Covenant
The mass of helmets lurched backward as the landing craft plunged into the dark water. Sea spray glistened on the surface of everything it touched, catching the light of the artillery fire. Private Eddie Hagen glanced at the faces of the men around him. Some were praying, while others held pictures or mementos of sweethearts and family before carefully tucking them away inside of their jackets. The rest stared into the unknown, their faces expressionless, betraying no inner feelings.
'This is it, Buddy!'
Eddie managed a smile in return for the hearty slap on his shoulder and twisted around to acknowledge a friend.
'We're finally gonna kick some Nazi ass!' Vince DeLanzio grinned down at Eddie. 'Remember, kid, the rules are the same just like it was in the old neighborhood. Stick with me. We'll both do just fine. Besides, your sister will never marry me if I let any thing happen to you.'
'You know something, Vinnie, that's really funny. She told me to watch out for you.'
Suddenly, both men were distracted by an explosion which sent more spray into the craft. The roar of airplanes filled the sky. As they passed overhead, the black and white 'invasion' stripes painted on their lower bodies could be seen. The markings let the Allies know that these were their own, for protection against their anti-aircraft guns. The soldiers watched them as they made their way through the flack and over the cliffs.
'Son-of-a-bitch! Do you see that shoreline, Vince? How the hell are we gonna make it up those cliffs? We'll be sitting ducks, just waiting for Fritz to blow us all to hell!'
'They're blowing us all to hell now, Bud! Personally, I'll take my chances on that beach than in this deathtrap. Look over there! At least two of these babies less than a mile off have sunk!'
Eddie attempted to adjust his gear and renewed his grip on his rifle. Amid the chaos and ever increasing artillery fire, he thought of his last visit to another beach, Coney Island. During his high school years, as the weather grew warm, he would cut classes with Vince and hitchhike to the beach. Vince had always been the bolder one. Orphaned at an early age, he had been raised by an aunt. Without a father's guidance, he had grown up streetwise and cocky.
On the other hand, Eddie had the advantage of a loving, structured family life. His dad was a kind and forgiving man. It was his mother's Irish temperament which had kept him on his toes. His sister, Tess, had the same fire and beauty as their mother. Vince had been smitten with Tess for years. In fact, Eddie was sure that his friend was in love.
Vince and Eddie had signed up for the Marines at the same time. After basic training, the two had strutted like peacocks before family and friends. As full-fledged fighting men, they would now join in the fight against the Hun. When the time came to say good-bye, Eddie avoided the look in his parents' eyes. He could not avoid Tess, though. With tear-filled eyes, she made him promise to look out for himself, as well as Vince. She then turned to his friend, placed her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him for the first time. Vince watched her run upstairs to her room, leaving him weak in the knees. Regaining his composure, he said his farewell and walked out of the door.
Suddenly, the barking of orders from the platoon leader interrupted Eddie's thoughts. The back wall of the craft crashed into the water and the throng of men moved forward. Plunging into the icy surf, the Marines gasped as the cold wetness penetrated their clothing. The dark, green depths caused many to flounder, already weighted down with excess gear. This, combined with the mortar fire aimed at them from the top of the cliffs, caused many to believe they had seen their last day.
As Eddie struggled toward the shore, a bullet pierced through the man in front of him, causing him to fall backward. He looked into the lifeless eyes before the sea covered the soldier's face and claimed his spirit.
A second later, Eddie felt a sharp pain in his side. Before losing his balance, he felt a strong arm lifting him up.
'Are you okay, buddy?'
Eddie shook his head in reply as Vince struggled to maintain his own bearing. The water became shallower, but rolls of barbed wire presented another problem. Others cried out in pain as they fell or tripped onto the biting barricade. Finally, the two spied an opening and scrambled to the shore, quickly followed by others.
'Where are you hit, Ed?' Concern shown in Vince's face as his eyes searched for the source of the red stain, which slowly traveled downward.
'Just beneath the shoulder. Man, it stung like hell, at first. Now it's kinda numb.' Eddie gasped and dropped his head onto the wet sand.
'Give me your gear.'
Eddie raised his head as he felt his friend unbuckle the pack, and ease the straps from his shoulders.
'What are you doing, Vince?'
'I want you to start crawling toward the cliff. See that niche over there? Head for it. You can't make it in your shape with all this gear. I'll be right behind you. Now, go!'
