Chapter 3
1.
Aries woke up instantly, his eyes snapping open. He took in his surroundings. A barn. Hay. Callahan asleep with his back to him. Aries studied his sleeping form. He had taken off his jacket and used it as a pillow, so he was only in the Army issued A-shirt. He’d taken off his belt and boots as well. Aries’s eyes studied the contour of the man, how nice and perfect.
Aries crotch hurt with desire and other needs, so he tried to be quiet and roll away from Callahan. The swish of the hay made Callahan stir. He rolled onto his back and opened his eyes, looking at Aries. He smiled, his eyes crinkling again. Aries couldn’t help but smile back.
“You snore, you know that?” Callahan said, yawning and stretching.
“Sorry,” Aries said, and got up, also stretching. “What happened after I went to sleep?”
“We got some food, and I used my high school French to thank him. His name is Jacques.”
“Any left?”
Callahan looked around. “There was some, but they probably took it away. Mice, you know. Just some bread and soft cheese.” He yawned and sat up, stretching again. He tried to get up, but Aries was already at his side, helping him. “You get shot at, point blank, and live. You know French. And you’re my crutch?”
“I don’t mind, Bill.”
He chuckled, “That’s the first time you’ve not called me ‘sir’.”
“Like you said – “
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Let’s go find an outhouse.”
It wasn’t very far from the barn. Callahan went first, and then Aries, who had finally calmed down enough to piss. He heard voices and stepped out to see Callahan trying to talk to Jacques. Along with Jacques was his wife, who was smiling and happy to see him. She saw Aries and waved, coming over to him. “We are so glad you are here, sir,” she said, and kissed him on both cheeks. “If you are here, then the rest of the Americans are not far behind?”
“I hope not,” he replied, as the woman guided him back to the two men.
Callahan looked helplessly at Aries. “I think I heard the word ‘medicine’ in what he was saying.”
Aries spoke to Jacques and translated to Callahan, “He said he’s going to try to get the doctor away today. If not the doctor, then the veterinarian.”
Callahan raised an eyebrow. “A vet?”
“It’s more plausible for the vet to come here since he has animals. And sometimes the Germans go with the doctor to see who he’s seeing.” Jacques spoke some more. “In the meantime, he’ll make a crutch for you.”
“He doesn’t have to do that–”
“He said he’s been making too many coffins, it would be a pleasant change.”
Callahan turned to Jacques, “Merci beaucoup.”
“It’s nothing,” translated Aries.
“We’d better go back to the barn.”
They spoke some more, and then Aries led Callahan back to the barn. “He’ll bring us some breakfast.”
“I know what trouble he could get into by having us here,” Callahan said. “At least we have the barn.”
Jacques came with them into the barn, his wife following with a tray of food. Jacques measured Callahan for his crutch. Aries was able to hollow out a place in the hay for the two to hide in case the Germans came to the house. Jacques was talking the entire time, and Aries translated while he was working:
“He said that one of the farmers is holding a harvest festival on Sunday and that he is obliged to go. The Germans aren’t expected to be there, and he said he can find clothes to fit us. We can say we came from the nearby village to help with the harvest.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“He seems to think so. In a way, I think so too. If we hide in plain sight, the Germans won’t be the wiser.”
Callahan shook his head, “I don’t know…”
“We have a couple of days to think about it. In the meantime, he’s going to go to town and see if he can get the doctor.” Aries turned to Jacques and shook his head at other things he said. “He wants me to go with him to town, but I’m not going.”
“You can go, see what we’re up against.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Aries said.
Callahan said, “Aries, I’m not a total invalid. You’re spoiling me.”
Aries snorted – the dander from the hay was going to make him sneeze. He finished his work and went over to Callahan. “I have an obligation to make sure you’re all right.”
“Are you sure it’s just that?”
Aries gazed at Callahan. Callahan had his arms crossed and was standing with most of his weight on his right foot. He wasn’t quite smirking, but the smile had an edge to it, as if he knew something that Aries didn’t know. Finally, Aries coughed, looked away.
Callahan brought his arms down. “If you can go to town and get away with it, go. I’ll be fine here. In fact, I’ll hide in the burrow there.”
