Infected Poppy Fields

by Alathia Paris Morgan

  “Oh, those poor things won’t have time to do more than answer the lines and hopefully get troops and artillery into place.” He clapped me on the shoulder, “Walk with me over to the mess hall and then we’ll come back. Hopefully, it will all still be standing there when we return.”

  “Are we the only field hospital?” I asked following him while trying to finish my cigarette.

  “Not the only one, but the closest to this end of the trenches. I’m guessing you haven’t had a chance to look out there yet, but if you get to it’s something that you’ll never forget.” He warned walking into the mess tent and scooping up a bowl to put food in.

  I followed his example because there was one thing I’d learned in the army and that was when someone offered you food, you take it. It might hours or days before you would be able to get a decent meal again.

  “Most of what we’ve been doing has been on the one front, but this time the Germans gave us no warning. We just sent a group of French troops to another place and we were supposed to just be holding down this spot. Now, we’ve got a battle that isn’t looking too good.” The doctor had never introduced himself, but had managed to down an entire bowl of soup while talking.

  He was heading back and I didn’t want to get lost in the darkness. Even though we were in an army camp, I wasn’t about to go wandering around by myself.

  The air itself held a hint of menace toward something and it was giving me the creeps.

  “Look, um,” I rubbed at the hair on my arms that had begun to stand up in end.

  That’s when the bombs started dropping. We both took off running for the hospital tent.

  Screams and people running through the dark started bumping into each other and making things even worse.

  “Anyone that can walk or limp to one of the trucks should go now.” He yelled at one of the nurses.

  Looking around in the semi darkness, I couldn’t imagine even two of these guys being able to walk out of here, much less be moved. We’d have to stack the patients on top of each other in the trucks for them to move and that wouldn’t be good for them.

  Among the sound of explosions, the sound of trucks approaching filled the air.

  I watched amazed as the nurses and a few of the doctors started picking up the beds and moving them toward the trucks. I grabbed the end of one where the soldiers were struggling to lift the cot up.

  Each truck had hammocks stretched across and they were gently moving the injured onto the swinging beds working their way from the top to the bottom.

  Instead of only being able to carry ten men at the most, each truck was almost able to take twenty injured men to a hospital where they could be cared for in safety.

  As the panic settled down and the explosions moved away from the camp, more wounded started pour in quickly taking the place of those that had just left.

  I began to help with the triage of those who were in pain and get the worst into surgery.

  Working in these kinds of conditions was ten times worse than even they had described. Now I understood why there weren’t any walking wounded to fix because if you weren’t hurt badly enough to need the hospital then you could help those who were.

  -----

  Chapter 9

  Emma

  I had done the stupidest thing on the plant. I brought my baby sister to a battlefield. I’d felt that it was the only way to protect her, but now that we were bouncing around the back of a truck it didn’t seem to be the greatest idea.

  A very handsome doctor introduced himself, but it wasn’t long until we were being sprayed by bullets.

  “Holli, how are you feeling?” I asked as we all get situated on the benches again after diving for the floor. Not that it would have helped to keep the bullets from hitting us, but we all felt better having done something.

  We weren’t here to fraternize with the soldiers and so other than answering a few questions, everyone fell silent after our near miss from the planes over head.

  The amount of planes flying over us increased as we got closer to our destination signifying that the battle was just a few miles away.

  Our driver pulled up with jerky halt not even bothering to get out and help us down. I guess that if I wanted us to be counted as part of the army I’d better get used to being treated like the other soldiers.

  The doctors were kind enough to hand us down and as soon as the last bag was on the ground, the driver took off in a hurry.

  “Well, ladies I guess this is our stop.” I picked up my bag having left my suitcase and extras back at the mansion where we’d been staying. If we had to leave in a hurry, it would be better if we didn’t have a lot of baggage to carry around with us.”

  The tent flap opened and a young man came out.

  “I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to move along. The men inside are doing a very difficult job and it’s hard to hear with you twits prattling about.”

  “Hmm, I believe that we’re their relief. We’re part of the Signal Corps and you’ve been assigned to carry the remote telephones out to the battle areas.” I ducked inside the tent past him and placed my bag on the edge of the tent.

  “Wait you can’t do that.” He sputtered as the other girls followed suit.

  I held out a paper signed by General Pershing that gave me or any of the other women in our unit permission to take charge on threat of a court martial if they didn’t do as we asked.

  He gulped as the official signature and dropped the tent flap to salute.

  Returning it, I turned to the men at the board.

  “Hello, guys we’re here to relieve you. Get some food and then head out with the portables toward the places that you’ll find marked on this map.” I handed it to the highest ranking officer.

  “Yes, ma’am.” With a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he gave a salute. “You heard the orders, let’s get these out there where they’re needed the most.”

  We had our hands full with keeping the phone lines open and transferring the most important information between the troops and headquarters.

