In Love and In War
Part Two:
Sergeant Zeke Anderson kept his eyes and ears open as he waved the platoon forward. Intelligence had reports of Charlie in the area.
"Sergeant," Lieutenant Goldman drew his attention. "Our helicopter should be just beyond these trees."
"If we don't get Miss Douglas out without a scratch we'll probably all be escorted to the nearest VC prison by General Douglas himself." Zeke responded with an easy smile.
In truth Zeke hated rescue missions, there was always the chance that they wouldn't make it in time and the disappointment of not succeeding could be devastating. Although, with three tours of duty under his belt, Zeke knew that if they got to Glorianna Douglas before Charlie did then their chances of getting her back to base safely would be in their favor.
As a child Zeke had never done very well in school, so he voluntarily enlisted for the army rather than wait for a draft notice. He had quickly discovered he had a knack for soldiering and made a good career for himself. However even he knew that three tours was pushing it. Zeke told himself that he was doing his duty, and that he was sticking with his buddies but in the back of his mind was a sneaking suspicion that he may be using the repeated tours as a way to escape the pain of his divorce.
No one said another word as the platoon made their way through the jungle. They did their job quickly and efficiently. A result most would say of having the best sergeant in Vietnam. But to Zeke it was just a matter of luck and a strong desire to stay alive.
When the platoon reached the treeline Lieutenant Goldman called for a halt. The downed helicopter was about one hundred yards away with no apparent signs of life. Not really surprising, because any survivors would be smart enough not to leave the relative safety of the helicopter.
"What do you think sergeant?" Goldman asked. This was his first tour of duty and his first assignment since graduation from West Point so although Goldman was in command he often relied on the advice of his older and more experienced sergeant.
"Looks as safe as it's going to be with Charlie in the area," Zeke replied.
Goldman nodded and turned to his radioman.
"Alpha Tango Zulu," Goldman spoke into the receiver, "this is Red Fox One, we have spotted the bird, repeat we have spotted the bird. Over."
Goldman got a response, and the go ahead to proceed.
"Alright everyone listen up," Goldman addressed the platoon. "Sergeant, you Percell, Baker, and Johnson will approach the helicopter. The rest of us will provide necessary cover."
Zeke and his men approached the helicopter cautiously and quietly. He was in the lead and he let the muzzle of his M-16 be the first thing to enter the helicopter. In an almost mirror movement an M-16 muzzle came from the recesses of the helicopter. The rest of his team came forward and immediately took aim.
"We're Americans! Hold your fire!" Zeke shouted into the helicopter.
"Prove it," a female voice called back. "Who holds the record for the most home runs in the nineteen sixty one season?"
Zeke only hesitated a minute before answering. "Well now that would be Roger Maris with sixty one homers."
The gun muzzle was retracted and replaced by the woman herself. "Boy am I glad to see you guys."
Zeke didn't believe his eyes. After all you don't find things this beautiful in the jungle, and there was no doubting that Glorianna Douglas was beautiful. She was average height and exquisitely proportioned. Her clothes were combat fatigues, marred only by blood splatters and a bandage around her left thigh. The olive green color actually seemed to compliment her gray eyes and chestnut brown hair. Her hair was incredibly long, even in a braid it fell to her hips.
Zeke was sure he could be content to stare at Glorianna for the rest of the war but unfortunately Charlie would just as soon kill you as look at you so they had to get moving.
"You are Glorianna Douglas?" he asked, not that he wasn't sure that was exactly who she was.
The woman nodded.
"Is anyone else alive?"
"No."
"Percell, Baker get the bodies. Johnson grab the maps, codebooks, and all the ammo you can carry. Glorianna get your gear. Move people move."
Everyone carried out their orders with the speed and efficiency expected of them and within minutes they were leaving the clearing.
Zeke noticed Glorianna grimace a bit as they walked but he couldn't do anything for her until they reached the safety of the trees and the medic. However he did shoulder her duffel bag.
When they reached the rest of the platoon Goldman took one look at the bodies and Glorianna and shook his head. He then asked what was probably the most important question for the US army.
"Were the codes compromised?"
Glorianna shook her head.
It seemed to Zeke that the longer the war continued, the more it became focused on codes and deception, and less on actual military maneuvers. Unfortunately this line of thinking tended to ignore the human costs involved.
"She's hurt LT," Zeke said, then he spotted the medic. "Turner get over here."
Turner hurried over already pulling stuff out of his bag. When he knelt down beside Glorianna he removed her bandage. He then took a few moments to examine the wound and pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol.
"Hold onto her Sarge while I clean it." Then he turned to Glorianna. "This is going to sting a little."
Zeke did as he was told and took a steadying grip on her upper arms. When he noticed that her eyes were directed down towards her wound he released one of her arms and used his hand to apply gentle pressure on her chin so that her gaze met his. He wasn't wrong before her eyes were beautiful, and up close like this they look more like silver than gray. He wanted very badly to tell her that but this was neither the time nor place. He also wanted her very badly but she may as well be an untouchable goddess because he was pretty sure that general's daughters did not associate with grunts. So for the second time today he had to force his mind back to the matter at hand.
"Don't look at it or I'll be picking you off the jungle floor." He said simply because he wanted to talk to her.
"I wouldn't dream of fainting," Glorianna responded with a smile, which quickly turned to a grimace as Turner poured the alcohol on her wound.
It was over almost as quickly as it had started.
"Thank you," Glorianna said to Turner.
