Greydorf, Germany. The next day
“Alright friends, I am buying
the first round” said the corporal as he and his friends were walking to the
nearest tavern town. His friends
cheered. “After today’s round of war
games, I figure we could all use a nice cold...” he stopped himself after one
of his friends pointed. He saw an officer, a captain judging by his uniform
holding his officers Pickelhaube in the crook of his arm and a Sergeant,
wearing a well worn Pickelhaube, was probably the captain’s staff member. The corporal and his men stopped dead in
their tracks just in time for the Captain to notice the men. “Fall In men!!!” the corporal shouted. The men stood at attention.
“I am sorry Herr Captain” the
corporal stuttered. “I had no idea there
were officers present in the town. We
were merely taking a moments rest. We’re
not here to goof off.” The men were
still at attention. ‘We were just going
to the market to grab some Bratwurst and sauerkraut, isn’t that right men?” the
men gave a series of nods.
The captain was a handsome
looking man with well trimmed hair and medium length sideburns, brown eyes, clean
shaven and had a warm smile. “There’s no
need for you to lie to me about why you’re here. I am aware that you, like your men, are
probably looking for the nearest tavern to find a good stein of lager and some
good meat. Am I right?”
The corporal tried and failed
to keep his composure “Yes Herr Captain. We are just so tired from the war
games and we don’t want to turn in just yet” said the corporal plainly. “Then why didn’t you tell us that in the
first place you dumbshits?” the sergeant said in a tone that was both angry and
annoyed. The corporal hid his shame
before one of the soldiers spoke “It’s like he said sir; we didn’t think we’d
be running into officers.” The sergeant
seemed somewhat convinced “That’s officer, Captain Schroeder is the only
officer in town anyone’s seen since the war games began. Most of those peacock officers refuse to
share the same piss pot with the common soldier, let alone the same town, even
on business matters” the sergeant spat in disgust just after finishing his
sentence.
The corporal and his fellow
soldiers made a gasps of surprise.
“Y-Y-Y-Y-our the Captain Schroeder?” the corporal stammered. “That’s right” the captain said with a smile
“and your men and you don’t need to be so formal in public, just simply
acknowledge me and you’ll be fine” with that he turned to the troops “You men
may stand down.” The troops looked
relaxed, as if they escaped a punishment of the sorts.
“Tell
me corporal, which tavern were you heading to?” the captain asked plainly. “The Kaiser’s Delight sir” the corporal
stated. “Then perhaps me and my sergeant
can join you, if that’s alright with you and your men” Schroeder asked
politely. The corporal and his men
looked like they had been struck by thunder “Why of course, it would be an
honor to have the hero of the Battle of Gravelotte,
joining us for a drink.”
“I am certain the honor belongs to you as well.” He
then turned to the other man. “This here
is my second-in-command, Sergeant Bruckner.”
The troops once more appeared surprised.
“The Iron Man!! Here? “Who would have thought that the Iron Man himself
was here” the troops whispered amongst themselves. “Is there a problem?” Bruckner asked. Bruckner was a man who had seen his share of
battles
The corporal shook his head “No sir, just that it’s
not everyday we run into two of the Prussian army’s most famous soldiers at the
same time.” Bruckner bellowed out a
laugh “Is that a fact? Maybe after we
have share a good stein of ale, we can talk more, what do you say Captain?” Bruckner
said smiling to Schroeder. “Sure, why
not old friend? Let’s join these fine
fellows for some fine beer, good meat and good old fashioned rowdiness”
Schroeder said smiling.
They started walking south towards the town center,
just where the Kaiser’s Delight should be.
“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced corporal” Schroeder
asked. “My apologies to you Herr Captain,
you are already aware that I am a corporal, so as for my name it is Wolfgang
Freidan.” “A good name for a loyal
soldier, you have a first name Herr Captain?
“Yes it’s, Heinrich.” Wolfgang smiled “You also have a good name Herr
Captain. I’ll introduce you to the rest
of dogs once we can wrap our hands around a nice, stiff drink.”
