Son of the Rhine

Train to hell

The train ride for Alois was fairly enjoyable. Him and other soldiers took delight into the treats the civilians had given them. One of them had a large case of alcohol given to him by his father. "Well he did say to enjoy it with friends, and since I'm gonna most likely die next to you assholes, why not." He cracked open the lid and handed it to Alois. Alois took a big swig and handed it to another soldier. "Die! Hell, beast never die!" Alois shouted  loudly. The group chuckled. "Ha! That's the best joke I've heard so far on this train to hell." The Sargent said. "Train ride to hell?" One of the other soldiers said. "You haven't heard the stories from the front? Gas tearing men's lungs apart, shells falling day and night. Muddy trenches full of water and blood. Rats as big as dogs." "Holy shit!" Said Alois. "Where at?" "Everywhere......" the Sargent answered. "My son was in the first wave of the gas attack, wouldn't put his mask on because he couldn't smell anything. Next thing you know his commander is watching him tearing at his throat struggling to breath as the gas invaded his lungs and tore it apart. He coughed up blood and bits of his lungs until finally he just stopped." "Jesus fucking Christ!" Another soldier exclaimed. The Sargent grabbed the beer and took a large gulp. "Well.... cheers boys." A little bit after the Sargent had drank all the beer and all the others went to sleep, Otto came over to Alois and sat down next to him. "Cigarette? He said pushing one out of his pack. "Noticed you've been a little tense for a couple of hours." "No... I stopped smoking." Otto put the cigarette in his mouth and smiled. "It's Eliza isn't it?" "Huh?" Alois muttered out looking over. "She made you quit." Alois smiled. "Yeah, she said it was bad for me and that we didn't have the money to afford my 'habit'." Otto laughed as he lit his cigarette with a match. "Goes to show you what young men will do for love. Some die for it, others.... Well, they give up smoking." Alois sat back in his seat. "What about you Otto? Got a girl back home?" Otto scoffed. "Me? A girl back home? I'm a bachelor my friend. Only me and myself!" Alois smiled. "I don't know why I expected anything different." "Well," Otto mumbled taking a puff. "Make sure you find me on the front. No doubt those boy loving French bastards will be tearing at my throat because of my good looks."