With a moan of protest, the latch on the door twisted and the door opened revealing a shadowy figure in the moonlight, “Is everyone all right?” The orderly asked.
“What happened?” Hale asked.
“There was a huge hole in the road. Maybe from a Russian bomb? I’m not sure. It wasn’t there when we came through earlier today. The driver swerved to miss it, but he still caught the edge of it with the back tire on your side.” The orderly responded.
“Russians here? Where are we? I thought we were going to Perkjarvi!” Hale’s mind raced as he blurted out the words.
“Peace friend, we are. The hole didn’t come from Soviet artillery. It likely came from an airplane. Bastards probably tried to bomb an ambulance or a supply truck yesterday afternoon.” The man responded.
Hale calming asked, “I see, how far are we from Perkjarvi?”
“A mile? Five miles? It’s hard to say. One stretch of frozen trees looks much like the next.” The man responded.
Before Hale could ask another question, the other patient in the ambulance groaned and whispered in a cracked voice, “Water.”
Hale pulled his canteen out. He kept metal flask underneath his coat, so it wouldn’t freeze solid. As he sat up, he was hit by a wave of nausea and lightheadedness for a moment before his head cleared. He rolled out of the stretcher and placed his knees on the floor of the ambulance. Next, he leaned over the other patient and twisted the cap off his canteen. Finally, he gently put his left hand underneath the man’s neck and put the edge of the canteen to his lips.
The man drank greedily for a moment and then coughed, “More.” He rasped, his voice a little stronger this time.
Hale obliged him. This time he was able to take in a lot more of the liquid without coughing it back up. When the man had drank his fill, he pushed the canteen away with his left hand, “Thank you.”
“What’s your name?” Hale asked.
“Jani.”
“Nice to meet you Jani. How did you end up here?”
“I got shot.” Jani replied with an edge to his voice.
“Outside of Kivennapa?” Hale asked.
“That’s right. Who are you? You’re not a member of the battalion.” Jani replied.
Hale gently placed a hand on Jani’s right arm to reassure him, “No I’m not. I was a sniper with Maki’s group.”
“Never heard of it.” Jani said.
“No, I don’t suppose you would have. I’ve been fighting the Russians with my hunting rifle since the first day they crossed into Finland. We were ordered north to do what we could to aide in the defense of Kivennpa.” Hale replied.
As the truck started to slowly rumble forward Hale asked, “Are you good on water?”
“Yes, I’ve had enough, thank you.” Jani replied.
“How did you get hit?” Hale asked.
“I was in the line with the rest of my brothers. We were trying to hold against a Russian charge. They had at least a dozen tanks, and over a thousand of the fuckers charging right at us. I sat up to shoot from behind our barricade and felt a searing pain.” Jani said.
“I saw that charge. I thought your unit was going to be overrun. Then the mines went off.” Hale said.
“The mines?” Jani inquired.
“Yeah, the first wave of the invaders hit the mine field simultaneously. There was a string of explosions and then a hundred of the bastards were down on the ground screaming.” Hale replied.
“The very last thing I remember before being hit was a bright flash.” Jani said.
“What was the next thing you remember after that?” Hale asked.
“Waking up on a table. The room was blindingly bright. I couldn’t see anything. My gut.” Jani paused to take a breath, “My gut was on fire. I could feel something poking around inside my body!” Jani said.
“That was Doctor Gar. What did you do?” Hale asked.
“I tried to sit up but my body wouldn’t move! Then I screamed.” Jani said.
“That doesn’t sound like a pleasant way to wake. It’s good you weren’t able to move though. If you had, you would have injured yourself further.” Hale said.
“No, it wasn’t a pleasant way to wake. Not at all. There was one bright spot, I heard a voice. The voice of an angel told me that I needed to lay still. That everything was going to be alright.” Jani said.
Hale chuckled, “That was probably the nurse.”
“Oh.” Jani said, disappointed.
“Do you remember anything after that? When I walked into the tent you were unconscious and didn’t wake up.” Hale said.
