THE LIST

CHAPTER TWO

 Lieutenant Lewis Nixon wasn't a bad guy. He was openly friendly toward Nora and eager to tell her all about Captain Sobel, Easy Company's Commanding Officer. Nixon was known to Winters as 'Nix'. And the pair were close friends. It was clear who was the loudest among the pair because Nixon did most of the talking. Much like Winters, Nora sat and listened to Lewis Nixon rambling on about why he left Easy Company for 2nd Battalion Staff...

"I couldn't stand the man...". Nixon was talking about Sobel. "I figured I'd end up killing him if I stuck around, so, I left".

"He sounds...". Nora tried to think of the correct English word. "Intolerable".

Nixon liked her response. "He is". He said, "But I'm sure you'll handle it...you'll be used to being around assholes by now".

Winters almost choked on his food. He gave Nixon a firm look. "While Nora is a Lieutenant by rank only, we should still talk as if we're around the men".

"Ah...got it". Nixon said smoothly. "So, no insulting Sobel in front of the kid?"

"That's right". Winters confirmed. Facing Nora, Winters cast her a smile. "Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself, Nora?"

"Oh, okay, sir". Nora placed down her fork and knife. She cleared her throat first before talking, attempting to get rid of any hint of emotions. "I was born in Amsterdam". She began to tell the men. "And...I went to school. And I left school". Nora gave herself a nod as if confirming that she had said plenty. "What about you, sir?"

"Oh, pretty much the same...minus Amsterdam". Nixon joked with a smirk.

Winters drew out a quiet sigh. He was hoping Nora would share more. Masking his slight disappointment with a smile, Winters decided to tell her, "I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and I went to college there...after graduation, I enlisted in the army. And the rest is history".

Nora asked, "Lancaster...is that a city?"

"It's more or less a city, yeah". Winters replied. "We moved there when I was a boy".

"It's a nice place?"

"I think it is, yeah". Winters said, "It's a friendly place".

Nora retook her knife and fork. Lunch was served hot. They were having mince, carrots and potatoes. The British adored their mince and potatoes. Nora liked British food. She mashed up her potatoes and mixed them in with the mince and carrots. Having spent five or so weeks with the British Army, Nora learned a few tricks to make their food taste better.

Nixon leaned forward and asked Nora quietly, "How can you stomach this food so easily?"

She said, "Mix it all in, sir".

"I miss American grub...". Nixon said with a sigh while taking Nora's advice and mixing it all in. "Have you ever been to America, Nora?"

"No, sir". Nora replied. "That would be expensive to travel there, sir".

"Yeah, I guess". Nixon said, "But if you joined us earlier, they wouldn't have charged you for the travel across the Atlantic".

"Oh, I was busy...". Nora said to him quietly.

He asked, "Doing what, exactly?"

Nora simply replied, "Working, sir".

Nixon didn't beat around the bush, he asked her outright, "Killing Nazis?"

Winters sighed and faced Nixon; he didn't look overly pleased with his friends' eagerness. Unlike Nixon, Winters was willing to give Nora space to open up. After shaking his head at Nixon, Winters assured Nora, "You don't have to answer that, Nora. It's a very invasive question and I'm sure Lieutenant Nixon didn't mean to pressure you into saying anything".