Bayonets and Barbed Wire

Chapter 5

German Front Line Trenches, Flemish Region, Belgium

April 25, 1915

4:42 A.M.

Otto sat up with a start, only to fall back into his bunk when his head rammed against the bunk above his. Rubbing his aching forehead, he swung his legs out into the trench, put on his piked helmet, and grabbed his rifle. He was still getting used to this new place. For the past four months, his company had been on and off the front, with new faces leaving almost as quickly as they came. Fortunately, all of his friends had made it through those rough months with only one close call. A few weeks ago, Joachim was walking through the trenches with the top of his head just slightly above the parapet when a bullet tore his hat from his head. He ducked before the sniper could fire a second shot, but could not salvage his destroyed headgear.

A hand grabbed his shoulder as Ralf's voice filled his ears, "Otto, please stop doing that every morning. I get little sleep as it is," he said as he rolled onto his side, turning his back on his brother.

Otto gently shook Krzys and Georg awake and told them to follow him. They had taken the village of Saint Julien not long ago, and he wanted to go visit Anton, who was stationed there as a machine gunner. Before they left, the trio stopped by the quartermaster's and gathered up the morning's rations. The chef refused to give them an extra issuing, so they made a deal to give Anton one third of each of theirs. Once they were over the parapet, they kept low to the ground, and sneaked through the morning mist to the back line of the town. The soldiers there ignored them for the most part, but for the price of a tobacco ration, they were able to get Anton's location.

As they stepped through the blown-out doorway of a stone house, they spotted the stoic gunner sitting against a wall, cautiously looking out the nearby window for fear of enemies. When they had handed over his breakfast, he thanked them warmly and invited them to sit. Krzys went to light one the cigars from his satchel, but before he could flick the lighter, the small roll had been seized by Anton and held in a death grip.

"They're already watching the windows for movement, no need to give them a lit target," he hissed in a fear-laden voice. Krzys began to protest, but realized it was his head which had just be saved.

"Anton, while sneaking up here was a hell of a time, I'd rather not have to sneak back tonight. The rest of us will be coming up here tomorrow morning, so is it possible we could just stay with you tonight?" Otto asked, reclining a little as he spoke.

"I don't see why you couldn't, and it would be nice to have the company," he responded.

German Front Line Trenches, Flemish Region, Belgium

April 26, 1915

11:16 A.M.

"Movement down the way," Anton informed them calmly as he adjusted his machine gun. He let out a burst of bullets across the crater-ridden battlefield and said no more.

Otto scrambled over to a hole in the wall, "Georg, get over here, Krzys, watch the door," boots shuffled as the two took up their assigned positions.

Khaki began to rise on the horizon, and war cries could be heard in the distance. He cursed, steadied his rifle against his shoulder, and took his first shot. It was impossible to tell if the bullet had hit its mark, as the sea of brown was too distant and too vast to make out individual figures. Then the drone of Anton's gun started up, making a ripple effect in the nearing tsunami. In the background of the battle's musical, there was a quiet whistle that seemed to just be getting louder and louder until it finally registered with Otto.

"Run!" he yelled as the entire building shook.

It was a direct hit. Stones shot out from their places and beams of wood came crashing down from the ceiling. He grabbed Georg by the arm, but as they tried desperately to escape, a beam was dislodged. Shoving Georg forward, Otto raised his hands and tried to catch the it, but it was to no avail, and he soon found himself pinned against the ground, rocks raining down around him. He writhed under the beam's weight as rocks pelted his body. It was like being stung by hundreds of bees. He opened his eyes only for a moment, but it was long enough for him to see a large stone falling towards him. It hit him square on the forehead, clouding his vision and causing a strange ringing sound to fill his ears. Then everything was black.