The characters of "Combat!" are the property of ABC. No profit is made. Copyright 2004 by Eagle Lady.
One Christmas Eve
The group of four men huddled together on the low hilltop, squinting against the wind and rain whipping into
their faces. The branches of the nearby trees whipped back and forth, making an eerie noise that sent shivers
down their backs.
“Sarge, that looks like a building over there.� Caje commented.
“All right. Let’s check it out.� Saunders turned his collar up, shivering.
Caje hitched his rifle higher on his shoulder and headed down the hill with the others following behind. Carefully,
they investigated the area and moved up to the building. Finding no signs of the Germans, Saunders waved them
inside.
Gratefully moving into the meager shelter of the building, Caje slid down to sit with his back against the wall,
laying his rifle beside him on the floor. He pulled his jacket closer around his neck, trying in vain to keep out the
cold wind swirling in through the many holes in the shattered walls. Doc and Kirby sat down on either side of
him without speaking. Saunders sat down across the way, pulling his helmet off to run a hand through his hair
before dragging the map from his jacket.
“Who’s the genius that said this is the best supplied Army in the world?� Kirby groused, snuggling
down into his jacket.
“Beats me.� Doc replied. “Why?�
“Look at us. We’re dirty, tired, frozen, and haven’t had a hot meal in days.�
“Just rest while you can, Kirby.� Saunders told him wearily.
“How far off are we, Sarge?� Doc asked.
“About a mile and a half, near as I can tell.� Pushing himself to his feet, he crouched in front of his men to
show them the map. “We have to head northwest. Once we find the railroad tracks, we follow them west for
about a mile till we get to what’s left of this village. Home should be just north of there.�
“Can we wait out the storm?� Kirby suggested hopefully while Caje nodded his understanding of the route.
“Fifteen minutes.�
“Sarge…�
“You heard me, Kirby.� Saunders snapped.
Doc and Caje burrowed down into their jackets and closed their eyes while Kirby dug out one of his few
remaining cigarettes. Saunders replaced the map, leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes,
wishing for a hot shower.
“Alright, let’s get moving.� He stretched reluctantly.
“It’s been fifteen minutes already?� Kirby protested.
“Twenty, but who’s counting?� Caje grimaced as he pushed himself to his feet.
Doc checked to make sure his bag was closed and turned toward what used to be the door. “Ready when
you are, Sarge.�
“Caje, take the point.�
With a nod, Caje stepped back out into the rain and wind, almost blown back into the building. The wind was
stronger and the rain was now more ice than water, making it even harder to see, especially in the waning light of
the late afternoon. He just hoped that the Germans had better sense than they did and were staying under cover.
The sleet slowly turned into pure snow as the temperature dropped even further.
He heard a disgusted curse behind him then heard Saunders call for him to stop. Turning, he found Kirby
sprawled on his side in the mud with Doc crouching at his feet.
“What happened?� He asked, shifting his rifle to his left hand and shoving his right deep into his pocket.
“Kirby stepped into a hole.� Doc answered while examining Kirby’s ankle.
“I’m okay, Doc.� Kirby said, pushing Doc away.
“No, you’re not.� Doc countered. “It’s not broken, Sarge, but he twisted it pretty good.�
“Can he walk on it?�
“He’ll need some help.�
“Will you guys quit talking about me like I’m invisible?� Kirby grumbled. “Just give me a hand up
out of this mud.�
Rising, Doc hauled him to his feet and tried to pull Kirby’s arm over his shoulders.
“I’m okay.� Kirby insisted.
He took one step and nearly fell on his face when his ankle buckled.
“Now will you let me help you?� Doc snapped.
“Alright, alright.�
As Doc stepped in to help support Kirby, Caje turned and headed through the snow. Visibility was getting worse
by the minute and he strained to see where he was going, hoping he missed any holes. A few minutes later,
Saunders yelled for him to hold up again. He turned to find both Doc and Kirby on the ground.
“Damn mud.� Kirby was mumbling when he reached them.
“You alright?� Saunders asked.
“Yeah, I think so.� Kirby answered.
“Doc?�
“Yeah.� He started to push himself to his feet, stopping with a grunt of pain. “Maybe not. I twisted my
knee or something. “
“Alright.â€� Saunders slung his weapon over his shoulder and reached down to help the medic to his feet. â
€œCom’on, Doc, I’ll help you.â€�
Caje pulled Kirby up, sliding his arm around the smaller man as they stumbled on into the storm. They were
staggering with cold and weariness when Caje and Kirby, who were in the lead, stopped abruptly. Saunders and
Doc nearly walked right into them.
“What is it?� Saunders asked.
“I think we just walked into a wall.� Caje replied, puzzled.
“A wall?� Saunders squinted into the snow.
