulder, and smiled. She looked back and tried to give a smile.

Evans looked further past Howe at Tiscornia. Tiscornia had an almost calm and accepting look on his face.

A few grenades dropped into the trench, but they were quickly taken care of. The plan was working.

This didn’t make Evans feel any better though.

Fuck.

It all happened in an instant. The Armored Beasts rolled over. Whistles blew down the line. Evans lept out of the trench. The surprised Vledscan Infantrymen were breaking formation for the fight. Evans ran his bayonet through a stunned officer. The man had glasses. He looked young. He was holding his pistol up. It hadn’t registered to him that he should fight back. Evans pulled his trigger.

Using his boot, Evans pushed the officer backwards to the ground and off his bayonet. He bolted his rifle and fired a snap shot at a soldier bringing his shovel down on an Ethslin soldier. Another Bolt. Fox Company quickly engaged the second line of advancing troops before turning around to attack the Beasts. Evans put his rifle over his shoulder, took out his shovel and ran towards the nearest one.

There was a hatch on the back. Evans put the blade of the shovel under the latch and pried it upwards. He gripped it and pulled back. Someone else dropped a grenade into the hatch. Evans pushed it shut. There were muffled terrified screams in Vledscan before the Explosion silenced them. Evans could see Major Kestel wave her sword to pull back into the trench to repulse any other waves. He looked to his right up the line, First Battalion’s line appeared to have broken. Some of the Beasts were still moving. Several red flares were shot up from beyond the second line.

Retreat.

Preparing for Engagement

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A runner came from regimental headquarters. He talked with Major Kestel. Major Kestel nodded and turned to the unit, “Word from Brigade. Mortars are to fire as before, but from second line. We are to hide until the armored beasts get on top of us. We are then to pop out and engage the infantry that Intel says will be coming behind them. After, we are to take out any of those things nearby by opening them up and dropping grenades in. The Regiment holding the second line will be fighting. Ideally, they will take the fire from the beasts and leave us without heavy casualties. Right now, I want everyone to start digging grenade sumps. Even if they think our line is abandoned, they will likely be smart enough to drop grenades in. In about ten minutes, I will be blowing the retreat command. Do not follow this command. The other companies and Battalions are getting this order as well, so do not worry, we will not be alone out here.”

She paused for a moment and smiled, “Now, I know many of you are frightfully scared. We are about to engage in close battle with the foe. But this is not the 202nd’s first dance. To not make this a long list, I will just call to mind the Battle of the Crater. We held then. And we will hold now. So, everyone. Fix Bayonets. Prepare your entrenching tools for battle. And Lane,” She paused and looked to her personal assistant, “Fetch my saber, I believe I shall need it before the day is through.”

Evans could see the fear turn to momentary excitement. Major Kestel knew how to excite the troops. If it weren’t for her insane belief that a Noble’s place was at the front, she would have been doing a circuit of Ethslin campaigning for war bonds.

Shrugging, Evans got out his entrenching tool and started to help dig a sump along the front of the trench. Grenade Sumps were a simple thing, oft forgotten because they didn’t provide protection from the normal dangers of combat, but when the enemy attack finally came, they were invaluable. The regulation sump for a trench was 30 centimeters wide from the back of the trench, ran along the whole line, and was 50 centimeters deep. When a grenade dropped in the trench, the nearest soldier would kick the grenade into the sump. The walls would then direct the blast upwards, hopefully sparing the soldiers in the trench. If they had more time, the whole floor of the trench would be angled towards the sump, encouraging grenades to simply roll into it. But this was clearly not the time to rearrange the whole trench. With the rumbling growing louder and louder, it was very clear that the Vledscans would be at the trench within the hour. Hopefully they would fall for Brigades ruse. No way to know until it happened though.

The Ethslin Artillery Corps opened up with artillery fire once the Armored Beasts were about a kilometer out, and the second lines machine guns soon after. And, it seemed, that the return fire was directed at the second line, so the plan was somewhat working.

Now, the 202nd Infantry Regiment waited.

