by Ava D. Dohn
* * *
Treston slipped in the snow, skinning his knee on a rock. At his cry, the litter bearers stopped. Seeing his hand hadn’t fallen from Alynnou’s wound, he smiled, staggering back to his feet.
“We’re good.” He said, nodding them forward.
The six soldiers struggled under their heavy loads. Five were women, the majority being of relatively small stature. Still, no one complained. It was ‘one foot after another’ according to one of the women.
The battle on the valley plain was at its height now. There was a mind-numbing din of rockets and bombs mixed with the growl of machines and the whine of gunships. Black smoke billowed heavenward, spreading out in a thick blanket under the low-hanging clouds. The storm still threatened but was holding off.
Treston was well aware of just how lucky he was. Alynnou and the others with them weren’t the only ones needing medical attention. The walking wounded were returning from the fight, slowly making their way up the hills. Treston’s little party passed many who had surrendered to the day and now lay motionless in the snow.
Guilt began to fill Treston’s heart. How was it fair on his part to hoard all this help when so many others were in such need? He broke down and wept, cursing his selfishness after they passed by a woman sitting in the snow by herself, rocking back and forth, cradling her intestines in her hands.
“Stop!” He cried, looking back at the woman. “We must help her!”
The litter bearer replied, feeling the situation hopeless, “She’s gonna die, Sir. No help for her.”
Treston’s temper flared. “Then let her die in our company and not alone!” He ordered them to set the litters down and do what they could to assist the wounded soldier.
After getting one of the litter bearers to care for Alynnou, Treston limped over and sat down next to the woman, gently holding her in his arms. She looked up, face pale and teeth chattering. The fear in hers eyes was all too evident. Just above a whisper, she begged, “Water… please. I’m so thirsty…so thirsty.”
Someone produced a canteen and quickly poured a cup, handing it to Treston. He helped her take a sip. Her shakes were so violent, very little water got into her mouth. The woman leaned her head onto Treston’s chest, thanked him and expired. Treston, a veteran of many battles, could not drive the memory of this woman from his mind. For weeks afterward he would wake up weeping, seeing her as she said those last words.
No one spoke. Somebody found a discarded coat and wrapped the woman up snug. They then returned to their own wounded and got on their way. It was hard going, what with the slippery snow and rocky terrain. Gradually, the little party climbed to the top of the rise and started down the other side toward the crowded valley below.
They hadn’t gone much further when a Marine troopship landed nearby. Three-dozen Marines piled out and hurried north. When the ship was empty, two of the crew jumped to the ground and started toward Treston’s party. Waving his arms, the person in the lead motioned them aboard. They hurried over and quickly hauled their wounded charges into the machine’s belly.
Treston stayed with Alynnou, administering aid. The others ran back with the empty litters, picking up more wounded. When the ship was full, the two crewmembers crawled in and the pilot lifted off. In less than five minutes, the troopship settled down beside the Gorsbee.
“That’s it!” The major shouted, just after Alynnou and the others were put aboard. She put her hand on Treston’s shoulder, frowning. “There’s no room, Colonel. She’s in good hands. You’ve done what you could.”
Treston began to argue, but the major hushed him. “Sir, your destiny lies on the other side of those hills. We need you there.” The major turned away, telling the ship’s crew to seal the door.
There was little the colonel could do. His mind reeled with thoughts from events of that day. He dumbly stood there as the Gorsbee lifted into the air, staring at it until it vanished beyond the valley.
He was suddenly jolted alert by a slap on his back. “Why, Colonel Treston, it is so very, very good to see you!”
Treston whipped around, staring in disbelief. It was Major GefenChanan, dressed neatly in all his Navy finery. He finally managed to stutter, “Ma… Ma… Major Gefen! What a surprise!”
The major looked Treston up and down and nodded. “Looks like you’ve been busy today, Colonel.”
Treston sadly replied. “Alynnou…”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Gefen smiled, patting Treston on the shoulder. “She’s in good hands, good hands. They’ll have her fixed up in no time. I spoke to the surgeon who examined her when you arrived. That’s how I knew you were here. She says you did all the right things, the right things.”
“Now, about your needs...” Gefen took Treston by the arm, leading him across the muddy road toward a Quonset-style building. “You’re probably wondering why I’m here. Well, you see, I’m not…well…at least not right now supposed to be. Two days ago, my duty officer and I came down here to help set up a new supply depot. The Army relies chiefly on the Navy to provide the transportation it needs. I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly, being well aware of the nearing battle.” He squeezed the colonel’s arm. “It saves lives you know, saves lives.”
Major Gefen held open the door of the Quonset, inviting Treston to enter first. The outrush of heat gave him a friendly greeting, beckoning to him. He was surprised to see that the humble room was both an office and living quarters. A clattering to his left drew Treston’s attention to a person busily working over a tiny cook stove.
Gefen stepped inside, followed Treston’s stare, and grinned. “Dear Colonel Treston, I’d like you to make the acquaintance of my duty officer.” The person turned around. “Colonel…Captain AzrielaChasya.”
Captain Azriela took a towel, wiped her hands and walked toward Treston. Extending her hand in greeting, she welcomed the colonel. “I’ve been expecting you, Colonel Treston from the Realms Below. Please take your ease while I finish with your meal.”
