The first sergeant of Easy Company was taking a breather. He had finished making up the company duty roster, always a laborious enterprise, for the company was shorthanded, and Ben Cohen never stinted his responsibilities regarding the men’s details. Indeed, the sergeant spent exquisite care on the assignment of these important duties, especially the ones known as the “shit details”; these received the full weight of his lengthy experience. But for the present, his immediate task was accomplished and he was able to relax and enjoy a few moments of the late afternoon of a cloudless day. But not for long.
Ben Cohen had been reflecting on the pleasures of a beer or two at the sutler’s, when the soldier standing before him came suddenly and rudely into focus.
“What is it, Golightly?” The tone was neutral, yet laced with warning.
“Sarge, I’m all recovered from the piles.”
“Congratulations
“I mean, I’m feeling real fine now, Sarge.”
“I heard you the first time, soldier. Tell me what the hell you want!”
Billy Golightly had met his share of tough characters, but he had never encountered anyone like the first sergeant of Easy Company. Ben Cohen was something more than just tough. There was a directness about him that was like a shovel stuck right in your mouth.
“Sarge, I want to get back with the platoon. Is there
any way I could meet up with the patrol... or something?” He felt the dismay in his voice as he realized the stupidity of his request. Billy Golightly was furious with himself for revealing once again how green he was.
But the expected demolition was not forthcoming.
“Why?” The single word, simple, innocent even, was freighted with danger.
Billy almost stammered. “Sarge, I like it around here, it’s fine, but I just want to get into some action. I keep thinking of my buddies out there and...” Again, there came the sensation of creeping paralysis as his voice trailed off.
The sergeant had been leaning just slightly against the wall outside the orderly room, and now suddenly he straightened and stood planted right in front of Golightly. “Something go wrong with you and your girlfriend, did it?”
“Girlfriend, Sarge?”
“Golightly, cut the shit. I am not blind. You been mooning around here the last day or two like you had a cloud up your ass.”
Billy Golightly started to open his mouth to speak, but he closed it. Sergeant Cohen regarded him with eyes of stone.
“Thing is, Sarge, I don’t have no girlfriend.”
“Come off it, Golightly.”
“Sarge, I did have, but 1 don’t anymore, is what I am saying.”
Ben Cohen folded his arms across his chest. “How come?” He sniffed, cutting his eye toward the guest barracks. “Not good enough for a delegate’s daughter, that it?”
Billy sighed; he was dismayed that Sergeant Cohen— and who else?—had noticed his feelings for Julie Thatcher.
“I guess so, Sarge. She, uh, she seems to prefer that freighter feller.”
“That stringbean in the baggy overalls, looks like he’s carrying a packsaddle in his crotch?”
Billy nodded, his eyes downcast with rejection as he thought of the bright moments with Julie and how it had all been shattered when that son of a bitch had pulled in.
Sergeant Cohen released an enormous sigh, and for a moment Billy Golightly was drawn to him in an astonishing way, for he felt himself swept by the feeling that the sergeant could help him, could suddenly fix his situation with some all-powerful order. It was a fleeting emotion, but it left him with a new way of looking at Ben Cohen. And suddenly he was no longer afraid of him.
Billy Golightly waited for his first sergeant to say something. But whatever Ben Cohen might have been about to utter never came out, for a shout from the tower guard cut through the late afternoon and brought a new note to the somnolent army outpost.
“Rider coming in fast! Looks to be one of the Delawares! No... shit, it’s Windy Mandalian!”
The couple writhing together on Julie Thatcher’s bed in the guest quarters were totally unaware of the excitement that suddenly gripped Outpost Number Nine at the galloping appearance of the chief scout.
Miss Thatcher and Mr. Venable were wholly absorbed in the renewal of their relationship. Contrary to Julie’s fears when she had seen Harry Venable across the parade upon his arrival the previous day, the young man was delighted to see her again. He was in fact giving physical affirmation to his feeling right now, for the third time.
As they slowly returned to consciousness, they became aware of sounds outside on the parade.
145
“Sounds like something’s going on,” Harry said, sitting up on the bed.
“Harry...”
“Yeah?”
“Come here.”
“I just want to see what the ruckus is about.”
He stood up and pulled on his overalls.
“Harry, don’t get dressed. Come back to bed.”
“Be right there.”
She watched his back, the sagging crotch of his overalls, as he crossed to the window and looked out.
“Looks like some excitement,” he said. “I better find out what it is—might be something to do with my team and wagon, or who knows what.”
“Harry...”
He walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed. “Obliged for the nice time,” he said. “I’d like to come again.” He gave a little laugh at his own joke.
“Harry, you’re sweet.” She held her eyes on his long, thin profile, wondering.
His eyes were on her breasts. “You’re still beautiful,” he said. “I had a talk with your dad. Thought we might get hitched.”
“You mean... married?”
“I don’t mean let’s go for a picnic.”
“Harry, that’s sweet of you.”
“Just say the day.”
“Harry ... I’d like to think it over.”
His jaw dropped. “What do you mean, think it over? I thought—”
But he was cut off by a knock at the door.
“Julie, are you in there?” Her father’s voice came booming into the room.
“I’ll be right out, Father.” And swiftly she was on her feet, hurrying into her clothes.
146
As she was about to open the door, Harry Venable said, “Well, what about it, Julie? I thought your old man... I told you I talked to him.”
Julie stopped and stood quite still in front of him. “You’re a nice fellow, Harry,” she said, and a smile started teasing her mouth. “And I’m glad you and Father reached an understanding.”
“Julie...”
“I said I’d like to think it over, Mr. Venable.”
Hawes Thatcher, however, had grown impatient waiting for his daughter, and he was gone. Julie stepped out onto the parade in time to see Windy Mandalian and Captain Conway crossing to the orderly room, followed by Sergeant Cohen. She was looking to see if Billy was around when the sentry called out.
“First Platoon riding in!”
And she watched the big gate swing open and Lieutenant Matt Kincaid appear on his big horse, leading the soldiers into Outpost Number Nine.