Aries told Jacques he’d go. Jacques said that was good. “His wife is finding you clothes, Bill. They had a son about your size and she thinks everything will fit you.”
“That would be nice,” Callahan said, unconsciously scratching his back. “I think these are ready to walk away by themselves.”
Aries didn’t like the idea of going with Jacques. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and a woman’s voice calling Jacques. It was one of Jacques’ distant neighbors, and she came in with a pile of rags. She smiled at the two men and spoke. “Her name’s Valerie,” said Aries, taking the basket of rags. He took off the top few bits, and underneath was some clothes for a big man. He pulled out the pants and boots. “This guy was big.”
“Then the pants will fit you” said Callahan, this time with a smirk.
Aries ignored that, but he turned away from Callahan, hoping he wouldn’t see his crotch get tighter. Aries took out two pairs of pants, two shirts, some well-mended socks and the boots. He looked around, saw that Jacques, Valerie, and Callahan were watching him. “Excuse me,” he said, and went up to the loft. He got out of his uniform and, knowing he’d be freeballing on the pants, he buttoned up the fly carefully. He put the shirt on and it fit across the shoulders, but was too long so he tucked it in.
He came back down from the loft. Jacques and Valerie were gone, and Callahan had limped to the window. He turned to see Aries. “See, it fits.”
He pulled up the pants, as they had fallen down almost past his hips. If he hadn’t had the shirt tucked in, Callahan would see his treasure trail. “This guy must have been three hundred pounds.”
“There’s some rope over here, you can use it as a belt.” Callahan went to the other side of the barn. “Jacques is with the wagon out front.”
“I didn’t see any horses.”
“I don’t know, maybe he’s using an ox?” Callahan found the rope. Aries threaded it through the belt loops – it went around twice – and tied it off. Callahan smiled, “There you go. Rustic Frenchman.”
“Go hide in that hay,” Aries said. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“All right, all right.” Callahan went to the hollow in the hay, burrowed inside it, and pulled hay down after him. “Better?” Callahan said, his voice muffled.
“Yeah,” and he straightened things out. “Don’t move until I get back.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Callahan said. Aries chuckled, but he was nervous.
He went out into the sun, looking around the buildings. The boots were big too, and he scuffled along to the front of the house. There he saw Jacques sitting atop a wagon with two horses pulling it.
Aries grumbled and hoisted himself onto the wagon. Jacques clucked and snapped the reins, and the animals started to move.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be safe. None of the Germans come this far up unless they want food. They know we are harvesting now and we’d force them to work if they did come up here.”
“Is there anything left to harvest?” he asked, looking out at the fields they were passing.
“There have been some bombs, some planes shot down in the next town. In fact, where you’re from, Domloup, there are no fields left to harvest. So it won’t be unusual for you to come here from there.”
“I need to explain my comrade,” said Aries.
“We’ll keep him hidden. An injured man can’t work in the fields, so he will be questioned.”
“How many Germans are there?”
“Less than two dozen from the Luftwaffe. They have anti-aircraft guns in the middle of the square. Any of the Army or the SS come from Rennes, if they come at all.”
“Have you done this before?”
“Done what?”
“Help Americans?”
“We kept an RAF pilot for a week before passing him off to someone else. Valerie has kept many men at her house since her husband died.”
Aries bit back a laugh.
Jacques blushed, “I didn’t mean it in that way.”
“I know you didn’t. I needed a chuckle.”
“You and your comrade..?” he said, and pointedly looked at Aries. Aries met the gaze squarely. Jacques asked the question with his eyes, and Aries did not waver. Jacques did, and looked back out at the road.
They came upon a checkpoint, so Jacques slowed down for it. Two Germans looked up at them. “Jacques, who’s that?”
“Jean Belier,” said Aries. “From Domloup.”
“Your papers, please.”
Jacques said, “He forgot them at home.”
“Will you step down, sir,” said one of the Germans, taking his gun off his shoulder.
Aries stepped down and looked at the two men. Jacques watched, trying not to look apprehensive but Aries could tell the man was nervous. They patted Aries down.
“What are you coming to town for?”
Aries looked up at Jacques. “I have a list,” Jacques said.
“Are you simple?” The German grabbed Aries’ face and pulled it forward, making him face him.
