Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The killing fields ❯ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

From noon till dusk the Germans continued to attack and every time Major Evans battalion heroically held the line. Losing many men, but by dark the attacks had ceased. And the only noise was that of the wounded. Within a day of the short battle the news papers claimed an entire German army had been repelled by a single division. They beat them back but an entire German army not true. The press always angered Evans they made false stories that were far from the truth. For the public interest they over exaggerated. They made it seem that this war wasn't what it was. And Evans hated it, hated every thing the press did. Hated every thing the press stood for during a war. He thought the people needed to know the truth about what was going on. But the major was powerless to stop it. That night he wrote to her telling her the truth about what happened. She would listen she knew the press was not telling the truth. All he could do now was hope in future wars the press would be honest. That the next war wouldn't be as horrible.

 

When John woke up he found Major Evans on the field phone with regiment. “Yes sir I understand.”

Evans waited till the general hung up and threw the phone against the wall. “What happened?”

Asked John. “They refused to put us on leave, the men have been on the line to long they're going to get battle fatigue. You and I are the only ones who can handle the pressure. And now I'm close to cracking.”

“Major Evans you can't crack now, these men need a confident leader.”

Evans turned away.

“That confident leader is you. No replacement can replace you.”

“Well no one can replace Ted or any body else in this fucking place.”

John had no response to that. “Sir they need you.”

Evans quickly turned grabbing John by the collars and slammed him against the wall. “Don't you get it I can't perform my duty! I can't do it!”

“George if you don't lead these men they will die and their blood will be on your hands. Now you give that some thought.”

Evans let go of John. He gave Evans a final sharp glance and walked out. Major Evans stared after him long after he was gone. Then he turned and punched the table so hard it cracked. He didn't know whether he felt pain. The Major was to lost in thought. Finally Major Evans concluded he must lead these men. But he knew they would all die along with him. There was no escaping death in no mans land. They weren't safe even in the trenches. Ted was proof of that. They would all die one way or another and there was no escaping it. The only question was when and where.

 

Evans stepped out into the cool rain. “Sir message from regiment. They want a patrol tonight to fix the barbed wire.”

Evans stared at the youthful face knowing if he went he would certainly die. Who do you want for the patrol sir?”

Silently he pointed at ten men he didn't even know. Then said.

“Sergeant Mcgavern will lead tonight. Tell the men.”

Yes sir.”

The youth ran off and like a good messenger delivered the message. And at mid night they were ready.