Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ４０ － Ｐｕｒｐｌｅ】

Chapter 40 - Purple

It was safe to say, or so Margaret hoped, that Floyd Talbert was her friend. He talked to her more, and she liked that.

But he could be almost as manic as Luz sometimes, dragging her this way and that.

And though she wasn't sure what a purple heart was, she was sure he deserved one.

They were gathered in the mess barn, and the hum of chatter made her smile. She was a part of this. And when she'd gotten dragged to sit by Talbert had made her grin.

To think she was afraid of settling in.

She saw Malarkey and More come in, hurrying and chattering about something.

People were hushed, and Smokey got up.

"The Night of the Bayonet," he said,

"The night was filled with dark and cold,

When Sergeant Talbert, so it's told,"

"I don't like this."

Margaret shushed Tab immediately, obviously very invested in the story.

"Pulled on his poncho and headed out,

To check the lines dressed like a Kraut."

A loud cheer went up, and Margaret found herself joining.

"Upon a trooper our hero came,

Fast asleep, he called his name.

'Smith! Oh, Smith! Get up! It's time

To take your turn out on the line'

But Private Smith, so very weary,

Cracked an eye, all red and bleary.

He grabbed his rifle, he did not tarry,

Hearing Floyd, but seeing Jerry!"

"Way to go Smithy!" someone cried, Margaret heard not who, but she found herself smiling at Smith, grinning even wider when he smiled a shy and embarrassed smile back.

"'It's me!' cried Tab, 'Don't do it!'

And yet Smith charged, 

tout suite, 

with bayonet.

He lunged, he thrust,"

"Oh come on!" Poor Smith.

"both high and low,

And skewered the boy from Kokomo."

Well she thought that was marvellous, and she whooped and clapped and whistled along with all the others.

Talbert was half-heartedly begging her to stop, jostling her but she couldn't help but light up as she laughed.

This was what fun was like. What having friends was like and it was glorious.

Then she looked up.

Oh fuck.

Guarnere was clearly intimidating a replacement. Her voice rose loud and clear over the noise.

"Oi! Cunt! Leave the poor kid alone!"

He, and many others, all looked around to look at her where she'd stood to shout. Upon seeing her he rolled his eyes.

"Can ya not bitch at me for five seconds?!"

"Yeah. I can. But not when you're about to attack Heffron!"

"I was gonna ask him to sit, how'd ya figure I was gonna attack him?"

She just frowned at him, studying him, was he really gonna ask him to sit down? She didn't think so.

"You looked unhinged, like you got a screw loose and could snap at any time, or is that just your fac-? Hey!"

Talbert had dragged her back down, and she practically crashed into the bench. Margaret grumbled, and complained about her arse hurting, to which someone joked about her sitting on their lap. Before she had a chance to say no, Tab was already defending her, and Luz shouted NO from where he sat with Guarnere. How he heard was beyond Margaret.

"Since you weren't wounded by the enemy," Smokey drew most people's attention back to him, "and thus didn't qualify for a Purple Heart, we've taken matters into our own hands. Tab, this is for you."

He unclipped one of his medals, and held it out for Talbert.

Margaret stared at it, it was a very pretty purple.

"I could've shot the kid a dozen times!" he chuckled as she shoved him playfully and rolled her eyes, "I just didn't think we could spare a man."

They laughed and joked for a bit, before noticing Lipton standing. He had something to say.

"Listen up! Couple of announcements men. First, the training exercise scheduled for 2200 is cancelled." That was generally approved of by the men, no one liked night exercises. "Secondly," Lipton waited for silence to fall before continuing. "All passes are hereby revoked. We're heading back to France, so pack up all your gear. We will not be returning to England, boys."

The reaction to that was, as to be expected, not as upbeat as that of the first announcement. The war still raged on, but that was easy to forget in sleepy little Aldbourne.

"He's taking the piss. He has to be taking the piss. It was only last week we were waiting to get on planes only for it to be cancelled!" She tried to keep the worry out of her voice.

"Those of you who have not made out a will, go to the supply office. Trucks depart for Membury at 0700. As you were."

It was much more sombre now.

"What am I supposed to do? About the will thing? Like I don't technically exist. And only God knows where my brother is and by Christ mother is not getting the house or the farm."

No one seemed to hear her. She had been rather quiet. Maybe it was for the best that no one had heard.

_

hey, so what're we thinking? Excited for Holland? Is this another get to the airfield, and then come back again near straight away?