The firing intensified, but Eddie said a silent prayer and clawed his way to the wall of rock. Bodies of dead and dying were all around. Ironically, they served as a protective shield. As he approached his destination, a hand reached out and grabbed at the collar of his jacket, pulling him to safety. Within the shelter of the rock, Eddie could see others inside the crevice.
'Can you see my buddy?'
'Don't see much of anything moving right now, mate.'
Eddie peered into the dark corners and recognized the British uniforms. A clicking sound engulfed his ears, and he realized that it was his teeth. Knowing he could not restrain his fear, he wanted at least to control his trembling. Glancing at the man next to him, he noticed that he, too, was shaking.
The mist from the sea began to rise, only to mingle with the smoke from the mortar fire. Eddie lay against the cliff, feeling weak and helpless. More men were coming ashore, and staying alive. They were making progress. He wondered how much longer the battle would last, and where Vince was.
Looking out at the edge of the beach, he saw the back of a familiar figure. With soldiers scrambling back and forth, Eddie found that he could not take his eyes from the lone form. Slowly, the man turned, and faced Eddie's questioning stare. The left side of his face had been blown away with shrapnel. His arm hung limply at his side. Even with half of his body badly torn, Eddie knew that it was Vince. Both men looked at each other. Eddie could not speak or move. He could only gaze at the face of his friend. Finally, Vince turned, and disappeared into the smoke and chaos of battle.
'Sorry about your mate, Yank. He'll probably turn up down the shoreline somewhere, where we're supposed to be.'
The voice broke into Eddie's trance, and pulled him back. Still he could not speak. The look in Vince's eyes before he vanished played over and over again in Eddie's mind. It had been a look of satisfaction at knowing that his friend was safe, and that he had kept his promise to the one he loved. It had also been a final farewell.
Later on, as the medic finished dressing his wound, Eddie found himself lying in one of a hundred rows of injured and dead soldiers. The glory of war was all around. Blood stained the sand, and the ongoing explosions of battle sounded in the distance. For now, though, the moans and crying of men filled the air.
'Here, pal, have a cigarette.'
Eddie looked at the medic's face and murmured a 'thanks' as he accepted the offer. Still trembling, he brought the cigarette to his lips and inhaled slowly. Lying back, he could only think of the fact that he was on a beach. It was chilly, just like Coney Island in the Spring. Coney Island.
He peered over just as a handful of more British soldiers made their way between the rows of bodies. One stopped to shift the weight of a load that he carried over his shoulder, before resuming his journey. Eddie could see that it was the body of a young Private, arms hanging limp and lifeless.
The medic stopped the man, and lifted the head of the boy.
'You're wasting your time, Mac. This one's dead.'
Continuing his trek, the soldier replied over his shoulder. 'I promised his Mum that I would look out for him.'
Shaking his head, the medic turned his attention to the next link in an endless chain.
'Promised his Mum.' The words rolled over in Eddie's head. Promises. The entire beach was filled with broken promises, yet Vince had managed to keep his. The cigarette slipped through his fingers into the sand. The sun now shone through the haze, resembling a Ferris Wheel in the distance. Water lapped back and forth on the shore, and the cry of gulls, somewhere, phased into the laughter of children. Eddie closed his eyes, and wept.
Comments
Again, exceptional work by this author! I look forward to..
Again, exceptional work by this author! I look forward to reading more. Very descriptive and moving ... I felt as if I were there, experiencing it as it happened.
Very well written and a moving tribuite to the WWII vets.
Very well written and a moving tribuite to the WWII vets.
Beautifully moving story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Great..
Beautifully moving story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Great writing!
This is the first short story Ive read by this author, and..
This is the first short story Ive read by this author, and Id just like to comment that this is probably the best short story Ive read in my lifetime (only 16). Ive read many stories, however this story make you feel that you are present at that moment, just like some1 else stated before me.
great story. Very touching. And very fine details as to the..
great story. Very touching. And very fine details as to the settings. Congratulations Crystal.
Loved it.
Loved it.
Every schoe on the street can write this same story and..
Every schoe on the street can write this same story and plug in different details. Been here, read that.
Dont know about every "schoe" being able to write the same..
Dont know about every "schoe" being able to write the same story....I really enjoyed it. Good work.
this story is well illostrated and very alladrate!
this story is well illostrated and very alladrate!
yes
yes
my name is big G homies!:)
my name is big G homies!:)
While the story has potential, I felt the characters..
