The dust wailed for hours, taking up the horizon like a snow storm. The tents rattled in fury, wind ripping through every inch of open canvas. The sound resembling low flying jets was still not enough to cover the little voices of agony. Children littered the stretchers like Kindergarten nap time. The sea of faces were bloody, shocked, and some burned. It was nearly wind break, a time of day you would think came with appreciation, but as the wind died, the moans, and screams were louder and harder to bare. Corporal, Daniel Marsh stood outside the tented hospital, bearing the spray of hot stinging sand, his shift would end soon.
The close combines began coming into focus, the tanks regained their hard shape and focus, and he knew, soon he would see the soft shapes of hills in the background. He waited for this every day, knowing that it meant his time was over. Sweat poured down every part of his body. The beads ran down his legs like fleeing spiders. His eyes stung from the salty invasion, altering his vision. He could see movement in the horizon, the distortion was unreal. Lifting his goggles he wiped his damp face on his sleeve, hoping to clear the blurred vision away. As he looked up the movement was still there, moving slowly towards him. He immediately drew his gun, blinking the last remnants of salt from his eyes. His heart pounded with fear, and his mind raced to detect the enemy. His face twisted in confusion, his eyes focused in on a young woman about 20. She was complete sand, as if sculpted from the horizon, in her arms she was carrying a much smaller child. “Corporal Daniel Marsh, requesting permission to help civilian victim. Victim 200 yards northeast.”
“Negative Corporal, word has spread that bombs are being brought in, in the dead.”
“It is a girl Sargent carrying a kid.”
“Treat as threat Danny!”
A repetitive far away trill filled the air. The trill grew in intensity until it was a scream. The woman trudged on, her pace slowing. Her feet now dragging tripped her progress, and she fell face first into the dirt.
“Civilian down, 60 yards.”
“You shot her?”
“No she fell, I am scoping, she and the child are breathing, permission to bring into medical tent.”
“Both breathing?”
“Yes Sargent Sir!”
“Bring them in.”
Every thud of the boots sunk into the sand and left each foot strangled before being released. The earlier heard trill again began. As Daniel’s feet got closer the stressed trill began getting faster and more erratic. The strain of pain and helplessness streaked across the girls face, right along with the tears and dust. “I can help you. I will bring you and the child to a doctor.” Daniel exclaimed.
“Emerican. I know you Emerican words. Help brother. My brother. He heet by gun.” The words left strained and week from her chapped dust coated lips.
“I will help. Can you walk?” Daniele bent grabbing at the young boy.
“Hold!” A shout escaped the girls mouth as a demand, and then again as a request. “Hold.” Her hand pressed tightly on his left thigh.
“I got it, can you walk?”
Her brow furrowed. “Go! Help Heem.”
“Walk? Can you Walk?” Daniel’s volume increased, and he immediately felt stupid, the girl wasn’t deaf.
“I walk! You help heem!”
Daniel watched as she struggled to get up. He left her there and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. The sands holds were just as clingy as before, but his adrenaline allowed him to float over the sand. “Doc, Medic, I need a medic! Boys been shot in leg. He isn’t good.” Daniel cleared the dust off the young boys face, his complexion didn’t change. A sandy light color coated his skin, an unnatural glow to this normally dark foreign face.
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