“Yeah. A wall - or something hard, anyway. You wanna wait here with these two while I check it out?�
“All right. Be careful, Caje.�
“Yeah.� He helped Kirby lean against the wall then disappeared into the storm.
They waited impatiently, shivering and miserable. Caje suddenly materialized beside them, looking like a walking
snowman. “All clear. There’s a door around the other side.�
“Let’s get out of this snow, then.� Saunders said.
Taking Kirby’s arm, Caje led them around the building and through an open door. He’d found a lantern in
his earlier exploration and had left it lit when he’d gone back for them. The flickering light revealed a small
room, straw piled at one end. There was a pile of stick and small logs in another corner. Amazingly, all four
walls were whole and the roof had only a few small holes.
“Home, sweet home.� Kirby chuckled.
Saunders helped Doc settle into the straw, then turned and helped Kirby join him. Caje looked longingly at the
straw then at Saunders. “Want me to go keep watch outside?� He asked reluctantly.
“Do one circuit, then come back in.�
“Okay.�
While he was gone, Saunders borrowed Kirby’s knife and dug out a small hole in the dirt floor in which he
started a fire. The small room warmed quickly and the men shed their jackets, spreading them out on the straw
to dry. Saunders took all of their canteens, ducked out the door and filled them with snow then set them close
to the fire.
“Let me see your ankle, Kirby.� Doc said.
“Wait till I thaw out, Doc. If you touch it now, it might just break off.�
“Well, Kirby, if it’s that cold, you won’t feel it break off when I touch it.�
“Funny, aren’t you?� Kirby grunted. “Go ahead if it makes you feel better.�
“Thanks, Kirby. It will really make my day to look at your ugly ol’ foot.� Doc chuckled as he gently
unlaced Kirby’s boot and eased it off.
“How bad is it?� Saunders glanced over at them.
“If we were stateside, I’d have his foot propped up and iced for twenty four hours.�
“We’ve got all the comforts of home right here.� Saunders grinned.
Getting to his feet, the sergeant brought a log over and dropped it beside them, picked up Kirby’s helmet and
went outside, returning a moment later with it filled with snow.
“Prop his foot on the log and pack it in the snow.�
“No way!� Kirby protested. “I’m half frozen now. I don’t need no snow packed around my
foot.�
“Shut up, Kirby, and do as you’re told.� Saunders snapped.
Caje returned just as Doc finished packing the snow around the swollen ankle.
“You look comfy.� He grinned.
“Aw, shut up.� Kirby glared at him.
“See anything out there?� Saunders asked.
“Nothing but snow. Visibility is so bad, there could be a whole platoon fifty yards away and I wouldn’t
be able to see them.�
“All right, relax for a while.�
Gratefully, Caje shrugged out of his jacket and sprawled in the straw, asleep in minutes. Kirby looked at him for
a minute then stretched out, himself.
“Doc?�
“Yeah, Sarge?�
“How’s your leg?�
“I’m okay.�
“You want some ice, too?�
“Nope. Just need to rest it for a while.�
“Stretch out and get yourself some sleep, too.�
“What about you?�
“I’m not tired.� Saunders lied cheerfully. “Got too much on my mind right now to sleep. Maybe
later.�
After studying him for a long minute, Doc snuggled down into the straw and closed his eyes. Saunders pulled
out the map again and studied it for a long time, finally dropping it beside him as he leaned back against the wall.
His head dropping down on his chest jerked him awake sometime later. A quick check showed that the men
were still sleeping. He reached for his jacket, somewhat taken aback to find that it was dry. How long had he
slept, he wondered, wishing that he’d checked his watch earlier. Nothing he could do about it now, he
decided as he slipped into the garment. He slipped through the door into the storm, which hadn’t let up at
all. Caje was right-he could just about see his hand in front of his face. Keeping one hand on the wall as he
worked his way around the building so that he didn’t get lost, he eagerly returned to the warmth of the small
room. Caje sat up abruptly, reaching for his rifle.
“Take it easy, Caje. It’s just me. Go back to sleep.�
“I’ll keep watch for awhile, Sarge. You get some rest now.�
Saunders started to protest, then the lure of the warm straw won and he nodded. Caje got to his feet and moved
toward the fire as the sergeant shed his jacket and lay down. When Saunders woke, Caje was gone and Doc and
Kirby were sitting on the other side of the fire. Noticing that he was awake, Kirby grinned and handed him a
mess cup.
“If you try real hard, Sarge, you can almost taste the coffee in it.�
“Where’s Caje?� Saunders asked, sitting up to take the cup.
“He left about five minutes ago to make a security check.� Doc replied.
Saunders nodded and sipped the hot water in the cup. “Is there any coffee in here?� He asked, grimacing.
“Well, yeah, a little. We’re almost out.� Kirby answered.
Getting to his feet, the sergeant stretched then walked around the small room as he finished drinking. The door
opened, admitting a blast of cold air and a swirl of snow as Caje came in.
