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"They found combat to be ugliness, destruction, and death and hated it. Anything was better than the blood and carnage, the grime and filth, the impossible demands on the body, anything that is, except letting down their buddies." - Stephen Ambrose.
THE OUTSIDE CONDITIONS WERE TERRIBLE; THE MEN HAD NEVER ENDURED COLDER WEATHER. It had snowed all around them, and there wasn't a man in sight that didn't complain about how cold it was. Even Charlie couldn't fight off the lack of temperature, and she had no choice but to share foxholes with the other men. They had set temporary camp that looked out along the line where they awaited further instructions for their next objective, though the dense fog made it difficult.
Charlie had spent days mentally adjusting herself. She, and the men of Easy Company, had endured the worst conditions you could think of in a time like they were. Not to mention, she and Jude were not on speaking terms. Speirs had caused her to let her guard down, and she realized she was not the same person she had been since the training. She was more vulnerable and emotional, and Charlie didn't like that. It was her chance to flip the switch and pretend she was dead again. It was how she got through most of the horrible nights.
She and Luz were digging along the line and reinforcing his foxhole. Her arms hurt, and she couldn't feel her face due to the harsh winter. Luz kept her company and would crack jokes here and there, which Charlie was grateful for. Charlie could see Dike stumble towards Spina and Doc Roe's foxhole and begin scolding them for exchanging what little medical supplies they had already.
"What's this? Two medics in one hole?" He asks, putting his hands on his hips. "Yes, sir," Doc Roe had replied flatly. "What's gonna happen to us if you take a hit, huh?" He snaps at him. "Sir?" Lipton had come over to ease the tension off of the medics. Dike had turned to him and let out a breath. "First sergeant, where's my foxhole?" Dike had ordered Lip to dig out a foxhole for him, so he didn't have to do it himself.
"Jesus, if I had the chance," Luz grumbled lowly as Lip steered Dike away from the pair. The man was especially on Charlie's shit list, as he was supplying his alcohol problem. Dike was no leader; he was a coward.
"We're going to get killed under his thumb," Charlie mumbled, scooping the dirty snow off to the side. Charlie made her way to Toye and Guarnere's foxhole to check in on them. It was starting to snow again, which meant it was just the beginning of the winter they were enduring already. "Oh, there she is! How's our girl?" Joe Toye had stuck his shovel into the dirt, and Charlie noticed Bill hunched over in pain. "Hey, Toye. What's wrong with him?" She points to Bill. Joe rolls his eyes and pats Bill on the back. "I'm pissing needles here," he groans, gritting his teeth. Charlie raises her eyebrows in response. Before she could say anything, Doc Roe was running around mumbling words to himself. "Scissors gotta find scissors," "Sgt. Guarnere, did you keep any morphine?" He asks, looking back at the man. "No, Doc. I gotta talk to you," he stares at the doc helplessly. "How's that leg?" Doc asks, still walking. "Forget the leg. I'm pissing needles!" He groans out. "Uh, later," that was all Roe said before he took off again. "Shit," Bill growls lowly. "I'm dying here, Char,"