While the story has potential, I felt the characters lacked depth, one didnt get a sense of the comaraderie between our protagonists that would have been built over the months training for D-Day. The scenario was also poorly fleshed out. For one, the Marines didnt get their feet wet in Normandy. Their theatre was the Pacific. This left me wondering if there was more to the piece but sadly, the naartive didnt deliver.
I agree that the Marines shouldnt have been used because..
I agree that the Marines shouldnt have been used because thier theatre was the Pacific, but the story makes up for the little depth of characters in illustration and emotion. I liked it.
AWESOME
AWESOME
"Makes you remember your loved ones who shared happy..
"Makes you remember your loved ones who shared happy moments with you."
One of the most compelling and enjoyable short story I have..
One of the most compelling and enjoyable short story I have read to date on this site. I became thoroughly absorbed in the atmosphere and emotion of these two friends. A definate must read in my book.
Good effort at difficult subject, but let down by factual..
Good effort at difficult subject, but let down by factual errors, such as Marines fighting at Normandy. A little more research would work wonders, because I think the story works well. Good tension building as troops come ashore. Over all I enjoyed it. Keep up the effort!
perfect in every way
perfect in every way
I personally loved the story.And when I read it, it was..
I personally loved the story.And when I read it, it was when I was doing some investigation about short stories and was deciding wether I should go for them or just poetry and novels.This story made me sure that the best way for a starter is to do short stories. They are so tricky.I read a comment above that said, he could have gone more deep into the charectors. I think that is not correct. I tried that. and you will end up with a novel not a short story.
Personally very impressed - i dont see how small factual..
Personally very impressed - i dont see how small factual errors (marines) detract from the story as a whole. First paragraph made me groan - the line Kick some Nazi ass made me expect a cliche-fest, but in fact the story was, in contrast, a very moving and vivid peice of literature. Good Work!!
It had a good message, but historically inccurate. As some..
It had a good message, but historically inccurate. As some else said, the authour did not do his homework. The marines only fought in the Pacific, they werent on continental Europe, let alone Normandy. Another thing, the British were never on Normandy. Mayby some navy or LCVP (landing craft) operators, but NO soldiers. Another thing: the landing craft used wouldnt have had a backdoor. There was a ramp on the front that would have been lowered. Personally I think there should have been more enemy fire eg) machine gun fire, rilfe fire, artillery... Nothing was mentioned of landing obstacles, the shorline. (men were stuck at the beach and did not move closer to German Positions for quite some time. Barb wire was not right by the water. This author did not do his homework.
This story was dope!
This story was dope!
I loved the story, but I didnt get what happened to the..
I loved the story, but I didnt get what happened to the boys. Did they find each other or did they both die?
Now that we have our history lesson out of the way, I would..
Now that we have our history lesson out of the way, I would like to say that I enjoyed your story very much. The depth of feeling and emotion in the story is wonderful. You dont have to change anything for me.
Just to address an earlier comment - 61,715 British troops..
Just to address an earlier comment - 61,715 British troops landed on the beaches at Normandy (Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach). The British were most definately at Normandy. A lot of them never left. This was an entertaining story, very descriptive and a had a good premise. The histroical errors can be easily corrected. Well done
brilliant, the best short story i have ever read
brilliant, the best short story i have ever read
a well considered plot, with a deep meaning in it.
a well considered plot, with a deep meaning in it.
This is the most amazingly moving short story Ihave ever..
This is the most amazingly moving short story Ihave ever read. I came to this site because of English homework and found a real treasure. It was brilliant.
Im no real expert when it comes to criticising short..
Im no real expert when it comes to criticising short stories. I thought well written, however I think that the last paragraph could have been a little shorter to give more impact.
"Another thing, the British were never on Normandy." ..
"Another thing, the British were never on Normandy." What the heck, of course they were! Americans took Omaha and Utah beaches, Canadians were on Juno Beach, and the Brits had Sword and Gold beaches, they were more succesful than the Yanks as well! One error was that americans and brits did not fight in the same beach sectors.
Picasso (among others) used the human figure etc as a..
Picasso (among others) used the human figure etc as a starting point to create great paintings. It is irrelevant that the finished work does not resemble the starting point in all or any detail. Crystal Arbogast has used the Normandy landings to create a great story. Thats all that matters. M.Carpenter
This story was quite brilliant but it lacked the tiny..