“How is it out there?� Saunders asked.
“Colder. Still snowing hard. Visibility is non-existent.�
Nodding, Saunders looked at his watch. It was almost 2100 hours. “All right, we’ll just hole up here for
the rest of the night.�
“Hey, you know what today is?� Caje asked as he shed his jacket.
“No.� Kirby asked after thinking about it a moment.
“It’s Christmas Eve.� Caje grinned.
“Huh.� Kirby grunted in surprise. “Merry Christmas.�
Accepting the cup that Doc handed him, Caje sat down with his back against the wall, his feet stretched out
toward the small fire. A few minutes later, the others looked up as Caje began to sing softly, as though to
himself, his eyes closed and his hands cradling the cup in his lap.
“Silent Night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and
mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, Holy night, shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
Silent night Holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from thy Holy face with the dawn of
redeeming grace Jesus Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at thy birth.�
When Caje finished singing, Doc cleared his throat and started singing, joined halfway through by Kirby; Docâ
€™s soft southern tenor voice blending beautifully with Kirby’s.
“Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant ,Oh come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold
him, born the king of angels, Oh come let us adore him, oh come let us adore him Oh come let us adore him,
Christ the lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing with exultations, Sing all ye citizens of heav'n above. Glory to God, in
the highest Yea, Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be glory giv'n Word of the father,
now In flesh appearing. Adeste fideles, laete triumphantes Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte, Regem
anglelorum Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, Dominum.�
Saunders slid down the wall opposite Caje, his gaze on the crackling fire. As the sound of their singing died
away, he shoved his hands into his pockets and his own voice lifted in song. The other three stared at him, awed
by the power of his voice.
“Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in
sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For
yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh night
when Christ was born .Oh night divine Oh night divine. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,With glowing
hearts by His cradle we stand .So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient
land The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend.. Truly He taught us to love
one another. His law is love and His gospel is peace.Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His
name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy
name.�
Each lost in their own thoughts; they sat in silence that was broken by the crash of the door slamming into the
wall. Doc rolled out of the way as Kirby snatched the BAR from the ground between them and aimed it at the
doorway while Caje and Saunders both grabbed their weapons.
Three men, completely covered with snow, staggered into the room, one of them going to his knees. The two
men still standing dropped their rifles to the floor, and one of them pushed the door shut behind them. Shivering
violently, the other brushed snow from his uniform, revealing the German insignia on his jacket.
The man who had fallen to his knees slowly fell over onto his side and curled into a ball, shuddering with cold as
he inched closer to the fire. Without hesitation, Doc scrambled to the fallen man and rolled him onto his back.
There were no obvious wounds, but he was blue with cold. Grabbing him by the arms, Doc dragged him over
to the pile of straw, nestled him into a hollow and covered him with the jackets that lay nearby. The other two
Germans placed their hands on their heads, shivering so violently that Saunders could hear their teeth chatter.
“Get their guns, Caje.�
As soon as Caje had the German rifles safely out of the way, Saunders motioned them to sit close to the fire,
which they did with alacrity. Kirby handed one of them a cup of hot water, drawing a look of total amazement
from the young soldier. The two men shared the hot water, their shivering gradually growing less. One of them
started to reach inside his jacket, stopping instantly when Caje dug his rifle barrel into his chest.
Moving very slowly, the German pantomimed eating, then pointed to his jacket. Caje glanced at Saunders,
received an affirmative nod then nodded to the German. Digging into his jacket, the German pulled out a packet
of coffee and a chocolate bar. The other German carefully reached into a pocket and brought out a box of
rations; both of them handing the items to Doc, who had returned to the fire.
“Do you speak English?� Saunders asked.
“Yes.� One of them stammered, still shivering.
“What are you doing here?�
“We got lost. When it started to snow, we returned to camp. We thought. Are you lost?�
“No. Any more of you out there?�
“Probably. Several patrols were out at the same time. I don’t know where they are.�
“Got any more food?� Kirby asked.
“I think Hans might have.� He indicated the man in the straw.
“Your name?�
“Sergeant Henrich Schultz. This is Eric Wolz. Hans Hansler.�
“I don’t think ol’ Hans wants to share.� Kirby said, drawing their attention to Hans who was
pushing Kirby’s hand away every time he tried to check for more rations.
“Hans!� Schultz snapped, following that with an order in German.
Hans hesitated a moment, then reluctantly reached inside his jacket and pulled out two ration packets, which he
gave to Kirby. Grinning, Kirby tossed them to Doc, who emptied all three packets onto the ground beside the
fire.
“It’s written in German.� Doc said, sounding surprised.
“We are German. Did you think it would be written in Chinese?� Schultz tried to hide a grin.
“Well, what is it?� Caje asked.
“They claim that one is meat. I don’t agree. That one is cheese, that one is crackers.� He answered,
pointing to each in turn.