  Using the same methods of rotation that I’d established in the mansion, we’d sleep here in the tent and that way if something happened the others could take over immediately.

  Arriving at noon, we hadn’t even considered eating until the officer we’d relieved showed up with food for us.

  “Thank you,” I offered my hand to him, “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Not a problem ma’am. I’ve instructed Private Emerson to make sure that you ladies have plenty of coffee and food. He’s also been instructed that he’s not to let anyone into this tent with checking to make sure they are supposed to be here.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful, but we can take care of ourselves.” I hurried to reassure him although I wasn’t as certain as I sounded.

  “Our pleasure, ma’am. The general gave specific orders for us to follow and we’re going to protect you with our lives just as if he was standing there to do it himself.” The officer twirled his hat nervously, “It’s not safe out there for a woman to even go to the outhouse by herself.”

  I blushed because it wasn’t a subject that was talked about in mixed company very often, but there were many things that we girls of the Signal Corps were going to have to get used to. He was right, there were a lot of men out there who hadn’t seen a woman in a very long time.

  “Very well.” I answered more briskly than I’d intended.

  “I’ll be checking in and making sure that the person taking his place understands as well. In the daylight, it’s not as bad, but the things men think they can do in the darkness without anyone knowing, is well almost as evil as the Germans.”

  He gave a quick salute and disappeared without another word.

  “Private? What is his name?” I inquired holding the flap open letting in the bright mid-day sun.

  “Lieutenant Roman, ma’am. I’ll be right here if you need anything.” He turned to his back to the opening ready to do h
is job.

  The girls had already managed to divide the food that we’d been given and they were eating in between calls. While this was what we had been doing the past few weeks, it was much faster and more intense here close to the battle.

  Explosions echoed in the distance and on the lines as we helped coordinate our troops so that we could keep the Germans from advancing.

  ------

  Dusk had edged into the world around us as we’d continued to connect calls almost without stopping when Lieutenant Roman burst into the tent.

  “We’re going to have to evacuate you.” He commanded.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” I retorted yanking my headset off and standing to my full height. “Those men out there need us to keep the lines open and if we leave then we’re dooming them to their deaths.”

  “The bombs are moving this direction and the General isn’t going to let his assets become blown up.”

  “That’s all well and good, but we’re not going to abandon our post.” I protested.

  “Which is exactly what he said you would say. I’ve got direct orders to move you out. Private Emerson will bring you back when it’s safe.” He held the opening up and stepped to the side.

  “Ladies, please do as he says.” I shook a finger under his nose, “I’m doing this under protest.”

  We all trooped out as the lines continued blink the bombs started to drop and we hurried to follow them to the furthest part of the camp.

  “It’s not much, but you’ll be safest here for the moment. Their guns can’t reach here which is why we’ve place the headquarters at the rear of the lines.” Lieutenant Roman explained as he raced out, “I’ve got to go help put out the fires and keep things under control.”

  The sound of bombs got a lot closer and we were simply pacing the tent impatient to return to our duties. We couldn’t help peering out into the night sky as the explosions lit up the darkness.

  People were frantically running back and forth, not really accomplishing much except for being targets for the Germans.

  After an intense time of waiting, things seemed to die down.

  “Look, they’ve stopped bombing us.” I declared cheerfully, “We can go back now.”

  Private Emerson stepped into my path, “No, ma’am. I’m afraid I can’t allow that to happen.”

  “Well, I’m not giving you a choice. We have a job to do and I know that you have one as well, but you’re going to have to do it while we’re working because that’s why we’re here.”

  Holli came to stand beside me, “Please don’t stop us from helping others.”

  “If you were to leave,” He shook his head knowing that he couldn’t stop all of us. “I’ll have to tell the Lieutenant that I tried.”

  “I’ll be sure to let him know that you weren’t at fault. We left and there wasn’t anything you could do to stop us.” I walked out ready to lead the girls back to the telephone lines, but paused in the darkness.

  “Could you show us the way back?”

  He grinned, “Yes, ma’am.”

  As we approached, it looked like part of the tent had caved in.

  Shrapnel had collapsed part of the tent and taken out a good section of our switch board. All told it was less than an hour, but the damage was going to be difficult to repair.

  “Can you still use the equipment?” Private Emerson tried to help get the tent back up and into place.

  It took us a few minutes to get things back into together. The lines started to light up immediately and the girls started transferring and connecting calls.

  “We’ll send a message back to headquarters that we’re going to need a few replacement parts.” I looked at the pieces that had been hit and there was no way to repair them.

  “Just think of what would have happened if you’d have been sitting here? It’s a good thing the Lieutenant had you ladies move, isn’t it?” Private Emerson had a good point.

  “You’re right. We were very lucky.” I moved to straighten the cots and restack the bags next the three that were still working.

