Grantville Gazette, Volume 59 by Paula Goodlett

Author:Paula Goodlett [Goodlett, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 1632, Inc.
Published: 2015-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

First USE Division section, Location classified

15 January 1636

Richard marched in and stood at attention before the desk. "Sergeant Hartmann reporting as ordered, sir."

Colonel Krüger looked at the papers on his desk, then at the man before him. "Stand at ease, Sergeant." then he held out a message form. "You are being sent to Grantville."

"Sir?" Richard looked at the message.

From: First Division

To: Third Regiment Command

Re: Hartmann, Richard, Sergeant.

INFORM THE SERGEANT THE YOUNG GIRL HE HAS BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH WAS INJURED 10 JANUARY IN AN ACCIDENT. HIGH COMMAND HAS ACCEPTED THE REQUEST OF THE PRESS THAT HE BE ALLOWED TO BE WITH HER BRIEFLY FOR THE MORALE BENEFIT TO THE NATION.

THE ABOVE NAME MAN IS GRANTED COMPASSIONATE LEAVE NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY (30) DAYS TO GO TO GRANTVILLE SOTF. MOTOR TRANSPORT AUTHORIZED.

Hartmann felt as if he had been hit in the stomach. He had gotten used to receiving a letter from Ilse every two weeks like clockwork. It was a glimpse of a gentler life he had not known he hungered for. Somewhere that didn't include having people he didn't know trying to kill him. In fact, he had begun to worry because she had been so punctual in her replies and had never missed a day. He looked at the officer numbly.

"You have done good work with this, Sergeant." the colonel told him. "You are used as an example everywhere these letters have been sent. I am told you made sure other units are getting them?"

"Yes, sir. When she asked if she should send them all to my own unit, I imagined higher command wondering why one company was doing nothing but answering letters. So when the first large number arrived, I spoke with the other sergeants in first the battalion, then regiment, then the division."

"Very well done. Morale has improved thanks to your efforts."

"Thanks to her efforts, really."

"Yes." Krüger stood. Hartmann was looking at the message. He was not responding at all. "Pack your gear and get to division. They will expedite."

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed."

****

The next morning was a blur. Hartmann arrived at Division headquarters, and a Lieutenant had him get in one of the pickup trucks. "Are you afraid of heights, Sergeant?"

"No, sir."

"You will be!"

Hartmann looked at him curiously, then his eyes widened as the truck pulled in at the small airfield. Before he really understood, he was stuffed into a Belle, and was in the air. He found yes, he was afraid of heights.

Finally the pilot pointed, and he saw Grantville as he never had before.

The field was crowded. In fact, it was a madhouse. As he climbed down, it got worse, because most of those madmen it seemed were there to see him. Questions were shouted by people from as far away as Hamburg and the Rhine. The only paper he recognized was the one of Grantville itself, though he heard the name Associated Press in one shouted question.

"Sergeant Hartmann, is Ilse seriously injured?"

"Sergeant, have you been called home because the girl is dying?"

He wanted his rifle, and the bayonet.

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