“Huh!� Kirby grunted. “Some Christmas dinner. I’d rather have roast turkey and all the trimmings.
�
“Christmas?� Schultz looked at him like he was crazy.
“Yeah, Kraut. Today is Christmas Eve, at least for another two and a half hours. That makes tomorrow
Christmas.�
“It can’t be.� Schultz protested. “It’s only mid-December.�
“Sorry, Schultz. Your calendar is slow.� Caje grinned. “He’s right; today is December 24th.�
“Oh. We are still in France, aren’t we?�
“Yeah.� Saunders nodded.
“At least I got that right.�
“Food’s on.� Doc said.
The men gathered around the meager fire, sharing the small amount of food in silence. When they finished, they
moved back, either sitting or lying on the cushioning straw.
“I will miss seeing my wife and children on Christmas morning. There have been no gifts for several years,
yet the children look forward to a few pieces of candy. My wife may have been able to make them some new
clothes, if they are lucky. Your are married, Sergeant?�
“No.� He said shortly.
“You do not wish to hear about my family?�
“No, Schultz, I don’t.�
“Very well. What do you wish to talk about?�
“Nothing. Just be quiet.�
“I see. If you do not know your enemy, it is easier to kill them. My men and I have no wish to continue
fighting. We will gladly become your prisoners.�
“Hey, you got any cigarettes?� Kirby asked suddenly.
“No. I was hoping you did.� Schultz shook his head.
“Caje, keep an eye on them.� Saunders got to his feet and prepared to go outside.
“Sure, Sarge.� Caje nodded.
Saunders opened the door, staggering from the force of the wind and snow that swirled in, then disappeared into
the blanket of white, returning completely covered in snow. Handing Kirby his weapon, Caje led Saunders to a
corner and helped him get his jacket off and settled into a hollow in the hay, piling the other’s jackets on top
of him. Doc poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Caje to give to the shivering soldier.
“Th-thanks.� Saunders said through chattering teeth.
“Not letting up any?� Caje asked.
“Hard to tell. Wind’s up but I can’t tell if it’s still snowing as hard.�
“Looks like we’re stuck here for the night, huh?� Kirby asked.
“Yeah. You and Caje and I will take turns keeping watch.�
“What about me?� Doc asked.
“You get some sleep.�
The three Germans curled up in the hay on one side of the room while Doc and Caje curled up on the other side.
Saunders moved over to where Kirby could reach him and shivered his way into an uneasy sleep.
When he woke in the morning, Caje and Kirby were sleeping, as were the Germans, while Doc sat by the tiny
fire, nursing a cup of coffee and massaging his knee. Glancing over at Saunders, Doc held up a hand to forestall
the angry question he could see coming.
“Caje just laid down half an hour ago, Sarge. I knew you’d be waking up soon. The weapons are all piled
there beside you.�
“And if one of them decided to jump you?� Saunders growled.
“I’d scream bloody murder, that’s what.� Doc grinned. “You want some lousy coffee?�
“I’d even settle for hot water.�
“That’s about what it is.� Doc chuckled, pouring a cup of slightly brown water. “Use your
imagination.�
Saunders took a sip and set the cup down on the floor, grimacing. “I don’t have enough at this time of
the morning. What time is it, anyway?�
“Eight o’clock.�
Saunders got to his feet and stretched, his joints creaking in protest as he stumbled over and shook Kirby awake.
“I’m going out for a look around.�
“Okay, Sarge. Don’t forget to wear your snowsuit.� Kirby grinned as he sat up and reached for a non-
existent cigarette. “Damn.�
Leaving Kirby griping to Doc, Saunders opened the door and stepped out, pulling it shut behind him. He returned
moments later, crossed to Caje and shook him awake.
“I need you outside, Caje.�
“Okay.� Caje grabbed his jacket on his way to his feet, taking the carbine that Kirby handed him, then
followed Saunders outside.
He stopped in his tracks a few feet away from the shed and looked at Saunders, his expression a mixture of
disbelief and wonder. The sky was blue and the sun shone brightly on the thick blanket on snow that covered
the countryside.
“Is that what I think it is?� He asked, pointing down into the small valley.
“Yep. Home.� Saunders nodded.
“You mean we spent a miserable night in that lousy shed when we would have been home in another quarter
mile?� He demanded incredulously.
“Looks that way.� Saunders grinned. “You were leading, remember?�
“Yeah, I guess I was.� Caje agreed. “But I couldn’t see a thing.�
“There is that.� Saunders nodded, then clapped him on the shoulder. “How ‘bout you slog your way
down there and bring back some litters for Kirby and Doc, and some guys to take the prisoners?�
“You gonna tell them?� Caje jerked his head toward the shed behind them.
“Not till you get back.� Saunders chuckled.
