Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ５５ － Ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ】

Chapter 55 - Company

She was glad to be back with First Platoon, though she wished it was under better circumstances.

As it turned out, it was very possible that they were severely outnumbered. This meant that as many as a whole battalion could outflank them and catch them all unawares at any time. The platoon could only hope the Krauts hadn't figured that out yet.

The whole of E Company was sat in a ditch, looking out to the dyke the Krauts were apparently behind.

"Fix bayonets."

A wave of resounding clicks could be heard echoing along the ditch.

They were ready.

"Go on the red smoke."

Margaret looked over and locked eyes with Talbert. He was pulling at his lip nervously, and she was chewing at hers.

Winters threw the smoke grenade, and then he was sprinting across the field. She made to climb out and run after him.

"No! Wait for the signal!"

Lieutenant Peacock pulled her back into the ditch and she grumbled. They still hadn't actually been introduced, he was aware she was a woman, because he'd heard the guys calling her Margaret. The only reason he probably said nothing was Captain Winters also calling her Margaret. If the Captain was fine with it he had no reason to bitch.

But that did not make him yanking her back into a ditch okay! They hadn't been introduced, he couldn't just go touching her like that! It was just rude.

All the while, as she stewed, she scowled at the grenade, waiting for the smoke.

And when it came she was the first out of that ditch, sprinting after Captain Winters. Her legs were carrying her as fast as they could, even faster when she heard the first shot. Then, once up on the dyke, Margaret threw herself down, the ground providing much needed support and steadiness as she began to shoot. Had she been standing, her heart rate would've affected her shots an awful lot.

German soldiers were falling, falling like a house of cards. But there were some that fired back.

"Holy shit!"

Peacock had ended up close to her again and his cry drew her gaze up just a bit.

Fuck.

"It's a whole 'nother company!"

Fuck fuck fuck.

They were only a platoon, up against 2 companies, perhaps a whole battalion.

Margaret couldn't hear anything, save for the bullets. Her head and heart pounded and her legs ached, but she felt that now she could try and look at the bigger picture, see more of the battlefield.

Martin and Webster were taking prisoners.

But then the ground began to explode, quaking the earth and all who stood upon it.

A force she couldn't see had zeroed in on their position.

Even after it had stopped and what was left of the two companies had retreated, she could still feel the vibrations rattling her bones. Margaret hadn't moved. Her legs didn't feel steady enough. Shifty offered her a hand up.

"I don't know if I can stand," so he let her lean on him for a few steps in case her legs gave out. She wobbled a bit, and did nearly collapse but he caught her. "Thank you," she smiled warmly at him as he removed his arm from around her waist, from where he'd caught her.

"Anytime, Miss Watkins."

When she frowned at him, confusion spread all over his face.

"I didn't think I'd have to explicitly tell you, but don't call me that. It makes me feel so old! I'm not even 24! Use Margaret at the very least, please." She was practically begging by the end.