“After I heard the nurse.” Jani’s features became downcast as he said, “I liked her being an angel better. I felt a prick on my right arm. Then I felt numb for a moment. The next thing I remember is waking up here.” Jani said.
The sound of breaks filled the chamber once again as the ambulance came to a stop. The noise and vibrations created by the engine stopped as the engine was cut off. A moment later Hale heard the two doors of the cab opening nearly simultaneously. A few seconds later, the double doors were pulled open and two orderlies stared at the pair of injured men.
Looking at Hale the driver said, “We’ll get Jani first and then we’ll come back for you.”
“No worries. I can walk.” Hale said.
“Suit yourself. Just follow us into the hospital. A nurse will get you processed.” The driver said.
Hale, noticing the two stripes on the driver’s epaulets indicating the rank of Corporal said, “Yes sir.”
“No need for that sir business. I’m enlisted same as you, the name is Langston.”
“Well met Langston, my name is Hale.”
Langston flashed Hale a smile as the other orderly climbed into the back of the ambulance. Working together the two men lifted Jani’s stretcher off the frame built to hold it and gently removed him from the vehicle. They walked slowly toward a set of double wooden doors set into the wall of a large two-story building made of concrete.
As the two orderlies carrying Jani neared, the double doors, swung open. Two ladies, both in the form fitting white dresses that nurses wore smiled at the two men as they approached. The one holding the right door open, in her mid-twenties with raven black hair asked, “What have you got for us?”
“Gut wound. Gar pulled the metal out of him and sewed him up.” Langston replied.
“Take him to room 210. We’ve got three in there already, but I think we can squeeze in one more.” The raven-haired nurse replied.
“Yes ma’am.” Langston replied.
As the two orderlies carried Jani into the building the nurse noticed Hale for the first time, “What do we have here?” The raven-haired nurse asked as her hazel eyes looked him up and down.
“The name is Hale ma’am. I was stabbed in the shoulder.”
“You don’t look that bad off. I’ll get you seen by the Doctor, perhaps we can board you with one of the town’s folk. There isn’t much room here, and we must save what space we have for the seriously injured.”
“Getting stabbed is pretty serious business.” Hale retorted gruffly.
The nurse gave Hale a reassuring, if somewhat tired looking smile, “I wasn’t trying to imply that your injury was less import Private. Just that you require less care to recover. Since you can walk, we can board you with one of the locals.”
“My family owns a farm about five kilometers from here. Do you think I could stay with them?” Hale asked.
The nurse pursed her lips as she thought it over, “Perhaps. If the Doctor thinks you can make that walk every day. He’s going to want to examine you regularly to make sure your wound is healing well.” The nurse put a hand on Hale’s uninjured shoulder, “Getting you better as quickly as possible is important. If we are to survive as a people through this crisis, we will need all of our fighting men.”
Hale squared his shoulders and stood a little taller at the woman’s words, “Thank you. When can I see the Doctor?”
“Come with me, he’s asleep right now. Poor thing has been up basically since the war started.” The nurse replied.
“The we mustn’t disturb him. What’s your name nurse?” Hale asked.
“Astrid. What’s yours?”
“Hale.”
Astrid gestured down the hallway, “This way Hale. All I spare for you is a chair while you wait for the Doctor to wake.”
Hale met Astrid’s gaze, he was captivated by her Hazel eyes. So different from Nea’s. Forcing himself back into reality he said, “A chair will do quite nicely after a week freezing in the forest.”
Astrid led Hale to a wooden door. As she opened the door, she turned back to Hale and placed an index finger over her lips to indicate for him to remain quiet. Once the door was open, Astrid stepped to the side so Hale could enter the room, he saw a middle-aged man in a white lab coat laying on the floor.
The bearded and clearly overweight man was laying on his back. As Hale took his first step into the room, he was startled by a loud blast that emitted from the Doctor. Hale narrowly prevented himself from crying out in surprise. I’ve never heard someone snore so loudly.