Grinning, Caje started away, then turned back. “Hey, Sarge?�
“Yeah?�
“Merry Christmas.�
The End
One Christmas Eve
The group of four men huddled together on the low hilltop, squinting against the wind and rain whipping into
their faces. The branches of the nearby trees whipped back and forth, making an eerie noise that sent shivers
down their backs.
“Sarge, that looks like a building over there.� Caje commented.
“All right. Let’s check it out.� Saunders turned his collar up, shivering.
Caje hitched his rifle higher on his shoulder and headed down the hill with the others following behind. Carefully,
they investigated the area and moved up to the building. Finding no signs of the Germans, Saunders waved them
inside.
Gratefully moving into the meager shelter of the building, Caje slid down to sit with his back against the wall,
laying his rifle beside him on the floor. He pulled his jacket closer around his neck, trying in vain to keep out the
cold wind swirling in through the many holes in the shattered walls. Doc and Kirby sat down on either side of
him without speaking. Saunders sat down across the way, pulling his helmet off to run a hand through his hair
before dragging the map from his jacket.
“Who’s the genius that said this is the best supplied Army in the world?� Kirby groused, snuggling
down into his jacket.
“Beats me.� Doc replied. “Why?�
“Look at us. We’re dirty, tired, frozen, and haven’t had a hot meal in days.�
“Just rest while you can, Kirby.� Saunders told him wearily.
“How far off are we, Sarge?� Doc asked.
“About a mile and a half, near as I can tell.� Pushing himself to his feet, he crouched in front of his men to
show them the map. “We have to head northwest. Once we find the railroad tracks, we follow them west for
about a mile till we get to what’s left of this village. Home should be just north of there.�
“Can we wait out the storm?� Kirby suggested hopefully while Caje nodded his understanding of the route.
“Fifteen minutes.�
“Sarge…�
“You heard me, Kirby.� Saunders snapped.
Doc and Caje burrowed down into their jackets and closed their eyes while Kirby dug out one of his few
remaining cigarettes. Saunders replaced the map, leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes,
wishing for a hot shower.
“Alright, let’s get moving.� He stretched reluctantly.
“It’s been fifteen minutes already?� Kirby protested.
“Twenty, but who’s counting?� Caje grimaced as he pushed himself to his feet.
Doc checked to make sure his bag was closed and turned toward what used to be the door. “Ready when
you are, Sarge.�
“Caje, take the point.�
With a nod, Caje stepped back out into the rain and wind, almost blown back into the building. The wind was
stronger and the rain was now more ice than water, making it even harder to see, especially in the waning light of
the late afternoon. He just hoped that the Germans had better sense than they did and were staying under cover.
The sleet slowly turned into pure snow as the temperature dropped even further.
He heard a disgusted curse behind him then heard Saunders call for him to stop. Turning, he found Kirby
sprawled on his side in the mud with Doc crouching at his feet.
“What happened?� He asked, shifting his rifle to his left hand and shoving his right deep into his pocket.
“Kirby stepped into a hole.� Doc answered while examining Kirby’s ankle.
“I’m okay, Doc.� Kirby said, pushing Doc away.
“No, you’re not.� Doc countered. “It’s not broken, Sarge, but he twisted it pretty good.�
“Can he walk on it?�
“He’ll need some help.�
“Will you guys quit talking about me like I’m invisible?� Kirby grumbled. “Just give me a hand up
out of this mud.�
Rising, Doc hauled him to his feet and tried to pull Kirby’s arm over his shoulders.
“I’m okay.� Kirby insisted.
He took one step and nearly fell on his face when his ankle buckled.
“Now will you let me help you?� Doc snapped.
“Alright, alright.�
As Doc stepped in to help support Kirby, Caje turned and headed through the snow. Visibility was getting worse
by the minute and he strained to see where he was going, hoping he missed any holes. A few minutes later,
Saunders yelled for him to hold up again. He turned to find both Doc and Kirby on the ground.
“Damn mud.� Kirby was mumbling when he reached them.
“You alright?� Saunders asked.
“Yeah, I think so.� Kirby answered.
“Doc?�
“Yeah.� He started to push himself to his feet, stopping with a grunt of pain. “Maybe not. I twisted my
knee or something. “
“Alright.â€� Saunders slung his weapon over his shoulder and reached down to help the medic to his feet. â
€œCom’on, Doc, I’ll help you.â€�
Caje pulled Kirby up, sliding his arm around the smaller man as they stumbled on into the storm. They were
staggering with cold and weariness when Caje and Kirby, who were in the lead, stopped abruptly. Saunders and
Doc nearly walked right into them.
“What is it?� Saunders asked.
“I think we just walked into a wall.� Caje replied, puzzled.
“A wall?� Saunders squinted into the snow.
“Yeah. A wall - or something hard, anyway. You wanna wait here with these two while I check it out?�
“All right. Be careful, Caje.�
“Yeah.� He helped Kirby lean against the wall then disappeared into the storm.