This story was quite brilliant but it lacked the tiny details that kind of helped you piece it together and see it for yourself. All in all it was absolutley fantastic and made you want to do somthing aboit it and want to be there to help the character. UTTERLY BRILLIANT
overall the story is pretty good and the details paint a..
overall the story is pretty good and the details paint a picture in your head although the facts werent precise
Awesome story! This makes me feel like Im next to Eddie and..
Awesome story! This makes me feel like Im next to Eddie and Vince.
Very nice story ... actually the best story Ive read in my..
Very nice story ... actually the best story Ive read in my lifetime
Congratz Crystal... keep working on your stories
A good story despite the factual error. Some of the..
A good story despite the factual error. Some of the comments above show just ho ignorany Americans are of European history.
Also, British soldiers did land on Omaha beach, my father was one, but a few days after D-Day. My fathers only comment "It was a horrible mess". nuff said.
This story has such a deep meaning for me being a person..
This story has such a deep meaning for me being a person that is going in to the military. The author really nails the feeling of soldiers before and during war. He talks about how mothers ask their sons friends to look after their kids in war. Even though that sounds corny and something that only happens in the movies its true. That kind of thing happens all the time. The story also has a very entertaining side to it too. It keeps you interested till the end.
Its a nice story, and nicely of a piece with Arbogasts..
Its a nice story, and nicely of a piece with Arbogasts other work here. My problem with it is that it doesnt quite carry the weight that a WWII story needs. Since Saving Private Ryan (not to mention WWI poetry), even those of us who havent been there have an idea that the horror of those battles was... greater than Arbogast conveys.
She doesnt describe Vince in his injured state and she doesnt give much account of Eddies wound. Theres nothing there to show just how frightening and terrible it really was. And without that, we forget how great those men were.
I Think This Story Was Great....Ive Never Really Been Into..
I Think This Story Was Great....Ive Never Really Been Into War And Stuff..But I Really Liked This Story...You Could Really Get Into The Characters Minds And Feel There Fear...I Thought It Was Sad That Only One Of Them Survived...But I Supose That Was The Plot Really...
great story i wonder if it a true story it was very sad and..
great story i wonder if it a true story it was very sad and made me sort of have that one tear rolling of my cheek i wonder what happened to vince and the soldier that broke his promise to look after some kid that joined the army and died :( very sad dstory
I liked the part when Vince showed up half dead, and the..
I liked the part when Vince showed up half dead, and the feelings that meeting generated in both. One felt his purpose realized. Eddie could do nothing... really painfull. Besides what really happened there was a sense of heat in that eye contact. Nice one.
Brave man are soldiers.
The marines were never in the Europian Campaign, only the..
The marines were never in the Europian Campaign, only the Army. Had the marines really been there, the war would not have taken so long.
"Kill them all, let God sort em out. Hoorah!
Clichés riddle this story like the bullets the..
Clichés riddle this story like the bullets the protagonists dodge along the beach. Try Hobnail -- thats an Arbogast story thats more in line with what her prose style is suited for. Also try The Certification of Brandon. Seems like the author wants a story of friendship and decides to set it in the middle of an invasion of all places! Thats a pretty genre-specific place to be. She would be more at home elsewhere, I think.
nice
nice
all i have to say is wow... i dont care about the factual..
all i have to say is wow... i dont care about the factual error that was rad.. and sad i suppose.. anyway you can almost feel the pain of the firends ... very well written if you ask me
i just want to say that this is a hard story to write and..
i just want to say that this is a hard story to write and it is fiction... it doesnt have to be factual for eveyone that was against it... keep up the good work
a 10 out of 5
a 10 out of 5
I can live with the factual errors, but the cliches jar...
I can live with the factual errors, but the cliches jar. The use of fritz and hun seem British rather than American. There are also POV issues in the middle. We are told how Tess leaving makes Vince feel, but from Eddies memories.
I really dont think this story is good at all. I could go..
I really dont think this story is good at all. I could go on but the only thing
I can really say is that it was crap!
I dont know. The story is nice, but it and the characters..
I dont know. The story is nice, but it and the characters are rather cliched. A tough Italian Kid from the streets? And the fact that she mentions Marines in the European theater, along with British troops on an American landing beach shows that she didnt check the facts. She is a pretty good writer, but she needs some originality.
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