Aries took that idea and ran with it, by blinking slowly and saying, “I don’t know.”
The German let go of his face and walked away. “Go on.”
Aries climbed back up on the wagon. When they cleared the roadblock, Jacques snapped his reins again, driving the horses forward. They were in the town proper now. It was a mess. Some buildings had collapsed due to bombing, other buildings remained standing majestically in the skyline. Still others looked precarious. People still walked the streets. He got to a part in the road that was blocked by rubble. People were trying to clear it, stone by stone.
Jacques stopped. “We’ll have to carry it.”
“What?”
He lifted the tarp off the wagon. Inside was an empty coffin.
“Oh,” Aries said, and got off the wagon’s seat.
Aries picked up one end of one coffin and they swung it off of the wagon. He could have carried it himself if he wanted to, but he didn’t want to draw any more notice than he already had. They fumbled their way through the streets, about two blocks away, and he nodded. “Dr. Peltier is right down that street. We’ll come back and get him.”
They walked a couple of more streets down, and stopped in front of a building that had its right side caving in. The building to its right was demolished. “I guess she was right.” He looked around, waving at some people. “Where’s Favre?”
“Is that for him, Jacques?” said a man coming up to him. They shook hands warmly. “He’s not dead yet, though he almost was.” He looked at Aries, who bowed his head.
Jacques introduced the new man as Robert Collett. “He’s over with the Martins now,” said Collett.
Jacques shook his head, “That poor man.”
“He’s tough. Let me help you with that.”
Collett bent and took the head of the coffin, while Aries took the foot, and they walked through an alley that was untouched by any bombing. They got to another street and took a left, and were in front of a sign that said “Confectionery”. Jacques went in, while Collett turned to Aries. “Where are you from?”
“From Domloup.”
“Do you know the Desjardins?”
“No.”
Collett said nothing more and Jacques came out with another man in tattered clothes. “Thank you, Jacques. Thank you. I would give you payment but–”
“I heard.”
“You will understand that–”
Jacques put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Go bury your wife now, Gerard.”
He nodded, looking down at the coffin. “Leave it here.”
“Here? In the middle of the sidewalk?”
“It’ll get filled soon.”
“Gerard,” said Collett, “Don’t talk like that.”
“What is there left? What is left! They have taken my wife, my children, my home! They might as well take my life!”
“Gerard, the Americans are coming,” said Jacques.
“What good will that do? Will they bring anything back? No! What does it matter. What does it matter!” He threw up his hands and went back into the building.
Jacques looked at Collett, who went into the building. “Let’s move this in the alley, get it out of the way.”
They did, and waited for a little while. Collett came out, shaking his head. “He won’t last long. He’s talking to Heloise now.”
“If anyone can calm him she can.”
Collett hitched up his pants. “Anything else I can help you with?”
“I am going to see the doctor.”
“Oh, are you ill?”
“No. I need him to come to see Cecilia. She’s been complaining of an earache.”
Collette ahhed. “Well, I won’t keep you. Tell me if you need the apothecary.”
“I will, thank you.” Collette tipped his hat to the two of them, and they parted ways. Jacques went through another alley and then took a right. The sign outside of the building said “Medicine’.” He took Aries by the arm and brought him inside.
Two people were waiting, both of them young women, one was pregnant. Jacques nodded to them and sat down. The pregnant woman moved away from Aries when he sat down. They waited for about ten minutes, and then the door opened. Another woman came out, clutching a paper and her purse. Behind her came a slight balding man with glasses. “Jacques, did you just get here?”
“Yes, doctor.”
“There’s two people ahead of you.” He turned to the woman sitting next to Aries. “Miss Duval?”
She gathered her purse and got up, her head bowed. They waited in silence, then Miss Galois was taken in. Another woman came in. Just as Galois left and it was Jacques’ turn, a man in a German uniform entered.
Everyone in the room stiffened, even the doctor. Aries let his eyes pass over the man, but he noted the detail. He was in the dark blue of the Luftwaffe. He removed his helmet and sat down across from Aries.
Jacques was in there for a tense fifteen minutes before the doctor opened the door and let him out. The doctor looked at the Luftwaffe man and beckoned him in. The remaining woman watched as he went first.