They waited impatiently, shivering and miserable. Caje suddenly materialized beside them, looking like a walking
snowman. “All clear. There’s a door around the other side.�
“Let’s get out of this snow, then.� Saunders said.
Taking Kirby’s arm, Caje led them around the building and through an open door. He’d found a lantern in
his earlier exploration and had left it lit when he’d gone back for them. The flickering light revealed a small
room, straw piled at one end. There was a pile of stick and small logs in another corner. Amazingly, all four
walls were whole and the roof had only a few small holes.
“Home, sweet home.� Kirby chuckled.
Saunders helped Doc settle into the straw, then turned and helped Kirby join him. Caje looked longingly at the
straw then at Saunders. “Want me to go keep watch outside?� He asked reluctantly.
“Do one circuit, then come back in.�
“Okay.�
While he was gone, Saunders borrowed Kirby’s knife and dug out a small hole in the dirt floor in which he
started a fire. The small room warmed quickly and the men shed their jackets, spreading them out on the straw
to dry. Saunders took all of their canteens, ducked out the door and filled them with snow then set them close
to the fire.
“Let me see your ankle, Kirby.� Doc said.
“Wait till I thaw out, Doc. If you touch it now, it might just break off.�
“Well, Kirby, if it’s that cold, you won’t feel it break off when I touch it.�
“Funny, aren’t you?� Kirby grunted. “Go ahead if it makes you feel better.�
“Thanks, Kirby. It will really make my day to look at your ugly ol’ foot.� Doc chuckled as he gently
unlaced Kirby’s boot and eased it off.
“How bad is it?� Saunders glanced over at them.
“If we were stateside, I’d have his foot propped up and iced for twenty four hours.�
“We’ve got all the comforts of home right here.� Saunders grinned.
Getting to his feet, the sergeant brought a log over and dropped it beside them, picked up Kirby’s helmet and
went outside, returning a moment later with it filled with snow.
“Prop his foot on the log and pack it in the snow.�
“No way!� Kirby protested. “I’m half frozen now. I don’t need no snow packed around my
foot.�
“Shut up, Kirby, and do as you’re told.� Saunders snapped.
Caje returned just as Doc finished packing the snow around the swollen ankle.
“You look comfy.� He grinned.
“Aw, shut up.� Kirby glared at him.
“See anything out there?� Saunders asked.
“Nothing but snow. Visibility is so bad, there could be a whole platoon fifty yards away and I wouldn’t
be able to see them.�
“All right, relax for a while.�
Gratefully, Caje shrugged out of his jacket and sprawled in the straw, asleep in minutes. Kirby looked at him for
a minute then stretched out, himself.
“Doc?�
“Yeah, Sarge?�
“How’s your leg?�
“I’m okay.�
“You want some ice, too?�
“Nope. Just need to rest it for a while.�
“Stretch out and get yourself some sleep, too.�
“What about you?�
“I’m not tired.� Saunders lied cheerfully. “Got too much on my mind right now to sleep. Maybe
later.�
After studying him for a long minute, Doc snuggled down into the straw and closed his eyes. Saunders pulled
out the map again and studied it for a long time, finally dropping it beside him as he leaned back against the wall.
His head dropping down on his chest jerked him awake sometime later. A quick check showed that the men
were still sleeping. He reached for his jacket, somewhat taken aback to find that it was dry. How long had he
slept, he wondered, wishing that he’d checked his watch earlier. Nothing he could do about it now, he
decided as he slipped into the garment. He slipped through the door into the storm, which hadn’t let up at
all. Caje was right-he could just about see his hand in front of his face. Keeping one hand on the wall as he
worked his way around the building so that he didn’t get lost, he eagerly returned to the warmth of the small
room. Caje sat up abruptly, reaching for his rifle.
“Take it easy, Caje. It’s just me. Go back to sleep.�
“I’ll keep watch for awhile, Sarge. You get some rest now.�
Saunders started to protest, then the lure of the warm straw won and he nodded. Caje got to his feet and moved
toward the fire as the sergeant shed his jacket and lay down. When Saunders woke, Caje was gone and Doc and
Kirby were sitting on the other side of the fire. Noticing that he was awake, Kirby grinned and handed him a
mess cup.
“If you try real hard, Sarge, you can almost taste the coffee in it.�
“Where’s Caje?� Saunders asked, sitting up to take the cup.
“He left about five minutes ago to make a security check.� Doc replied.
Saunders nodded and sipped the hot water in the cup. “Is there any coffee in here?� He asked, grimacing.
“Well, yeah, a little. We’re almost out.� Kirby answered.
Getting to his feet, the sergeant stretched then walked around the small room as he finished drinking. The door
opened, admitting a blast of cold air and a swirl of snow as Caje came in.
“How is it out there?� Saunders asked.
