Page 82 of After 5

“My canteens are full too,” Gertie said. “That’s good because the water became unsanitary due to runoff from the dead, and the excrement deposited in such close quarters.”

I shuddered and knitted my eyebrows at Gertie. “I could have lived all day without that knowledge.”

“That knowledge might save your life. Conserve your water.”

I stored her words away, taking note of the full canteen slapping against my side as I moved. A bag hung from my shoulder and another at my waist. I held up the sack painted black. The bag smelled like a rotten egg.

“What’s this? It smells.”

“I believe that’s your haversack, or food bag.”

I ditched the bag. “It’s empty and it reeks.”

“You might be sorry when you don’t have anywhere to carry food.” Gertie shrugged.

“I’ll risk it.”

The other bag contained medical supplies.

“Your vessel might have fit me in this threadbare crap colored uniform, but it forgot to give me a weapon,” Marco huffed.

“Gun control?” I suggested.

He frowned at me. Gunshots sounded in the distance, and he mumbled, “We need to move out.”

“Miss Scarlet…I’m good with history and maybe healing critters, but not so good with my knowledge on healing humans,” Gertie said southern belle style.

Marco’s eyes looked heavenward at theGone with the Windreference, then went wide. We hit the ground as the roar of cannon fire concussed the earth.

“What the fuck?” He stood and focused his attention on our landing area. We were in a tight circle of trees and brush. A tiny hole in the landscape of Gettysburg.

We moved away from my outhouse toward the edge of the clearing. Stepping over a split in the low brush, we walked a few paces down a trail for a look around. Another cannon fired in the distance and everyone flinched. We peeked through the thick brush. I bit my lower lip. We weren’t in the clearing Al had designated for us.

“Where in Hell’s Kitchen did you land us?” Marco asked.

A live action version of theCall of Dutyvideo game LARPed in the low ground below us. Soldiers were running, cutting through the trees, firing their weapons into the thick pink dust.

Gertie’s breath tickled my cheek as she leaned next to me for a better view of the situation. “Where’s the tavern?”

I leaned back on my heels. Gertie gave me a concerned glance.

“Jen what the F…?” Marco pulled back from the brush and stared at me.

“I may have missed my mark.” I stood unsure.

“What do you mean, you missed your mark?” Gertie’s voice held a slight quiver.

“I’m not sure.” I glanced around at the trees surrounding us. We stood and started in the opposite direction. A twig snapped ahead, and a rustle in the bushes had us moving closer together.

A man stepped into the clearing. He held a pistol in one hand and his hat in the other. The man seemed to be in a state of urgency. Marco snapped to a salute. Gertie stood mouth agape. I copied Marco.

“Who taught you to salute like a damn Brit?” He asked me. “Palm up soldier.” I turned my palm up and held my position. The three of us were creating a stronghold in front of the outhouse I’d so carelessly forgotten to dismiss.

“At ease soldiers,” the man said, then turned his attention to me. “Which corps are you from lieutenant?”

The sweat beaded up on my hairline. Jake had given us several different scenarios based on our landing location and the troops in that area, but since I had botched the landing, I went with my gut.

“First Corps, sir. We were separated from our regiment.”

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