The Boy of Company B

[8] Over The Top

It was now 1917. With the start of the new year came a new Lawrence. I had this sort of tradition where I would have one big goal for the year, I always managed that goal. My goal for this year was to save more men. I wanted them to return home to their families. I wanted them to grow old with people that loved them.
The weather was still relatively cold, but it wasn't terrible. The skies weren't as grey as they had been before. A small fog hovered over No Mans Land, giving it an even more unsettling effect.
As I sat reading a letter from my brother, I could hear the banter and insults flying about from the vicious game of Jacks.
"You've won three times now!" Finn shouted at Lewis.
"Because I'm just that Goddamn good!" Lewis snapped back at him.
I just smiled and shook my head.
Sergeant Smith had rounded the corner of the trench and announced that we would be going up today.
"Haven't done this since the Somme," William stated.
"That was a fun day.." I sarcastically laughed.
"You'll bet ya," Will said, giving me a little slap on the back.
We lined up against the wall of the trench like we always did whenever we went over. I fixed my bayonet on the end of my gun and then checked my holster to see if my Webley was still in it.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The sergeant blew his whistle, and we took off into the morning haze of No Mans Land. Two men that had been lined up next to me fell back into the trench. Their bodies made an awful noise when they hit the soil. I charged forward with my bayonet. I had no intentions to kill, I just wanted to get these boys some help. I stood along the barbed wire fence and scanned the area for any wounded. Suddenly, the frantic cries for help from a young man rang out behind me. I spun around on my heel and rushed out to the boys aid.
"Am I going to die?" He asked when I picked him up.
"You'll be alright," I reassured him.
The Medic, Oliver Tavish, was waiting behind me tending to a few men. I brought the young soldier to Tavish and laid him down.
"Where's he been hit?" Oliver asked as he readjusted his glasses on his nose.
"Not sure, Oli," I shrugged.
The soldier groaned and shifted uncomfortably.
"Am I going to live?" He asked with tears in his eyes.
Oliver nodded kindly and smiled at the boy.
"He'll be okay, Lawrence," Oliver told me.
I nodded and turned around. I watched as my fellow soldiers ran forth at the Germans. I had no desire to kill unless it truly came down to it. I knew that the Germans were just as human as the rest of us. It wasn't the Germans who we should've blamed for this mess, but rather the young man who assassinated the Austro-Hungarian archduke. That bastard was the reason why so many had to die.
Just as I started my way towards another wounded man, a shell penetrated the ground, flinging debris and dirt everywhere. The blast sent me into the air and threw me down into a shell crater. I hit the ground with a loud thud. The wind from my lungs was knocked out by the force of the drop. I lifted my head towards the sky and desperately gasped for air. When I looked up a saw a German in the crater with me.
I froze. Reaching for my gun I realized that it must've been lost from the explosion. I panicked as I watched the young German soldier grab his knife and head towards me. I closed my eyes, expecting the worse. I wanted it to be all over, I wanted this man to end my suffering. I wanted him to just take away my pain.
"Lawrence?"
I opened my eyes.
Was that..?
No, it couldn't be.
It's been so long.
It was Charlie. His face was covered in mud and his uniform was torn and bloody. I managed to look at his dog tags which read, "Heinrich Bauch."
"Lawrence!" He cried out.
Heinrich crouched down and wrapped his arms around me. I was a little taken aback by the gesture, but nevertheless I was happy to have my old friend back.
"Lawrence, I'm sorry. I knew you boys would figure out I wasn't who I said I was. I just didn't expect it to be so soon." His voice was
riddled with guilt.
"I'd be lying to you if I said that you boys weren't the closest thing I had to brothers. I know you won't forgive me, but I've been so worried about you five."
I looked at him, absolutely stunned. So many emotions rushed over me. I was shocked to see him. However, I was also happy that he was here and in one piece.
"You were like my older brother. I've been worried about you too. We all have." I told him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He lifted his head and gave me a small smile. Heinrich had tears in his eyes. Hell, so did I. I felt as though I hadn't seen him for so long. It felt like decades had passed since we last spoke. I wrapped him in a tight hug. We both sat there crying in each other's arms. When we let go he smiled at me with his familiar calming expression.
POW
A shot rang out through the air. My heart stopped beating at the sight in front of me. On Heinrich's stomach, a large red circle was visible. I looked up. On top of the crater stood one of my own men, the barrel of his gun let out a long trail of smoke. He turned and ran off, disappearing into the lingering haze of the morning. Everything stood still that morning on The Western Front.