“Colder. Still snowing hard. Visibility is non-existent.�
Nodding, Saunders looked at his watch. It was almost 2100 hours. “All right, we’ll just hole up here for
the rest of the night.�
“Hey, you know what today is?� Caje asked as he shed his jacket.
“No.� Kirby asked after thinking about it a moment.
“It’s Christmas Eve.� Caje grinned.
“Huh.� Kirby grunted in surprise. “Merry Christmas.�
Accepting the cup that Doc handed him, Caje sat down with his back against the wall, his feet stretched out
toward the small fire. A few minutes later, the others looked up as Caje began to sing softly, as though to
himself, his eyes closed and his hands cradling the cup in his lap.
“Silent Night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and
mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, Holy night, shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
Silent night Holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from thy Holy face with the dawn of
redeeming grace Jesus Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at thy birth.�
When Caje finished singing, Doc cleared his throat and started singing, joined halfway through by Kirby; Docâ
€™s soft southern tenor voice blending beautifully with Kirby’s.
“Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant ,Oh come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold
him, born the king of angels, Oh come let us adore him, oh come let us adore him Oh come let us adore him,
Christ the lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing with exultations, Sing all ye citizens of heav'n above. Glory to God, in
the highest Yea, Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be glory giv'n Word of the father,
now In flesh appearing. Adeste fideles, laete triumphantes Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte, Regem
anglelorum Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, Dominum.�
Saunders slid down the wall opposite Caje, his gaze on the crackling fire. As the sound of their singing died
away, he shoved his hands into his pockets and his own voice lifted in song. The other three stared at him, awed
by the power of his voice.
“Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in
sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For
yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh night
when Christ was born .Oh night divine Oh night divine. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,With glowing
hearts by His cradle we stand .So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient
land The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend.. Truly He taught us to love
one another. His law is love and His gospel is peace.Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His
name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy
name.�
Each lost in their own thoughts; they sat in silence that was broken by the crash of the door slamming into the
wall. Doc rolled out of the way as Kirby snatched the BAR from the ground between them and aimed it at the
doorway while Caje and Saunders both grabbed their weapons.
Three men, completely covered with snow, staggered into the room, one of them going to his knees. The two
men still standing dropped their rifles to the floor, and one of them pushed the door shut behind them. Shivering
violently, the other brushed snow from his uniform, revealing the German insignia on his jacket.
The man who had fallen to his knees slowly fell over onto his side and curled into a ball, shuddering with cold as
he inched closer to the fire. Without hesitation, Doc scrambled to the fallen man and rolled him onto his back.
There were no obvious wounds, but he was blue with cold. Grabbing him by the arms, Doc dragged him over
to the pile of straw, nestled him into a hollow and covered him with the jackets that lay nearby. The other two
Germans placed their hands on their heads, shivering so violently that Saunders could hear their teeth chatter.
“Get their guns, Caje.�
As soon as Caje had the German rifles safely out of the way, Saunders motioned them to sit close to the fire,
which they did with alacrity. Kirby handed one of them a cup of hot water, drawing a look of total amazement
from the young soldier. The two men shared the hot water, their shivering gradually growing less. One of them
started to reach inside his jacket, stopping instantly when Caje dug his rifle barrel into his chest.
Moving very slowly, the German pantomimed eating, then pointed to his jacket. Caje glanced at Saunders,
received an affirmative nod then nodded to the German. Digging into his jacket, the German pulled out a packet
of coffee and a chocolate bar. The other German carefully reached into a pocket and brought out a box of
rations; both of them handing the items to Doc, who had returned to the fire.
“Do you speak English?� Saunders asked.
“Yes.� One of them stammered, still shivering.
“What are you doing here?�
“We got lost. When it started to snow, we returned to camp. We thought. Are you lost?�
“No. Any more of you out there?�
“Probably. Several patrols were out at the same time. I don’t know where they are.�
“Got any more food?� Kirby asked.
“I think Hans might have.� He indicated the man in the straw.
“Your name?�
“Sergeant Henrich Schultz. This is Eric Wolz. Hans Hansler.�
“I don’t think ol’ Hans wants to share.� Kirby said, drawing their attention to Hans who was
pushing Kirby’s hand away every time he tried to check for more rations.
“Hans!� Schultz snapped, following that with an order in German.
Hans hesitated a moment, then reluctantly reached inside his jacket and pulled out two ration packets, which he
gave to Kirby. Grinning, Kirby tossed them to Doc, who emptied all three packets onto the ground beside the
fire.
“It’s written in German.� Doc said, sounding surprised.
“We are German. Did you think it would be written in Chinese?� Schultz tried to hide a grin.
“Well, what is it?� Caje asked.
“They claim that one is meat. I don’t agree. That one is cheese, that one is crackers.� He answered,
pointing to each in turn.
