A Soldier of No Importance [ Band of Brothers ] 1

FOUR

Laughter woke her up. The time difference between London and Toccoa had wrecked her sleep schedule. She faced the wall where her tiny changing space had been created. She didn't move. Instead she listened. A few of the men she could recognize: Guarnere, Luz, Toye, and Liebgott. But there were others, new voices she hadn't heard before.

As she listened to them tell stories from home, she felt herself nodding off again. In the middle of George talking about when one of his younger sisters had gone on her first date, she smiled to herself. But still, she stayed on her side.

"But wait, can we get back to the fact that we're gonna have to serve with a girl?"

Someone snorted. The rest laughed. Instantly, all her fatigue evaporated.

"And she's a fucking German."

Liebgott. Internally, Alice sighed. She'd hoped she'd gotten through to him. Clearly she had more work to do.

"The broad's fought more Nazis than either 'a you."

A small smile formed when she heard Guarnere's defense. She wondered what they'd come back at her next with.

"We don't actually know that she's killed any Nazis," Liebgott reminded them.

Alice decided enough was enough. She rolled herself over, propping herself on her arm. "You could just ask the 'fucking German broad'."

At her voice, they all whipped around. Guarnere and Luz snickered, Liebgott seemed miffed, and Toye looked put out. The others froze. She couldn't stop herself from smirking.

"How long were you listening?" George asked.

"Long enough." Standing, she walked over to where they sat playing poker over a cot. "I see there are new people?"

"Don Malarkey, ma'am." He shook her hand. Running a hand through his red hair, he looked at her sheepishly. He'd been the one to bring her up first.

She met Bull Randleman and Johnny Martin next. The former stood large, muscular and tall. The latter had an expression of pure annoyance on his face.

"So, you kill any of your people, Lieutenant?" Again, Liebgott's use of her rank oozed sarcasm.

"My people? No. Nazis? Yes."

He just muttered under his breath. "Fucking same thing."

Joe Toye rolled his eyes. "Jesus Christ."

"Verdammt. Hitler ist Österreicher!" she snapped at Liebgott.

The room stilled as Alice glared down at the sitting Liebgott. He shot her his own death stare. CBeing reminded that Hitler was an Austrian had shut him up. Neither moved. They could hear only the breathing of themselves and the men around them.

Finally Bull interrupted. "But you have killed Nazis?"

After a last few seconds of glaring at Liebgott, she turned to the large man. "Yes. I have. I'm a sniper for my Maquis cell."

"How many have you killed?" asked Johnny.

"Several dozen directly. Then we also engage in sabotage." Alice glanced at her watch. It was almost 1800 hours.

As if on cue, Lieutenant Winters opened the door. "Come get in formation. You've got two minutes."

Poker forgotten, they all straightened their fatigues and rushed out the door. Alice took a moment to pull her hair back as best she could. Her blonde hair stuck out in a tiny ponytail. Then she joined the men standing at attention, taking the back right.

The British army had taught her formation. The Americans used a similar stance. She stood at attention. George took up the spot at her left, and in the row in front of her stood Liebgott. Two dozen other men joined them.