The Cold Recesses of our Minds

10

"There's a women's camp? That's miles away!" Malarkey exclaims.

"And why are we the four men to do it?" Bull asks.

I turn around and sling my rifle over my soldier. We have only been walking for fifteen minutes and they are already complaining. I stop to look at my three companions. They are frightened by what they just saw. They know that the women's camp will be just as bad.

That is something they don't want to experience.

"You saw that camp. The Nazis tried to kill all of them before they left. I won't let any more goddamn fucking Nazis kill anymore people like that." I snap. "If you don't want to come with then get your ass back to E company. I can go alone."

There is silence among the three men. They look at me and then to each other.

"You won't be alone." Roe speaks. "I'm sure it isn't that far. I'll go."

"I don't mean to be rude, but I'm not coming. Not now anyway." Malarkey answers. "Not after..."

I understand him completely. He isn't lazy, he just doesn't want to see the destruction.

"I'll go with Malarkey." Bull speaks.

"Turn back now then, please, if you are able to come back, bring a truck and perhaps a platoon." I speak and they nod. They turn around and begin walking back down the tracks.

"Just you and I sir?" Roe asks.

"I have the firepower and you have the healing power." I smile and turn around. I begin to walk and Roe stands next to me. I listen intently to the forest around us. I notice that Roe is looking at the ground as we walk.

"Is something wrong Doc?" I ask. I decide to relax, but only for a small amount of time. He continue to looks down as we walk. I stare at him as we walk. All of the sound around us seems to stop. I look around to make sure everything is safe before I look at him again.

"It's...just what we saw back there. No one should have to experience that. It was a goddamn nightmare and I was only there for a short time. I couldn't help those people."

"None of us can." I reply. He looks up at me, I can see the questions in his eyes.
"None of us can even help ourselves. I mean look at us, just us. Survivors of fucking hell itself. Who will help us? We are already ruined, tainted, dead."

I feel a sad tug in my heart and I feel tears come to my eyes.

"I suppose you're right." He nods. I look down at the ground and feel my body droop with sadness.

"I just hope that once this is all over, we will all be happy again. Not momentary happiness but the kind that lasts forever."

"I hope so too."

We continue to walk. Silence overtakes us once again. We walk for a long time, both looking at the ground for the most part. I hear a bird in the distance. I look up to look around and notice something small in the distance. I squint to see it more clearly. I can make out something that looks like a fence.

"Is that what I think it is?" I ask.

"I think it is." Roe speaks.

I look to him and I break into a run. He follows behind me as we begin to sprint towards the camp. I breath heavily but don't even notice the pain. The adrenaline pumps through my veins as I get closer to the camp.

I grab my gun as we begin to see the camp. I can smell the stench of death and sadness. A train car is just after the camp. The fences are barbed and I can see bodies.