“Huh!� Kirby grunted. “Some Christmas dinner. I’d rather have roast turkey and all the trimmings.
�
“Christmas?� Schultz looked at him like he was crazy.
“Yeah, Kraut. Today is Christmas Eve, at least for another two and a half hours. That makes tomorrow
Christmas.�
“It can’t be.� Schultz protested. “It’s only mid-December.�
“Sorry, Schultz. Your calendar is slow.� Caje grinned. “He’s right; today is December 24th.�
“Oh. We are still in France, aren’t we?�
“Yeah.� Saunders nodded.
“At least I got that right.�
“Food’s on.� Doc said.
The men gathered around the meager fire, sharing the small amount of food in silence. When they finished, they
moved back, either sitting or lying on the cushioning straw.
“I will miss seeing my wife and children on Christmas morning. There have been no gifts for several years,
yet the children look forward to a few pieces of candy. My wife may have been able to make them some new
clothes, if they are lucky. Your are married, Sergeant?�
“No.� He said shortly.
“You do not wish to hear about my family?�
“No, Schultz, I don’t.�
“Very well. What do you wish to talk about?�
“Nothing. Just be quiet.�
“I see. If you do not know your enemy, it is easier to kill them. My men and I have no wish to continue
fighting. We will gladly become your prisoners.�
“Hey, you got any cigarettes?� Kirby asked suddenly.
“No. I was hoping you did.� Schultz shook his head.
“Caje, keep an eye on them.� Saunders got to his feet and prepared to go outside.
“Sure, Sarge.� Caje nodded.
Saunders opened the door, staggering from the force of the wind and snow that swirled in, then disappeared into
the blanket of white, returning completely covered in snow. Handing Kirby his weapon, Caje led Saunders to a
corner and helped him get his jacket off and settled into a hollow in the hay, piling the other’s jackets on top
of him. Doc poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Caje to give to the shivering soldier.
“Th-thanks.� Saunders said through chattering teeth.
“Not letting up any?� Caje asked.
“Hard to tell. Wind’s up but I can’t tell if it’s still snowing as hard.�
“Looks like we’re stuck here for the night, huh?� Kirby asked.
“Yeah. You and Caje and I will take turns keeping watch.�
“What about me?� Doc asked.
“You get some sleep.�
The three Germans curled up in the hay on one side of the room while Doc and Caje curled up on the other side.
Saunders moved over to where Kirby could reach him and shivered his way into an uneasy sleep.
When he woke in the morning, Caje and Kirby were sleeping, as were the Germans, while Doc sat by the tiny
fire, nursing a cup of coffee and massaging his knee. Glancing over at Saunders, Doc held up a hand to forestall
the angry question he could see coming.
“Caje just laid down half an hour ago, Sarge. I knew you’d be waking up soon. The weapons are all piled
there beside you.�
“And if one of them decided to jump you?� Saunders growled.
“I’d scream bloody murder, that’s what.� Doc grinned. “You want some lousy coffee?�
“I’d even settle for hot water.�
“That’s about what it is.� Doc chuckled, pouring a cup of slightly brown water. “Use your
imagination.�
Saunders took a sip and set the cup down on the floor, grimacing. “I don’t have enough at this time of
the morning. What time is it, anyway?�
“Eight o’clock.�
Saunders got to his feet and stretched, his joints creaking in protest as he stumbled over and shook Kirby awake.
“I’m going out for a look around.�
“Okay, Sarge. Don’t forget to wear your snowsuit.� Kirby grinned as he sat up and reached for a non-
existent cigarette. “Damn.�
Leaving Kirby griping to Doc, Saunders opened the door and stepped out, pulling it shut behind him. He returned
moments later, crossed to Caje and shook him awake.
“I need you outside, Caje.�
“Okay.� Caje grabbed his jacket on his way to his feet, taking the carbine that Kirby handed him, then
followed Saunders outside.
He stopped in his tracks a few feet away from the shed and looked at Saunders, his expression a mixture of
disbelief and wonder. The sky was blue and the sun shone brightly on the thick blanket on snow that covered
the countryside.
“Is that what I think it is?� He asked, pointing down into the small valley.
“Yep. Home.� Saunders nodded.
“You mean we spent a miserable night in that lousy shed when we would have been home in another quarter
mile?� He demanded incredulously.
“Looks that way.� Saunders grinned. “You were leading, remember?�
“Yeah, I guess I was.� Caje agreed. “But I couldn’t see a thing.�
“There is that.� Saunders nodded, then clapped him on the shoulder. “How ‘bout you slog your way
down there and bring back some litters for Kirby and Doc, and some guys to take the prisoners?�
“You gonna tell them?� Caje jerked his head toward the shed behind them.
“Not till you get back.� Saunders chuckled.
Grinning, Caje started away, then turned back. “Hey, Sarge?�
“Yeah?�
“Merry Christmas.�
The End