ESO SOLDADO

Part Six - Bastogne

Rene lifts his canteen to his cold lips, taking a drink of the cold water, only to feel as if ice is making its way through his body as he drinks. His hands shake as he screws the cap back on, before he puts it away on his belt, biting at his dry lips as he closes his eyes, trying to relax and ignore how cold he is.

Suddenly, the wail of incoming artillery sounds above him, causing his eyes to open as he looks to the sky, and an explosion goes off nearby. He pops his head up as he hears Lip yell out, "take cover! Incoming! Take cover!"

Rene looks around, trying to spot Ferguson through the rush of men trying to get to cover. Ferguson is running, his head ducked as trees explode above him, trying to make his way back to his shared foxhole with Rene. Rene's eyes widen as artillery lands near Ferguson, the ground shaking as he falls from the explosion before quickly moving to get back up, trying to weave through the tree to continue making his way towards Rene again. Rene's voice cracks as he yells, "Ferg come on! Ferg!" As Ferguson gets, closer, a round lands near Rene and in front of Ferguson, right next to a tree, causing the tree to explode. Rene brings his head down as shrapnel, and tree bursts fall around him, before he looks back up out of the foxhole, seeing Ferguson laying on the ground. Rene's blood runs cold as he stands, staring at Ferguson, petrified. The booming sound of artillery and calls for cover, go silent in Rene's ear as his brain stops working, his fear taking over him for the first time since they got into combat.

"Rene."

The voice is soft, quiet, and shouldn't have been heard over the artillery, but somehow, Rene heard Ferguson, and the sound of his voice, breaks him out of his head. Rene moves forward, quickly crawling out of the foxhole and crawling to where Ferguson is laying, "Ferguson!" As Rene stops next to him and looks him over before bringing his hand to his throat, checking for his pulse. Once he feels a light one, he turns and yells out, "medic!" He brings his hand up to the shrapnel in Ferguson's neck, trying to put pressure on it without hurting Ferguson more. The artillery starts slowing down, "medic!" Rene leans forward, making sure to make eye contact with Ferguson's barely open eyes, "you're gonna be okay, buddy, you're gonna be fine, Ferg. You're gonna be great." Rene looks down at the rest of Ferguson's body, looking at the damage, his eyes moving to a piece that was too high in his torso for Rene's comfort. Rene brings his head back up, "medic! Doc! Medic!" Rene meets Ferguson's eyes again, "come on, Ferg, you're okay." Rene can see his eyes dulling out, Rene begins shaking his head, "no, no, come on, come on." Rene brings his head back up, "medic!" Rene looks back down, feeling Ferguson begin to stop moving around. Rene shakes his head, "no, no." He looks back up, "Medic! Please!" Ferguson stops moving. Rene blinks, staring at Ferguson as he hears footsteps running towards him.

Roe slides in on the other side of Ferguson, "Rene? what happened?"

Rene looks up at Roe, his eyes shining from the tears that won't fall, "he's gone." Roe looks at Rene, before looking down at Ferguson, checking his pulse. When he looks back at Rene, he's staring at the piece of shrapnel in Ferguson's chest. His voice is soft as he speaks, "I think it went into his lung." Ferguson is wearing his summer O.D's the same as everyone else, meaning there isn't much protection when it came to artillery landing in the tree right next to him. Rene reaches up, closing Ferguson's eyes with his hand, before looking up at Roe who gives him a worried look.

Rene coughs violently as he sits alone in his foxhole, shivering heavily as he attempts to warm himself up. Rene's head snaps up, as he hears incoming footsteps, causing him to turn around as he grabs his rifle, and points it towards the approaching figure.