A Soldier of No Importance [ Band of Brothers ] 1

TWO

The Georgia summer hit her smack in the face as she left HQ. Once again it felt like swimming through the air. Beads of sweat trickled down her neck as she followed Private Vest across the compound. Alice could feel the stares that followed her. Keeping her eyes straight forward, she finally came to a building marked with an "E."

They walked up the two wooden steps and Vest opened the door. He peeked inside to make sure anyone there looked decent. After a moment he gestured for her to follow. Murmurs followed her. Once the door shut, she took a deep breath to calm herself.

The room had ten wooden beds on each side. At the foot of each bed sat a footlocker, crafted of dark leather. A fan circled overhead offering only slight relief. Three men chatted inside. To her surprise, she recognized two of them. George Luz sat lacing up his boots, and the man who'd dragged away the boisterous friend on the train was the other. The third she did not recognize.

They looked up. Alice crossed her arms over her chest. Their discussion died immediately.

"This is Alice Klein, she'll be joining you on Colonel Sink's orders," Vest explained. "He says that anyone who has a problem can take it to him."

She appreciated him recognizing the men might need a bit of encouragement to treat her right. Not that she didn't intend to earn that trust, though. She would.

Vest turned to her. "We'll bring fatigues for you. Colonel Sink is still deciding what rank to give you."

"Thank you."

With that, he left the still silent room. Alice took another deep breath. As the men and she had a silent standoff, George finally cracked a smile. She glanced at him.

"So, that's the job offer? You're gonna be a paratrooper?" He walked over and tossed her a cigarette. George didn't seem entirely convinced, but went with it anyways.

Alice appreciated the gift. When he lit it for her, she nodded. "Apparently."

"No offense, but what in the hell are they doing letting a goddamn broad in the Army?" The dark haired, dark eyed, well built man from the train asked it as he too stood from his bunk.

"They believe I will be of assistance in several areas. Translating, intelligence, navigation, sharpshooting." At their silence, she flashed a small smile. "I don't know how much I am allowed to tell. I am part of the Resistance, in France."

"No fuckin' way."

George laughed, shocked as well. He turned to the man who had been from the train. "That's Bill Guarnere. This is Joe Toye."

She shook their hands. "Call me Alice, it is what I go by in the English speaking world, a nom de guerre."

"What's your real name?" Joe Toye's voice sounded husky, deeper than she expected. He had joined them a moment ago, shaking her hand in a firm grip.

"And what the hell's a nom de guerre?"

Alice just laughed at both Joe and Bill. "A nom de guerre is a name used in operations. A sort of code name to protect us. As for my real name, that will stay my secret."

"Mysterious." George winked at her then gestured to the beds. "Joe was telling us about the bunks."

Joe nodded and gestured to the beds. He listed off several names of Easy Company's second platoon, where she'd been placed. The only one to stand out to her was Joseph Liebgott. A German surname. A small smile tugged at her lips as she found herself hoping he spoke the language. She hadn't spoken German to anyone but the Nazis in six years.