Astrid pointed to a chair set behind a large desk made of oak. Hale nodded to indicate he understood and tiptoed over to the chair. As quietly as he could, he removed the two weapons on his shoulders and set them on the floor. He winced as his right shoulder throbbed in protest from the movement.
Taking a deep breath, he bit down on his lower lip to avoid crying out. Successful in remaining quiet he then removed his coat, and his white snow pants, along with several layers of sweaters. Next, he picked the wooden office chair up and set it back a few feet from the desk. He ran his fingers over the wooden surface of the desk for a moment admiring its polished surface. He enjoyed the feel of the wood underneath his fingertips. As he moved them across the top of the desk, the sensitive nerve endings on his fingertips registered the feel of the grain and slight imperfections along the surface.
Finished admiring the desk, he lowered himself quietly into the chair. As Astrid gently shut the door, he put his feet up on the desk. Despite the racket the sleeping Doctor caused, Hale was asleep within minutes. As he slept, his mind was filled with dreams of conflict, killing, and hardship.
He awoke with a start. The bearded doctor was now standing over him, and sunshine streamed in through the room’s window, “Good Morning.” The man said.
Hale stifled a yawn and replied, “Good morning.”
“I’m Doctor Nooa. Mind if I get a look at your wound?”
Hale, still a bit disoriented from his slumber nodded his head slowly, but failed to take action. “Can you take that shirt off?” Dr. Nooa asked.
“Sure.” Hale responded sheepishly.
He pulled his undershirt up carefully trying to avoid the shooting pain any kind of movement caused in his shoulder. Failing he winced out loud. Dr. Nooa, ignoring Hale’s discomfort pushed the glasses up on his nose as he leaned over and examined the wound, “Whoever stitched you up did a good job. Do you remember his name?”
“Gar.” Hale replied. Dr. Nooa frowned at his response so he hastily added, “He never told me his last name.”
“No matter, whoever this Gar was did good work. He sewed you up nicely. I’m going to put some sulfa on it, to keep the infection away, then we need to see about finding you someplace to stay.” Dr. Nooa said.
Hale opened his mouth to speak when Dr. Nooa, snapped his fingers and said, “I almost forgot. Astrid said that your family is on a farm nearby. How far are they from here?”
“About five kilometers.” Hale replied.
“That’s too far for you to walk everyday so I can check up on you. Do they have a car, or a wagon?” Dr. Nooa asked.
“With this much snow on the ground a wagon is impractical. We have a sleigh.” Hale replied.
“Anything will do, as long as you don’t have to make the walk. What’s your family’s name? I can send someone out in our car to tell them to come get you.”
“Wouldn’t it be simpler just to send me in the car?” Hale asked.
“No, I want them to come here so I can explain to them directly the care you will require.”
“I see Doctor, Korhonen is my surname.” Hale said.
“I just had another thought. Would anyone in the village know of you?” Dr Nooa asked.
Hale nodded, “We used to come into town a few times a month to shop at the store.”
“Then I could get shopkeeper Olley to send one of his boys with a message.” Dr. Nooa replied.
“I thought you were going to send a car directly?” Hale asked.
“I changed my mind. If we can pay someone to do it, that will save me from having to send a nurse in the car. With the hospital beyond capacity, everyone is needed here.” Dr. Nooa took a breath and pointed at the desk in front of Hale, “There’s some pen and paper right there. Care to right a note to your family?”
Hale blurted out enthusiastically, “Sure!”
I’m going home! Hale wrote the note to his family and handed it to Dr. Nooa. The older man took the note from Hale and turned to leave. Simultaneously, Astrid entered the room with a tray of food. She stepped around the Doctor’s impressive girth and placed the try on the desk in front of Hale. Hale’s mouth watered at the smell of sausage wafted up from a bowl of steaming hot soup.
“Care for some sausage soup?” Astrid asked, “You need to eat so you can heal.”
“Absolutely!” Hale replied excitedly as his stomach rumbled, reminding him, that he hadn’t eaten in a day.
