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Falling, falling, falling. Shifty didn't know how far he fell, all he knew was it felt too low and far too fast. The plane was being hit on the bottom before he jumped then his static line went and the tug followed.
His landing wasn't perfect but aside from some bruises, nothing seemed too bad. Distant gunfire was starting to sound less distant. His leg bag, an unseemly useless object, had ripped off. His rifle was still in his hands, but extra rations and mini medkits were gone.
'Find some cover, keep your head low, listen for footsteps', the small mantra looped through his head.
Bumping into a low wall he crouched in the dark behind it, a road in front curved down and to the left. A loud crunching sound made him look around, turning to face the sky, a terrifying image met him. One of the planes was crashing, engulfed in flames, a few bodies were tangled in the wings. 'Don't look at it, there's nothing I can do for them'. Pushing up he jogged across the small road, into a large thicket.
Having no idea where he was, the best idea was to choose a direction and find road signs. Following the edge of the bushes, he crept along, going toe to heel for more silence.
Shifty walked for a few minutes before encountering anyone else. Snapping twigs to his right halted his steps, reaching into a breast pocket he grabbed his cricket.
"click, click."
Silence.
Some rustling.
"Click, click. Click, click."
Jumping to his feet he walked towards the sound. Floyd Talbert stepped out from behind a tree.
"Well I'll be damned, you survived. Good job, Shift," Talbert whispered as he checked his rifle.
"You found anybody else yet?" Shifty asked, pushing his helmet off of his forehead for a second.
"No, just some Krauts. Medics though, left 'em alone. You got any extra ammo?"
Shifty patted down his pockets hearing a small jingle, reaching around he plucked a few from his coat.
"Some, put most of my things in the leg bag...that didn't work." Handing Floyd the few bullets, they stood.
"No shit. The damn thing fell off faster than my chin strap," flicking his broken chin strap to emphasize as he continued, "I haven't seen any landmarks yet, except for a lake that'a ways."
"A lake?" Shifty glanced around, there wasn't much water on the sandtables, maybe three maximum. "I might know where we are, can you show me?" Excitement trickled into his voice.
Talbert walked ahead of him weaving through the trees, tripping now and again over roots. The pair marched for a good ten minutes before coming to the edge of a lake.
"So, ring any bells?" Floyd asked, turning to check that they were alone.
"Some, I think there's a road going to some tracks if we loop around." Shifty started around the left side, which seemed the shorter distance.
"Did you land around here, Tab?" he asked.
"No, near a farmhouse. Wandered over here." A soft sloshing sound was heard to their right. Looking closer, Shifty's stomach turned over inside. Floating near the shore was a soldier’s body, burned and bloody. Looking around he saw more bodies bobbing in the slight current.
"Jesus Christ looks like half a plane," Tab spoke quietly.
A loud groaning made the pair jump. A few yards away was a trooper reaching in the water for his right hand which kept floating away. His legs had small holes through them, like the buckshots Shifty used to use hunting. The thought made his throat feel funny.
"Shifty, come on let's go..." Floyd spoke in a hushed, trimmed voice.
"He's hurt, shouldn't we-" Shifty started but Floyd grabbed his arm hauling him away.
"I said, we're going. He's going to bleed out anyway."
"Yeah, slowly! He needs help!"
"Darrel, we are not Medics. What the fuck would we do for him anyway, huh?" Talbert's voice was getting louder, louder than was wise. Shifty knew he could do nothing for the man. Looking Talbert in the eye he swung his rifle around and marched over to the man.
He was German, a German soldier dying. Shifty swallowed a lump in his throat, his mouth dry. His rifle never seemed heavier as he placed it against the man's skull. The soldier turned to look Shifty in the eyes.
"Bitte, bitte," he was young, younger than Shifty himself. Shifty's finger curled around the trigger. 'This is war, this is war. This is mercy.'
CRACK.
The German's body slumped into the mud, his face sinking into the softened earth.
Shifty reached and grabbed the soldiers’ bag, almost in a trance state.
This is war, this is war. This is mercy.