They got back to the wagon, and Jacques put the tarp back over it. In silence, they went back outside the checkpoint and were halfway down the road when Jacques said, “The doctor will come to see us as soon as he’s able.”
“He’s a very busy man,” Aries said.
“Yes. Collett will also be by.”
“Are these men to be trusted?”
“Collett and I have been friends for a long time. He’s like a brother to me.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, I trust him.”
“And the doctor?”
“So long as I pay him in goods.”
Aries didn’t feel comfortable. Too many people knew about him and Callahan, and he didn’t like it. He was moody when he got back to the barn. He went inside, and Callahan was sitting in front of the cow, looking out the window.
He was dressed in a light long-sleeved shirt and cotton trousers, socks and well-beaten laced shoes. He looked suddenly his age, which was younger than Aries’ chosen age.
Callahan smiled warmly, “See, that wasn’t so bad.”
His eyes didn’t crinkle like they normally did. Aries read something different in Callahan’s eyes – relief. Aries said, “I had my stomach in knots the entire time. You didn’t stay hidden.”
“I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get air with Betsy here.”
Aries looked at the cow and absently scratched its forehead. “Is that her name?”
“I don’t know. It’s what I named her.”
He snorted a laugh. “The doctor will be by today, and some guy we met in the village.”
“Too many people involved, Aries.”
“I don’t like it. The Krauts asked me for my papers.” Aries told Callahan what happened, and the part that he chose to play. He looked down at Callahan’s leg. “You changed your bandages.”
“Madame Salvage did it.”
Aries finished scratching Betsy’s forehead. Callahan looked out the window and said, “Oh, here comes my crutch.”
Jacques came in, and offered the crutch to Callahan. Madame Savage had put a bit of padding on the underarm so it wouldn’t chafe. Callahan, with many thanks, tried it out, and was able to hobble around fine. “Well done, and thank you.”
“He’ll bring us dinner in about an hour,” said Aries, going to sit down at the base of the haystack. Callahan sat back down on the stool near the window after Jacques left. Aries leaned back with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.
“What do you think about that harvest festival?” asked Callahan.
“No.”
“Although what you had said before, about hiding in plain sight…”
“How do we explain you?” He opened his eyes and looked back at Callahan. “How do I explain someone with a limp.”
“I’m limping because I have a bullet in my leg,” Callahan said, getting up and hobbling over to Aries. He stood over Aries. “Once I get it out, I should be able to walk fine.”
Aries looked up at Callahan, looking at the shirt that was a bit too tight and stretched a bit across his pecs. Callahan turned, and slid down against the wall of the barn, then scooted over next to Aries.
Callahan turned to look at Aries. Aries noticed that he was sitting very close to him. Callahan swallowed, and stared into Aries’ green eyes. “I was worried sick,” he said quietly, “that you were going to get captured.”
Aries stared into Callahan’s eyes and saw worry, earnestness, and…dare he see? Want. “I was worried something was going to happen to you here.”
Both men moved at the same time. Both men leaned their heads forward and their lips met in a tentative kiss. Then Aries cupped the back of Callahan’s head and kissed him, holding his head still, opening himself up to Callahan. Callahan took it, and with a groan Aries deepened the kiss. His dreams were coming true.
They broke, looking at each other again, panting. They kissed again. Aries gently pushed Callahan down into the hay as one hand started feeling up Callahan’s chest. Callahan awkwardly put his arms around Aries, his hands caressing his back. When Aries came up for air, Callahan whispered, “Not right now.”
Aries kissed Callahan’s cheek and jaw. “It won’t take long.” He took Callahan’s hand and brought it to his crotch, swollen and hard. Callahan moaned as Aries kissed his neck and then his hand gripped Callahan’s crotch, which was also hard.
“No, no, it won’t,” Callahan said, and undid his own pants. Aries fished out his manhood for him, and Callahan sighed. Aries bent his head down and took it in his mouth, while unbuttoning his pants and getting himself out. Callahan sighed and ahhed, and lay back, his eyes closed.
Aries knew exactly what he was doing, and got his rocks off faster than Callahan did. When Callahan came, Aries swallowed it, enjoying the salty-musky taste of him. Part of his dream had come true. As he lifted his head, he hoped that the other part would come true as well.
