Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ５７ － Ｃａｐｔｕｒｅ】

Chapter 57 - Capture

It was dangerous to think yourself, or others invincible, but somewhere along the way, Margaret had forgotten that. Or, at least, forgotten it applied to everyone.

A sniper.

No one knew where the shot had come from.

Easy had been securing and defending the line on The Island, south of the Rhine. Just as they had been since pretty much the start of October. Now the wind had turned cold, and Margaret was glad she'd made the scarves. The members of the company that were with her had expressed their gratitude too. It was only mid-October.

The NCOs were tasked with going up and down the line, checking up on everyone, making sure they had everything they needed, even offering words of comfort and encouragement when the situation called for it. The only thing was...the line was over a mile long, and going up and down it the line carefully took a little while.

Bill, being Bill, had...acquired a motorcycle to make that journey.

And Bill, being Bill, drove across an open field on said motorcycle.

The sniper.

The shot fractured his right tibia, and knocked him off the bike.

Margaret had just assumed he was invincible, and then suddenly it was the 17th of October, and Bill Guarnere was sent to a hospital in England.

It was so weird, him not being around.

But he'd be okay. She knew that. They all knew that. And Easy had to focus on the upcoming mission. Well, they didn't know that. Margaret knew, but that was because Moose had taken her aside that afternoon and told her.

"Easy is going to be a part of an operation to rescue British soldiers left behind after the Battle of Arnhem. I assume you'll be coming with us for that," he paused until her nod, and went to continue but she cut him off.

"Well, as the guys see it, I'm practically part of the company."

It was true. Moose had seen it, it was in the easy banter, and the caring gestures. He'd heard about the scarves too. Seen them.

"Anyway, do you want to be involved in this? As in, I can introduce you to Colonel Dobie and you can have a more senior role in all this. If you want."

Margaret awkwardly scuffed the toes of her boats along the ground as they walked. So many of her conversations with officers seemed to happen as they walked, but she guessed it made it harder for them to overhear whatever they were saying.

"No, thank you. I...I need to stay in the background. The fewer people who know about me the better."

"Literally a whole company knows."

She groaned. It was true, mostly. They knew she was in fact Margaret, and a spy – couldn't hide that from them because they extracted her. But they didn't know about all she'd done, though some knew what had happened to her. A few knew where she lived, a few knew about her family....but not all about her family. There were still a lot of secrets. A lot they didn't know. But it was better that way. They knew enough to know she was human, to not keep her at arm's length and that was good for her. Healthy. She had people around her now. People that cared. She couldn't let that go.

So yes an entire company knew. But at least word couldn't travel outside that company.

"If someone outside of Easy finds out, who knows how far it could go? It could get back to London, or the Gestapo. And I don't need either of them on my backs." Moose seemed to understand. "And besides, wouldn't it seem odd to have a Private involved at a senior level?" She pointed at her chevrons with a cheeky smile, one that made Moose Heyliger stifle a laugh.

"I'm sure we can get that changed."

Margaret stuffed her hands in her massive pockets and wiggled her fingers in them. Boy she loved pockets.

"Nah, I don't mind. Helps me blend in a bit really, also means I don't have additional responsibilities. Gotta focus on working out how to lie to my boss when the time comes." Out of habit her voice dropped for that bit. There was no way someone from SIS was there. No way they were watching her now. But just in case. "When I first got my stripes, I was a bit pissed. Thought Corporal Watkins sounded better. But Private's grown on me."

The pair chuckled, and the lieutenant offered her a cigarette.

Margaret thanked him but refused, telling him to ask someone like Luz about it. Luz would get a crack out of it, and Moose probably would too.

And then she walked away without being dismissed.

She had a habit of doing that.

Something she'd need to fix in the coming months.

In the next few days, Easy met the Canadian Engineers, and Colonel Dobie and Captain Nixon talked them through the plan. The company had to know it inside out, so that they didn't mess up and get themselves and the men they were meant to be rescuing killed, or worse, captured.

Only Margaret understood why capture was worse than death.

After all, she had cyanide on her for that very reason.

No one knew of course.

It was just a little pill in her pocket.

She'd actually been meaning to ditch it, just never having a quiet or private moment to do so.

The hospital would've been the best place except that if someone picked it up, it could end in an unwanted death.

God she hated boats.

But on the 22nd, they drilled with them all day. Easy Company had to be ready, had to be able to do this swiftly and quietly.

Too many lives were at stake for this to go wrong.

_

EXCITING!!