  “They can’t stop the Hello Girls from doing their jobs.” He announced proudly, “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

  Poor boy might be there to protect us, but there wasn’t a way to stop the bombs from dropping. At least they had stopped for the present and we could focus on keeping our troops alive.

  ------

  The next morning Lieutenant Roman arrived to check on us and provide a replacement for Private Emerson.

  “I see that you discarded my orders and returned to work.” He glared accusingly at me.

  “We couldn’t wait around for you to decide it was safe. There’s a war on in case you missed it.” I tossed over my shoulder as I connected another call.

  “Evidently, your request was put as high priority.” He motioned to a few men standing by a truck, but I couldn’t make out what they were bringing.

  “They sent new equipment already?” I gazed in awe at the men bringing in the new parts and helping to get them set up.

  “We’ve been sending trucks back constantly with the wounded so they decided that instead of coming here empty handed, they’d bring something we desperately needed.”

  I wanted to give him a big kiss, but didn’t want to make things awkward so I just stood there as they got it all put together.

  “A couple of the guys will get this patched up.” He took in the holes in the roof of the tent from where the shrapnel had torn it. “They’ll put another tent up over this one so that you and the equipment don’t get wet from all of the holes.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you.” I was amazed at how precise the army was at all times.

  Everything had to be done in just a certain way or the pieces of the chain would fall apart. It was efficient, but even the army had its own down fall because so far they still hadn’t managed to outdo the German army.

  “It’s going to take a minute to get this all wired correctly so let’s go ahead and get a few of you out of here for some fresh air.” The tent was becoming crowded with the workers assembling the parts while the others were working overhead on to put a new tent up.

  “Only if you take your own advice.” Holli agreed.

  “I will.” I promised even though I had no intention of doing so until all of my girls had gotten a chance to go outside and into the sun for a while.

  “Nope, we talked about it and the next break that happens, none of us are going leave unless you go first.” Holli shook her head in disagreement. “Might as well get it over with so we don’t have to go on strike.”

  “All right. I guess I have to lead by example.” I took a look around to make sure everyone was fine and then stuck my head out into the early light of dawn.

  It would have been a breathtaking view, but all of the scars of battle were still present.

  Holes and shrapnel were still where they had landed as people hurried by concerned with other things. They were pulling bodies out from underneath the rubble and laying them in piles to be identified and buried when there was a moment to take care of such a horrible task.

  Averting my eyes, I walked in the direction that Lieutenant Roman had pointed in for the mess hall.

  All these deaths could have been prevented if the Germans would just sign a peace treaty. While I might not understand all the ins and outs of a war with politics, I knew that trying to take over another country all for the sake of gaining more power wasn’t the way things should work.

  I’d only been near the battle field for a few hours and already I was sick of men dying. Anything that we could do to make this war end would be worth it.

  ------

  As I entered the main tent that held tables and chairs, I felt as if all the eyes in the room were suddenly on me. The warning that Lieutenant Roman had given us rang in my ears and I made sure not to make eye contact with anyone as I walked through the line and sat at one of the few empty tables.

  Conversation had resumed,
but I could feel those around me watching to see if I was real.

  I’d just taken my first bite when someone slid into the chair across from me. With a protest on my lips, I looked up to see a nurse.

  “Um, hello.” I hadn’t thought about the fact that there might be other women here on the battle field besides our unit.

  “Hey, there. I’m Judith Stevens, one of the few nurses over in the hospital tent.” She introduced herself and dug into her food. “Oh, that’s so good after hours of working non-stop.”

  “Are there still a lot of injured from the bombing last night?”

  “Um, yes.” She mumbled around a mouthful of food. “I’m sorry, we missed dinner last night.”

  “We still have quite a few people that need care, but most are being transferred back to the base hospital as soon as they are even semi stable. The wounded from the battle will be coming in now that its daylight and we have to empty the beds for them.”

  “I thought what we were doing was difficult, are you even going to get to sleep?” I suddenly felt guilty for complaining in my head about being tired.

  “Oh, when there’s an actual battle, we don’t get much sleep. Then when the fighting dies down, we take turns going back to the hospital for a few days of sleep.” Judith motioned to a lone figure at the other end of the table.

  “He’s one of the doctor’s that came in just in time. He’s kept things moving and saved a lot of lives since he got here.”

  I glanced in his direction, “I met him yesterday on the same truck we came in on. Doctor Fitz, I believe. He looks really tired and sad.”

  “We all are. Doing this takes a toll on us. Should we join him?” Judith eyed me with curiosity.

  “Can we? It won’t be against protocol?” I felt really bad for him.

  Judith didn’t answer instead she waved catching his attention pointing to the empty chairs next to us.

  He looked around to make sure that she was talking to him.

  We both shook our heads yes.

  Tray in hand he joined us.

  “We thought you shouldn’t eat alone down there.” I blurted out braking the ice.