Rumbling

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It was the morning of 24 June. Before sunrise. The barrage had ended. Major Kestel ran out of the dugout, followed my Evans. She set about inspecting the Battalion, getting ready for the inevitable attack. During the inspection of Fox Company Evans had time to quickly revisit old friends. Tiscornia was inspecting the soldiers under his command. He quickly said to Evans, “You know, my first real battle was here. Tsiv River. Would be kinda poetic if I died here eh? Then I’d get to go home. Mary. Renoir. Stanhope. Sinclair… Have I ever told you about my sister?”

“Yeah,” Evans shrugged, “You said she looks like my wife.”

“Not just looked. Acted. Just the way she carries herself. The way she talks. When I see her… It’s almost like… About a month after I joined up, on the train back to Liguria, she got a fever. A month later…. I’ll see you soon Adelina.”

Tiscornia turned back to his soldiers, who were understandably shocked overhearing this conversation. Evans tried to reassure the soldiers, “Tiscornia helped make me the soldier I am today. Pay attention to him kids and you might make it out alive…” Kids… Evans was twenty one. But these new privates looked so young. God. Was it possible that they were eighteen? They looked fifteen at best. Had he looked this young two years ago at White Beach? Fucking Hell. These were someone’s kids. In less than twenty years this could be Mary or Graham or Paul. And in a few hours they were likely to be dead.

Major Kestel waved him over. Evans was glad for the excuse to turn away. If he looked at those kids any longer he’d start crying.

She was about to tell him something when a rumbling started up over from the Vledscan lines. It sounded like hundreds of tractor engines starting up. Major Kestel moved to the edge of the trench and looked through a mounted periscope. She stepped back with a worried look on her face, “Everyone to the firestep. NOW!” She turned to two of her runners, “Move to the D and E Companies and inform their commanders of my position. Tell them Machine Guns fire at 2 clicks. Mortars at seven hundred meters. Rifles at 500. See if any of them have Charles Rifles.” She turned to a third runner, “Find out from the Colonel what the HECK those things are.”

Evans peaked over the parapet. A long line of large metal… things were spaced evenly on the horizon. Black smoke billowed from them.

He heard shouts from the soldiers of Fox Company.

“The fuck are those things?”

“We’re gonna die.”

“Oh God. Oh God.”

Evans looked at one of Tiscornia’s kids. Her hands were shaking. He stepped over to her and patted her on the back, “Hey kid, what’s your name?”

“I… I’m Anna Sir… I mean Sergeant. I mean. I’m Private Howe.”

Evans smiled and said, “No shit. My wife’s named Anna. Where you from Anna?”

Howe put on a nervous smile, ”Didcot Sergeant. It’s-”

Evans cut her off, “East of Strongfield? I’m from Halton. Must have passed through Didcot a thousand times bringing crops to market. After this blows over, we should get together and chat. Not every day you meet someone from down the road of your hometown.”

“Yes… Sergeant…”  Howe shuddered, “You’re Sergeant Evans, right Sir. I mean Sergeant.”

“Yes Anna,” Evans smiled, “What about it?”

“Is it true what they say about you Sergeant?” She stuttered, “How… How aren’t you afraid?”

There was a short blast of a whistle. Evans could see a flurry of activity around Major Kestel, but she didn’t seem to need him yet. He shrugged and dodged the second question, “What do they say about me?”

“That you-”

“Stop bothering the man Howe.”

“It’s fine Dom. I felt the same way my first show. Plus, what’s really my job right now? The Major doesn’t really need any sewing or typing done.” Evans turned back to Howe, “Continue.”

“That you rescued a intelligence officer by riding a horse through enemy fire. That you escaped a Prison camp. That you saved,” Howe’s voice became quiet, “Her Grace from a sinking ship by swimming her to a patrol boat under fire. That you got hit by an artillery shell and have been shot in the head. That you-”

“MOVEMENT!” one of the Sergeants to the right shouted.

Evans looked at Howe, “Don’t worry kid. You’ll be fine.”