“I see you still enjoy hanging with the dogs of war as
usual Heinrich” said a voice that Schroeder dreaded hearing. He turned to see an officer dressed in military
uniform mostly worn during parades. “If you like them so much Herr Schroeder,
why don’t you just give up your wealth and titles, so that you can be a real
piece of common dirt” the man was clearly an officer, one of the peacock
officers that Sergeant Bruckner described.
“And give up on being the bane of your existence Brunner? No, I don’t think so.” Schroeder shot
back. Wolfgang went up to Sergeant Bruckner
“Who is that” he whispered, “Victor Von Brunner” Bruckner spat, “He’s one of
those peacock officers I was telling you about.
Spends more time hiding within the safety of his tent rather than join
the fight with the rest of the troops.
Almost got a lot of good men killed at the Battle
of Gravelotte. Why he still maintains
his rank and position within the 5th army of the 3rd dragoons,
is a mystery to me” he growled.
“I don’t care if you’re the legendary Iron Man”
shouted one of Brunner’s men “You pay an officer the proper respect or you’ll
be flogged” he grinned sadistically “then we’ll see if you live up to the name
Iron Man.” “Another one your bootlickers
ready to kiss your ass Von Brunner?”
Some of the troops behind Schroeder made a few low chuckles. “This bootlicker as you call him happens to
be cousin and he is no common grunt like your Sergeant Bruckner” he said with a
look of contempt. “He happens to have
just graduated from the military academy in Berlin
“So another asshole from a line cowardly scum, who
can’t even be thrown into a fight without whining? Don’t make me laugh.” The corporal and the troops burst out
laughing, Sergeant Bruckner smiled. Von
Brunner looked like he was about to explode.
“Alright you half-blooded son of a peasant whore, if you want a duel
then you have one, Rudolf, take my cloak and give me my sword.” His cousin Rudolf took his officers cloak and
handed him his sword. Upon unsheathing,
it was clearly a dueling rapier.
“That’s
his dueling sword? What a joke.” Schroeder thought this because the sword had a gold colored hilt basket
and a few jewels covering it. It looked
like it was more for show than for fighting.
Bruckner handed him his sword which was simple, yet standard cavalry
sword. It looked well polished despite
the years of use. What made it special
is that the blacksmith who created it was Schroeder’s cousin, who he considered
to be more like a brother.
“You call that a sword? What a primitive design.”
Brunner mocked. “At least mine is not
used for show and tell, when was the last time you actually used that piece of
junk in a fight?” Schroeder retorted back.
Brunner couldn’t take it anymore, “For my honor” he said as he was
thrusting his sword. Schroeder raised
his sword and stepped aside to parry the attack and then he disengaged
Brunner. Then Schroeder himself went on
the offensive with a series of multiple stab attacks, Brunner parried them all
but by the time he could regain his fighting stance, Schroeder was on him.
With mighty thrust, Brunner was forced back until he
tripped on something and fell backwards into muddy water. Brunner looked back up and saw Schroeder was
standing above him with his cavalry saber pointed at his throat. “I yield” Brunner whimpered. “Not bad for a half-blooded son of a peasant
whore. I had expected more form you
Brunner” Schroeder sheathed his sword and walked back to the troops who were
cheering him for his victory.
“Now then gentlemen, how about a cold stein of ale
and some nice hasenpfeffer?” The troops
cheered once more and each gave him a pat on the back. “I promise you mein friends, it will be on
me. You can all eat and drink to your
hearts delight.” The troops roared with
approval and began following him to the tavern.
“How do you plan to pay for all that?” Bruckner
asked “You spent most of earnings on helping the wounded troops and feeding
poor families that you come across.”
Schroeder grinned widely and pulled out a purse that took up his entire hand. “Why, our dear friend Von Brunner will be
paying for tonight’s meal.” Bruckner
laughed out loud “Seems both me and your father taught you well. When dueling a peacock, always go for their
purse when their not looking.”
Schroeder smiled and gave one last look outdoors and
was given one last look from across the street by a fuming Von Brunner. As the last rays of sunlight were fading,
Schroeder looked towards fading light and was reminded of Helga,“You always did like sunsets Helga, why
couldn’t you have waited for me?” With that thought in his mind, he
immediately went into the tavern, closing the door behind him.
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