We reached the end of the trench and I was relieved to look up and see that we were indeed now under the cover of trees.
“What are we waiting for?” I whispered to Mac as we stood, crouched down, no longer moving.
He placed a finger to his lips and watched the other man who was staring back the way we’d just come. Looking over Mac’s shoulder, I saw three soldiers peeking out of the trench, two with binoculars, all with rifles. One had his hand out in a “stop” signal. He started to move it into a thumbs-up and then all three moved, taking aim, three shots ringing out as one.
“Go!”
I didn’t see who said it, I just reacted, scrambling out of the trench with Mac and the other man and hurrying into the trees, my gun clutched in my sweaty hand, my heart racing as I tried to keep up.
I looked back only once. I could see our plane parked haphazardly in the water, where it would most likely remain abandoned for days if not weeks, the surf lapping at its wheels, and bodies. So many bodies. They littered the sand between the enemy and the trench they’d so desperately run to, their luck running out as bullets pierced their skin and stopped their hearts. I’d never seen a battlefield, I’d only seen the aftermath as the men who’d fought were loaded onto a plane for me to keep watch over. I ached for those slain on this beach, their blood staining the white sand where they’d fallen. I wondered if I’d had the chance, could I have saved any of them?
“Eyes front,” Mac said from behind me and I turned my eyes from the dead and hurried on.
Every so often we’d stop and listen, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I was sure the men could hear it. After a moment or two of silence, we’d press on until we came into a clearing and I saw the familiar buildings.
“You okay?” Mac asked as I stood rooted to the ground, my body reverberating from the sounds of gunshots inches away.
I nodded. “I think so.”
“I’m gonna see about transport out of here. We’ll likely have to wait until one of the other planes flies in and hitch a ride back with them. Where you gonna be?”
I pointed to the hospital.
Mac chuckled. “Of course. It was a silly question. Get yourself some food first though.”
“Yessir,” I said, stowing my pistol and heading for the mess hall as he loped toward the airfield.
The smell of coffee hit me as soon as I walked in the door and I smiled wearily at a few familiar faces as I grabbed a cup and a tray and made my way through the food options before taking a seat at one of the tables and taking a bite of oatmeal, my eyes drifting closed. I was still sitting there, my food half-eaten and cold, when Mac came to find me.
“Kate?”
I opened my eyes and stared up at him.
“Yeah?” I said, covering my mouth as I yawned.
“Our ride should be here in a couple hours. I’m gonna grab a bunk somewhere and get some shut-eye. Meet you at the airfield?”
“See you there.”
I got to my feet and grabbed my tray, placing the dishes in the dirty bin and stacking the tray before heading to the hospital and offering to lend a hand. I met some of the soldiers I was supposed to have flown out, plus a few others who would recover here and return to the front.
“Heard you had a harrowing flight in.”
I looked up and smiled wearily at the familiar face of Dr. Haddan, the head doctor on base.
“The flight wasn’t so bad,” I said. “But the landing could’ve been better. Sorry we weren’t able to get the patients out.”
“Not your fault. Just glad you’re okay and not another body on my roster.”
I gave him a grim smile and then went back to helping with the patients.
Two hours later I’d assisted in a surgery, packed three wounds, had been bled out on, and had drained an infected injury. By the time our ride out had landed, I’d showered and was dressed in a fresh set of scrubs a size too big for me.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”
I glanced up from the chart I was scanning into the cheerful face of Char. I gave her a weary smile and then bent to reroll my pant leg.
“Heard you had a rough flight in,” she said.