He quickly lost track of the world around him as he enjoyed the soup, and the rye bread. Simply not having to pay attention was a luxury after several days of being hyper vigilant. As he ate, the Doctor handed Hale’s note to Astrid and said, “Can you take this to Olley and see if he can send one of his boys to the Korhonen farm?”
“Of course, Doctor.” Astrid replied.
After Hale finished his meal, his eyes grew heavy. He pushed the tray to the side, propped his feet on the desk, and fell back asleep. He awoke several hours later. As he opened his eyes, he noticed a middle-aged man standing in the doorway with graying hair. Hale wasn’t sure how long the man had stood there watching him. His eyes widened as he recognized the man and blurted out in surprise, “Dad!”
A middle-aged version of Hale stepped into the room. Behind him, his mother and Aina pushed his father to the side to get a look at him. The moment Aina caught sight of him, she squealed in delight and ran to him. As Hale stood up Aina wrapped her arms around his leg and his mother flung her arms around him and hugged him tightly, “Ouch!” Hale exclaimed.
Hale’s mom took a step back, a look of horror spreading across her face, “I’m sorry! Where are you hurt?”
“In the shoulder. One of the bas-.” Hale cut himself off as he looked down at Aina, “One of the Soviet’s stabbed me.”
“Did you get him?” His father asked.
“Yes father, he will not trouble Finland further.” Hale said.
“I’d like to hear more about your experiences, but not in front of the women.” Hale’s father replied.
“Later then.” Hale said. He kissed his mom on the cheek and then squatted down to look Aina in the eyes, “How have you been little pup?”
“Great! Mother has been teaching me how to bake cookies!” Aina exclaimed.
“Has she now?” Hale replied.
“Yes, and my kitchen has been a disaster.” His mom added.
Hale’s father interrupted, “You can both tell him all about it during the journey home. We must get going, the trip is a long one and it’s nearly dark. Aina shouldn’t be out after the sun goes down. It will be too cold for her.”
“She’ll be just fine underneath the blanket.” Mom snapped.
Hale’s father silently glared back at his wife without replying, “Fine. I guess we shouldn’t keep Hale waiting. We’ll get going, but first they deserve to have the room for a few minutes.”
Mom frowned. She met her husband’s unrelenting glare and said sharply, “Fine.”
Before Hale had a chance to ask what was going on, his family shuffled out of the room and closed the door behind him, That was weird. What’s with them?
A few seconds later the door opened. Standing in the doorway was a young lady with red hair, green eyes, and a huge smile on her face, “Nea!”
Nea ran to him and they embraced, “It’s so good to see you Hale. I’m so happy your coming home!”
He looked down into her green orbs and lost himself. He leaned his head down toward hers and her lips eagerly found his. They kissed for nearly a minute fervently exploring each other’s mouths with their tongues. Breathless Nea took a step back and said, “Let me get a look at you. Where are you hurt?”
“In the right shoulder.” Hale replied.
His eyes slowly looked Nea up and down. His pulse quickened at the sight of the woman he loved. Everything was as he remembered, the log red tresses which touched her perky bosom, narrow waist, rounded hips, slightly bulging belly. Bulging belly, oh my God!
Nea saw Hale’s eyes widened as they came to rest on her mid-section, “Surprise!”
Hale stood still for a moment stunned at this turn of events. As Nea’s brow furrowed and her features began to contort into a look of worry Hale dropped to one knee, took her hands in his, looked up into her eyes and said, “Nea, will you marry me?”
Nea, with tears streaming down her freckled cheeks said, “Yes, Hale.”
The door flung open and Aina ran into the room, embracing them both, “I’m going to be an Aunt!” She exclaimed.
Hale’s parents stepped into the room smiling and said in unison, “Congratulations!”
Hale’s mother, Jenna, turned to the couple and said, “We must plan the wedding quickly, so we can get it done before you have to go back. People will start to talk if Nea gets any larger. Luckily, it’s winter time. With her coat on you can’t tell she’s pregnant yet. Otherwise we would have had to keep her hidden on the farm.”
The Winter Sniper Page 17