Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ６６ － Ｓｍｏｋｅｓ】

Chapter 66 - Smokes

"Easy is still only at about 65% strength, most are replacements, including their new CO."

That made Nixon smirk, they'd already heard about him.

"I was gonna ask how Lieutenant Dike was doing, but I think Margaret answered that earlier – not well."

"Yeah, three weeks in Holland and everyone is calling him "Foxhole Norman", even her."

That probably was not a good sign for what was to come, and Dick certainly wasn't looking forward to introducing them, nor was he looking forward to hearing about the radio conversation.

"They're talking mid-March action. That's time to train them for 3 months, then go into Berlin and end this."

Dick sighed for the umpteenth time.

"The NCOs are the only thing holding the company together, Toccoa men."

Harry interjected, saying Margaret was doing a pretty good job just by being there. It was true. The men loved her, it was sometimes like morale depended on her. If she wasn't happy the others weren't until they'd cheered her up. She was their sister-in-arms who could hold her own physically and verbally, who didn't treat the replacements differently – which meant they flocked to her – and when it was appropriate was always up for dancing which was something a lot of the guys missed.

A knock drew them all from the quiet that had descended upon the room, and as they looked up Zelinski had opened the door and none other than Wild Bill Guarnere came striding in needing no introduction.

"Look what the train brought in."

"The daredevil himself."

Bill smiled, and said hello.

The officers welcomed him back.

"Jesus, it's true! Never thought I'd see you behind a desk, sir."

Captain Nixon laughed and took the chance for a jibe.

"Yeah, and maybe someday he'll actually sit behind it."

There were a few chuckles, and Captain Winters smiled the ghost of a smile.

"Well, uh, I just went AWOL from the hospital to get back here. Hope that won't cause trouble."

"Would you care if it did?"

That quip made him grin in earnest for a moment, before he remembered something, and began to fish in his pockets for it. Once found, he gave the letter to the XO.

"A letter from Moose- Lieutenant Heyliger, sir. He's recovering, but it's gonna be a long haul."

Bill offered a quick smile at Winters' thanks, but that was all. It came back to him, what he'd seen outside. And it weighed upon him. Should he ask? Was it his business? After a few seconds of internal debate and chewing at his lip, Bill decided that yes it was his business.

"Uh, who's Peggy...is Watkins...is she alright? When I walked past the phone booth, she was shoutin' the house down. Who's she talkin' to?"

The officers exchanged a few glances, before Captain Nixon decided to take the question.

"We got a signal from London. She's talking to Michaёl, her boss. She's receiving her orders."

Bill frowned, but nodded anyway, and rocked forward onto his toes a few times.

"So...uh, I hear there's, uh, gonna be, uh... There's gonna be a football game? Those chumps in the 5-oh-deuce? That right?"

Welsh confirmed, nodding with a smile. It was scheduled for Christmas Day.