The major reached to take Treston’s coat. “Yes, yes, my friend.” He assisted with the removal of the coat and then pointed to another corner. “There’s a basin of water and soap. Sorry the water’s cold. Wash the grime off your face. That’ll have to do for now. The bath will come later.”
With that, Major Gefen, with coat in hand, opened the door. “I’ll tend to your garment. Not to worry. I’ll return it to you shortly.”
Azriela ordered Gefen to halt. She walked to the door, stood up on her toes and kissed him on the lips. “You didn’t think you could get away that easy, did you?”
Gefen grinned and winked. “Just checking the weather, Captain. Just checking the weather.” He hurried out the door and down the muddy street.
Treston was amazed at the contrast between Gefen and Azriela. Gefen was dressed natty to a fault, his uniform spotless, and not a strand of his dark, wavy hair or neatly trimmed beard out of place. Azriela was just the opposite. She wore - it appeared more like she had slept in - an oversized set of gray Navy work fatigues with an old flop hat that covered a ragamuffin, short haircut crudely shorn just below the ears. This was topped off by a pair of black leather combat boots laced high over her baggy pantaloons.
After Treston washed up, Azriela invited him to sit at the small table. She placed a steaming tin cup of tea and a hard biscuit in front of him. “The rest will be up soon, Colonel. I fixed an egg and some boxed stuff. It’s all that’s left. We sent everything else up north.”
Treston thanked her and munched on the biscuit while sipping the hot tea. He was starved, having not eaten since the night before, but he remained polite, entertaining his food with the same care as he would at a fancy brunch.
In an attempt at conversation, Treston mentioned her and Gefen’s current situation. “So I hear you’re stuck here because the transport never came back for you.”
Azriela paused what she wa
s doing, then, without a word finished preparing Treston’s meal. When she delivered it, the captain sat down across from him. Treston was embarrassed, realizing he had intruded into something very private. He tried to apologize.
Azriela waved her hand. “No, Colonel, it’s all right.” She lowered her head a moment in thought. “That’s what the major has been telling everyone. It’s not true. He brought me here intentionally, to keep me out of the fight.” She pointed toward the sky. “You know…the one up there.”
“Colonel, I’m one of the younger of Mother’s children, being born less than two centuries prior to the Rebellion. Oh yes, I was a loyal child, but I never joined the military until well into the Great War. The Navy appealed to me because of the excitement of traveling to far distant places - something I had done very little of. I was assigned to the new battle cruiser, KataPino.”
“We were only two weeks out, still doing our shakedown cruise, when orders came for us to join the fleet. We were soon in action. Our contribution to the war effort was not long lasted. The Day of Tears was my first and last engagement of the war...and it haunts my dreams to this day.”
Azriela stood and went to the stove, returning with a cup of tea. She sat and took a sip before continuing. “There wasn’t much left of the KataPino by the end of the fighting on the second day. Half of our crew of nine hundred was down, with over a hundred dead. The ship was a bloody mess from one end to the other. Our weapons systems were out along with navigation, communications, and much of the life support. Still, the captain managed to hold us together as we limped away from the battle.”
“About the time of the second watch, our ship hit a drifter mine, caving in our forward hull and rupturing several bulkheads. A series of explosions ripped the ship apart in only minutes. How I survived, I really don’t know. All I recall is Gefen grabbing me and dragging me into a drifter-pod. I remember seeing the ship dissolve in white and red flames as we floated away from it.”
“The major – he was a leftenant then - and I were the only people in a pod designed for twelve. It was fortuitous for us because of the length of time we spent there before being rescued.” Azriela put her hand to her head. “There were no other survivors, Colonel.”
She looked Treston in the eyes. “I stayed in the Navy. Why? I don’t know. I guess it’s the only home I have anymore or at least where I feel at home. The major has taken care of me since that time. He’s even turned down other, more glamorous commissions for my sake.”
Looking toward the door, the captain sighed, “He knows my nerves go to hell in confined spaces when we engage in combat. He managed to get us sent here because of what was coming.” A distraught woman peered into Treston’s face. “He’s my Cherub, Colonel. He protects my soul.”
Azriela sat silent for some time. Treston allowed her the moment. What she later said surprised him. “The major likes you - I mean a whole lot. He was so impressed with the way you treated Lieutenant Alynnou and Major Sirion. He couldn’t stop talking about it for days. He said, ‘I hope those other blokes from down below are as good a’ chaps as this one.’ He doesn’t have many close friends, you know. Keeps ‘em away by all his cheeriness and fussy appearance.”
Treston wanted to ask for more information, but thought better of it - didn’t want to pry. He thanked Azriela for telling him and then allowed the conversation to drift where it wanted.
By the time Major Gefen had returned, things were much more upbeat. Treston was busy describing a certain stick game he played as a child when the door opened. Behind a cloud of wet snowflakes, Gefen entered, stomping his feet as he did.
He grinned. “Well, Colonel, good news! Your coat is fine.” He handed Treston his coat. “And I have procured transportation for you. A lorry going north with supplies will be leaving just after midnight. The driver says she has room for one more rider. Why, you’ll even be able to sit in the cab. Yes sir, in the cab.”
Glancing at the stove, Gefen added, “I see the water’s up for your bath. We’ll get you fixed up right away and then you can bunk in here for a few winks. We’ll make sure you’re up in plenty of time for your ride.”
Treston thanked the both of them. In short order, the colonel was drifting off into a dreamless sleep.