Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The killing fields ❯ Chapter 2

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 2
 
 
 
The train came to halt and Major Evans sat up and stretched. He finished and walked down the aisle and off the train. The port city was as busy as ever the streets filled with soldiers. Most of them probably new recruits the Major scanned the crowd and saw someone he recognized. “Sergeant major!”
The Sergeant turned towered the voice almost recognizing it instantly. “Major Evans is that you?”
Evans quickly walked to him. “How are you Major?”
“I'm doing okay how about you?”
“Good I'm surprised your back already?”
“Yes I'm afraid so a little while longer would have been nice. How's the battalion doing?”
“Well we've been pulled back to the reserve trench.”
Evans cut him off. “No I mean casualty figures.”
The Sergeant looked sadly into the Majors eyes and Evans got the impression it wasn't good. “Well we're 150 dead 100 wounded.”
Evans stood thinking of something else to say. “Are the replacements in yet?”
Yes sir they're already in Flanders.”
“Do you need to get to the port?” They both looked up to see a taxi. Evans nodded and he motioned for them to get in. As soon as they sat down the taxi started towered the port.
 
Two days later Major Evans was back in France and the next day back into the trenches. Evans shook hands with the new officers. He spent the next couple days figuring out who had come and gone. The trench was the same as he remembered filled with mud and the bodies of the dead. The stench of decay was constant along with the shelling. And the rain never seemed to stop. The duck boards had little effect and men were constantly pulled off the line with a foot problem. Three days later Evans caught word that the Colonel at the front was to be replaced nobody knew when or why. As the summer drew to close German activity's increased along with it the amount of dead also increased. On September 3 the new colonel arrived. A tall man in his late forties with a walrus mustache he introduced himself as James Frost. Evans heart seemed to stop in mid beat that was the same man he had served with in China. The same man who shot and killed a recruit because his shoe came untied. And all the officers seem to recognize the name too. Colonel Frost shook hands with the officers including Evans who tried not to look shocked. “I'm going to go introduce myself to the men.”
And he walked away. He wasn't gone 15 seconds when sergeant Mcgavern spoke. “was that him?”
A lieutenant Timothy Burton answered. “Yes sergeant that was him. And don't do anything stupid or he might shoot you too.”
Evans took off his helmet and ran his dirty hands through his hair. Suddenly a single shot rang out and Evans was on his feet revolver ready. And a soldier emerged “Sir colonel Frost has been hit!”
Evans followed the young soldier to Frost. He lay on his back the top part of his head blown to bits by a sniper. “What do we do with him major?”
“I'll leave that up to you.”
Evans stared at blood and bone that was once his head. He shook his head and walked back to the dugout. “Well it looks like we need a new Colonel”
Evans told his officers. “What happened?”
Asked Mcgavern. “Sniper got him.”
“Damn snipers always were a nuisance.”
then the field telephone rang. “Sir it's Regiment.”
Evans quickly strode over to the field phone. The officers couldn't tell what the commander was saying. But by the grim line on the Majors face they got the impression that it wasn't good. Then Evans smiled and said. “We'll give them ell sir”
And with that Evans hung up.
 
 
 
“What's going on?”
Asked Burton. “We're being moved to the front line. To reinforce King Company.
Evans walked to the wall map. The enemy has breeched our lines everywhere but here. Notify the men I want everyman combat ready. Full packs and equipment.”
The officers nodded and rushed out to tell the men. The Major stood staring at the map. The Germans would attack what they thought was the weakest part of the line. Major Evans grabbed his gear and some extra pistol cartridges. He knew he'd need them. “Sir the men are ready.”
“Okay move them to the front immediately. Oh and John remember to bring extra ammo for the heavies. John nodded and hurried off.
 
They had made excellent timing making the journey through the winding trenches in an hour. Major Evans immediately filled the gaps in the line with machineguns and extra men. He set boxes of grenades within easy reach for the machine gunners. And had the remaining grenades passed out to the men. He even had them sharpen their bayonets and trench knives if the enemy got into the trench. Evans peered through the field periscope and noticed the activity in the German trench. “They'll attack soon tell the men.”
The normal shelling soon sped up which always signaled an attack it lasted approximately five minutes. And then the rain started but it was just a drizzle. “The winds in our favor.” “What do you mean?”
Asked a new replacement. “No gas, apparently you haven't been here long.”
“No sir got here yesterday.” Timothy Burton was busy looking through the field periscope. “Fritz is fixing bayonets.”
“Have the men stand to.”
“Yes sir. You heard the major lads stand to!”
Tweet! “Hold your fire men!”
The Germans climbed up and over the parapet confident they would break the British line. Some men fired from the hip others zigzagging. They looked like ghosts with their gray uniforms. “Rapid fire!” Evans called and the machineguns came to life. Cutting down the enemy with devastating effect “rifle fire!” Rifles crackled and machine guns swept the barren wasteland. Evans noticed the officer. He seized a rifle from a replacement who ducked as a grenade exploded not far from them. Evans didn't flinch he fired sending a round through the chest of the officer. Blood spurted and he fell. Evans looked to right and noticed with surprise that the Germans were getting close. He grabbed the replacement by the collar. “Find Burton tell him to reinforce the right flank.
Suddenly the man fell and Evans couldn't hear. Clumps of dirt and debris rained down. He grabbed his revolver and a German jumped into the trench. Noticing he wasn't alone the German reached for his knife. Evans fired once twice into the mans gut. He cocked the hammer back and fired once into the mans head. Blood splattering his face. Major Evans stared at the German suddenly feeling sick. Barely aware that his heering had returned. The sound of battle had gone and Evans broke down for the first time in his military career. He wanted out as soon as possible. Sobbing he walked back to the dugout.