Free Screaming Eagles (The Front, Book 1) by David Moody, Craig DiLouie, Timothy W. Long Page A

go around, so the Sergeant had probably traded something to get his.
    “They got one new guy, and I’m not sure when the rest of the replacements will be along. Germans caught us with our damn pants down. We’ve got Panzers all along the front line, and infantry advancing on our position,” Taylor said.
    He tossed his cigarette and ground the butt into the snow with his boot.
    The two men ducked when more fire erupted from the front line. Wayne and Cooper picked that moment to get back in the action and ran toward the shooting.
    “Thing about Airborne, they go looking for trouble,” Captain Taylor said, nodded at the company's Sergeant.
    “Wouldn’t know it, but those two argue like brothers. One time Wayne said something about Jake LaMotta that Cooper didn’t like. You’d have though they were insulting each other’s mothers. Had to pull ‘em apart.”
    More rounds kicked up dirt and snow, forcing the two men to drop low.
    “What’s this about a weird German?”
    “Oh. That shell-shocked Kraut? He tried to attack one of the guys guarding him and got shot. Sorry about that, I know we’re supposed to take prisoners and all. Thing is, Captain, word’s been spreading about…”
    “I know what’s been spreading. Guess the talk is all about Malmade?”
    “So it’s true?” the Sergeant asked.
    “It is. Sad to say. I should tell you, officially, that we treat prisoners the same way we’ve always treated them.”
    “I can say those words, but the boys are already talking about killing every SS they come across,” the Sergeant said. “They massacred our boys. Lined them up in the goddamn snow and shot them down. That deserves payback.”
    Captain Taylor tried to think of an argument.
    “So the Kraut with white eyes, do I need to take a look, Sergeant, or are we done here?”
    “That Kraut's dead. Thought he was gone the first time, but then he got up and attacked Hansen. Bit him. Weirdest thing I’ve seen.”
    “War’ll make you crazy,” Captain Taylor said. “Is Hansen alright?”
    “I think so. He said it wasn’t bad. He took some shrapnel at Normandy and shook it off. I guess a little bite ain’t gonna kill him. He’s huddled up in one of the foxholes if you want to talk to him” the Sergeant said. “Oh, sir, before you go. I’m sure things are bleak, but we sure could use some ammo and bandages.”
    Captain Taylor ducked as another mortar sailed through the air but overshot their position. It wouldn’t take long for the Germans to zero in on them though. The round exploded fifty feet behind them, dangerously close to Betsy.
    “I’m sure Hansen’s fine,” Taylor said. “I’ve issued orders to resupply ASAP. We didn’t expect to be back in the fight so fast, Sergeant. Have your men make every round count.”
    He felt around his belt and handed the man an extra magazine for his Thompson.
    “Thank you, sir.” The Sergeant nodded in way of a salute. No point in giving any potential snipers a target if he could help it.
    Captain Taylor counted to three, then leapt out of the foxhole and made for the jeep.
    Krauts executing soldiers and now biting his men. What in the hell was this war coming to? Malmade was going to be a sore on every soldier’s mind before much longer.
----

Fifteen
    Graves
    G abe “Gabby” Woodward pounded up the road until he came across two Privates trying to dig a hole in the hard ground. He dropped beside the pair.
    “What’s the problem?”
    “Damn dirt's hard as a rock. The mine was sticking out. We got the fuses set already.”
    “These are armed?” Woodward asked.
    “Yeah, I got them armed while Pyle here was digging.”
    “Try a different spot.”
    “Tried that, but it’s just as hard.”
    “Christ, gimme a shovel,” Woodward said. “Make a forty-five degree line so a tank runs over one for sure. Even if they get moving again, they might hit another one. If they’re in a straight line, chances are they get missed completely.”
    He pointed out