The air that had been saturated with dust and smoke and fire was now cleared. The sun was beginning to set and a cool fragrant breeze took over and playfully drifted over the tired faces of the soldiers, sweeping away the tremblings of the recent nightmare. They tiredly slid to the ground whenever they could find a rock or a tree on which to lean while feasting their eyes on the beauty of nature. Some were having their wounds treated by nurses. The others tried to while the moments away in soothing quiet.
Among the women patiently tending the wounds of the soldiers was one who wouldn't escape anyone's notice. The others could almost drop dead tired from over-exerted effort the way they almost couldn't cut bandages and plasters steadily. Linda, however, went on moving spritely from soldier to solder. It seemed as if her figure could never be worn out by war, hunger, or even by death itself. That winning smile apparently wouldn't leave her lips. Although her hair was slightly disarranged, she was clean. She moved with so much care that even her uniform looked as if it were newly pressed. The very way she would modestly wipe the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand simply set her different! Very much different! Her eyes sparkling, her cheeks rosy, her lips full - she was the picture of a full-bloomed woman fresh with life.
A soldier lying on his stomach caught her attention. He was pitifully unconscious and alone that she was moved at the sight but at the same time, she wondered why a foolish gladness swept through her. He didn't seem badly wounded but a streak of dry blood that stained his right cheek showed that he had a nasty cut on his forehead. Gently, she rolled him over so that he would lie on his back then made him a pillow out of a folded tent. Carefully, she wiped the blood and dirt off his face while slowly, she gave out a choked gasp as she recognized familiar features that began to show. Her heart was already beating wildly but she managed to stay calm, bit her lips so hard that blood almost oozed out from them. Somehow, she finished the work.
At the next moment, she knelt beside the soldier, watching him with much concern. Not even for a moment now would she take away her gaze from him as she held her breath waiting for him to open his eyes....longing from him to speak. Meanwhile, confused thoughts raced wildly in her mind. The last time she heard about him, he was joining the Air Force. He had told her so about it himself. But now, why -
Eventually, his eyes opened. At first, they narrowed in disbelief. She thought this was so funny she almost wanted to laugh but later on, they brightened up. His eyes showed a glint of recognition as he managed to get himself upright - and gather her close to his weak but longing embrace.
"But Fred," she stammered. "I thought you - "
"No, sweetheart," the soldier laughed softly, "I enlisted with the Marines instead. With my special one having joined the WACS, there'd be not much chance of meeting her up there!"
The sun was already halfway below the horizon radiating its rays across the skies. The breeze was now much cooler - and another of those perfect days was ending.
##################
No comments:
Post a Comment