The Winter War

Chapter Seven

Frederick, Colorado

            Thomas Channing, age 16, Fox Company – third platoon. Recovering from first degree plasma splash on left side of torso. Rebecca wrote on her yellow legal pad that she kept patient information on. The young soldier lay on a cot made by the Lion’s Club from PVC pipe and thick canvas watching her as she wrote. Since the beginning of the war Frederick was cut off from most of the supply train and when Denver fell they stopped receiving everything. So everything from the troops rations to thing like the beds were made by volunteers like the Lion’s and Rotary Clubs.

            “If you really want me to get better soon you’ll stick your head under these blankets and get to work,” Channing said with a lewd smile.

            Rebecca clicked her tongue. “Sorry but I’d rather tongue kiss a rattlesnake. Actually I’m not sorry. Keep it up and I may forget to bring you dinner.”

            “Oh don’t be like that baby,” Channing continued. “Make you a deal: you find a quiet place and I’ll let you ride me.” His irritating smile continued as well accompanying wink.

            “Well actually…” She said seductively, leaning close to his face. Channing’s smile got wider and Rebecca flicked him between the eyes.

            “Ah, shit!”

            Smiling herself now, Rebecca went back to her rounds checking on the rest of the patients and made a quick note to have Channing transferred to another attendee. Dr. Walken said she could have anyone that gave her trouble sent to the local clinic where it was cramped and patients slept on the floor.

            When she finished, Rebecca grabbed her coat and followed the glass hallway out to the football field, enjoying the clean cold air that didn’t smell of disinfectant or rotting blood that was stained into the carpet.

            Outside, she climbed the aluminum bleachers and took a seat at the top, watching the new recruits train in the sports fields that surrounded the school. A sea of olive drab marched back and forth or stopped to do push-ups. Three weeks had passed since Denver was retaken by Human armies and in that time enlistment numbers swelled. So much so that the 33rd was finally up to the full strength of 60,000; enough that they had to open more training camps in Fort Lupton, Hudson, Harney, and Niwot. There was even enough to form more units leading to the 5th Wyoming Mounted Infantry and the 17th Utah Infantry.

            Yes, it was cold outside but Rebecca didn’t mind. Neither did someone else wearing a black skull cap and a puffy black jacket that was approaching her. Rebecca rolled her eyes thinking it was another soldier coming to try and get in her pants.

            “Hey,” James said when he got close enough. He smiled at her and she giggled at how his nose was red from the cold. “Mind if I join you?”

            “Sure. Maybe you can explain to me what those guys out there are doing.” She pointed to a training group that was throwing themselves on the ground, getting up, running a few meters forward, and throwing themselves down again.