"Not a problem," he replied as he finished applying a new bandage.
As soon as everything was finished Goldman gave the order to move out.
The first shots sent everyone scrambling for cover.
"Oh great not again," Glorianna muttered to herself. This was really getting tiring, but she was fast getting a healthy respect for the plight of the infantry.
Around her the Lieutenant and Sergeant Anderson were shouting orders to engage the enemy. She had no idea what to do so she decided it would be best to stick close to Sergeant Anderson. Not that that would be a problem, she could spend the rest of her life staying close to him. Everything about him appealed to her. He was taller than her, and all hardness and muscle, and Glorianna was a sucker for all hardness and muscle. His hair was short and black but his eyes however were a mystery to her, at first she thought they were brown but at times she caught hints of green.
When Glorianna reached his side he did no more than spare her a glance. There was no time for anything else because the VC were almost on top of them.
It occurred to her at this point it would probably be a good idea to bring out her pistol. She was a little apprehensive because although she had be handling guns since she was thirteen and had even shot animals when it was necessary, she had never shot another person before.
Taking a deep breath she took aim and fired. Everything that happened after that was a blur, but in less time than she would have expected it was over.
Glorianna just stood there, taking deep shuddering breaths. She wanted to run out of the jungle screaming, but she couldn't seem to make her feet move. She never ever wanted to do that again.
"Glorianna are you alright?" Sergeant Anderson asked.
She didn't answer him because her attention was fixed on a VC taking aim at him. Without thinking she raised her pistol, took aim and fired. Her aim was true, and the VC fell.
Sergeant Anderson had turned around the second she had fired and had also seen the VC fall. "Well damn lady you've got yourself one good trigger finger. Thanks for the save."
"What?" Glorianna broke out of her trance. "Oh um you're welcome."
"You're ok?"
"Um yeah sure," Glorianna offered him a small smile and ran a hand through her already mused hair.
Zeke didn't look like he believed her, but he was called away before he could say anything more.
She was going to have to spend the night in the jungle. The only way this wretched day could get any worse would be if she was struck by lightening. A quick look at the sky showed no trace of clouds.
To keep from dwelling on her misery, she talked with the soldiers. Their thirst for news from home was insatiable, and Glorianna was all too happy to keep talking. One by one however, those who were not assigned to watch fell asleep.
Sleep for her was not to be, because even if she wasn't scared, it was getting damn cold and her jacket was oh so conveniently still on the helicopter.
In an effort to keep warm, Glorianna started pacing around the makeshift camp. Her leg was really starting to pain her but she was determined not to succumb to it. Her pacing took her near to Sergeant Anderson whom she couldn't help but notice was also still awake.
"Glorianna, there's nothing to be afraid of," he said to her.
Glorianna stopped her pacing and went to stand in front of him. He looked very relaxed with his back propped up against a tree and his M-16 resting across his lap.
"I'm not scared Sergeant," she lied. She may admit fear to herself but never to others.
Zeke looked amused by that. "Call me Zeke, and do you like the pain of walking wounded?"
She felt like kicking him but that would hurt too.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that Douglas' are allowed to be scared too?" Zeke asked.
"We all had it marched out of us by the time we were six years old," she teased.
Suddenly Glorianna didn't want to stand anymore, and the ground beside him looked ever so inviting. Never one to resist temptation, Glorianna sat down beside him.
"How long have you been here Zeke?" she asked.
"This is my third tour."
Glorianna didn't know what to say to that so she said nothing at all. While they sat there in silence the cold crept up on her again, and she started shivering.
Zeke noticed. "Cold?"
"Yes."
"My gosh the lady admits something at last," he teased.
Glorianna smiled in spite of her shivers. She was going to say something but before she got a chance Zeke put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"Better?" he asked.
"Much. Zeke?"
"Yeah."
"I was lying I am scared."
She didn't have the faintest idea why she told him that, but for some reason she felt she could trust him, and in her mind to trust someone meant you didn't lie to them.
"I won't let anyone hurt you," Zeke reassured her, and gave her a small squeeze.
Glorianna looked at him startled, no one except her family had ever made a promise like that to her before. She thought it was incredibly sweet, and before her courage deserted her she kissed Zeke softly on the cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered after.
A little embarrassed, Glorianna looked up towards the sky, not wanting to draw anymore attention to her actions. She could see the moon and some stars, but for the life of her she couldn't find the North Star.
"I can't find the North Star," she voiced her thoughts to Zeke.
Zeke followed her gaze up into the sky. "Not surprising these damn trees cover everything."
"When I'm on my spread back home in Montana as long as it's not cloudy I can always find the North Star, and I never feel lost or alone."
"I feel the same way when I'm fishing in the Rockies. What do you do back in Montana?"
"I'm a rancher by choice and a code breaker by design."
Try as she might, Glorianna could feel herself giving into sleep. She felt warm and safe, so she let it claim her.
Zeke continued to hold her, even when her steady, rhythmic breathing told him she was asleep.
The lady was tough; he'd give her that. He knew plenty of soldiers that wouldn't have come through her day as well as Glorianna had. He really shouldn't be surprised after all she was a Douglas, and as the saying went, "Washington may have created the America, but it was a Douglas that created the Army."
Zeke touched his cheek where Glorianna kissed him and he thought of the irony of their situation. As an enlisted man he was not supposed to fraternize with officers, let alone even think about fraternizing with General's daughters. But he didn't care, Glorianna was worth it, and he was pretty sure she didn't care either.
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