“Oh…” panted Callahan, as Aries tucked his manhood back, and then buttoned up his own. Aries moved the hay around to cover up the evidence of his sated desire. Callahan opened his eyes slowly and gazed at Aries. “That was – I don’t know what that was.”
“Did you like it?”
Callahan gave him a lopsided grin, “Oh, yes.”
“Then it was good.”
“Hm, yes.”
Aries lay next to Callahan, wanting to pull him into his arms but not sure how he would take it if he did.
Callahan stared at the ceiling. “I think I’ll have to go to confession after all this is over.”
“You’re Catholic?”
He nodded. “Born and raised. I know, huh?” He reached over and touched Aries’s face. “Can you do that again sometime? I’m in for a penny, so…”
Aries laughed, turned his head and kissed Callahan’s palm. “For a moment there, I thought you were going to say, ‘We can’t do this anymore, Aries’.”
“Are you kidding? If I knew these feelings I had for you was all right with you, I wouldn’t have been so guilt-ridden over these last few weeks.”
“Your God will be upset.”
“My God? You’re not Catholic? Or Christian, even?”
“No. I come from a different time and place.”
Callahan turned sideways to look at Aries. “Tell me.”
Aries wanted so badly to tell him. So he did. “I’m originally from Eire. You know it as Ireland.”
“Well, I could tell you were Irish.”
“I died in Bosnia.”
“You died?”
Aries nodded, his hand on Callahan’s arm that touched his face. Callahan brought his hand away. “You’re – resurrected?”
“Not by Jesus. A goddess came to the underworld and brought me to this Earth to help and protect humanity.”
“A goddess?”
“Ishtar. Sumerian goddess of Love and War.”
“So that’s why you took all those bullets.”
He nodded. “We all can.”
“We?”
“There’s others like me. Brothers in the Mul’apin. The Zodiac.”
Callahan looked into Aries’s eyes. “You’re not kidding.”
He entwined his fingers with Callahan’s. “I’m not kidding.”
“Which one are you?”
“Ku’Mal, Aries, the Ram.”
Callahan laughed. “Head down and going forward, that’s you, all right!”
Aries chuckled, “That’s me.”
Callahan pulled his hand out from Aries’, and touched his shirt instead. “Why are you telling me all this?” he said very quietly.
“Because–” The door to the barn opened. Both men rolled away from each other as Jacques entered, the doctor in tow. He carried a black bag, and straightened his glasses as he entered. Aries stood up.
“Good evening,” the doctor said in English. “What do we have here?”
“I got shot,” said Callahan.
“Please let me see the wound?”
Callahan glanced up at Aries, and then undid his pants. He pushed them down, pulling his shirt down to cover his groin. The new bandage had a small blood spot on it. “It is clotting, good.” He undid the bandages, and looked at the wound.
Aries couldn’t smell it, so it wasn’t infected. The doctor examined it, and went in his black bag. He took some tweezers, stuck it into the hole. Aries winced, and Callahan’s body tensed while he gasped in pain. He shook his head, pulling the bloody tweezers out. “I cannot take it out. I suggest closing the wound and going to another surgeon later.”
Callahan panted, sweating. “All right, Doc.”
The doctor took out some twine and a needle. He threaded the needle and Aries said, “Put a flame to that tip, doc. Shit, even I know that.”
“I do not have matches.”
Aries took down the box of matches above the lantern near them. He handed the box to the doctor, who glared at Aries. He used the bottom of Callahan’s shoe to start the match, and stuck the tip into the flame.
Callahan gritted his teeth as the doctor sewed up the wound. He wrapped it up again loosely. “It should stop bleeding in the next day or so. Keep it clean and if it smells bad, call me again.”
Callahan let out a breath he was holding. “Right,” he grunted.
“I think it’s broken,” said Aries. “Or at least fractured.” He had seen enough war wounds in his time, and the simple symptom that Callahan couldn’t put any weight on it was enough for him to come up with that diagnosis.
“Are you a doctor, monsieur?”
“No, but–”
“Then leave it to me, please.”
Aries didn’t like the doctor, and the doctor, it was obvious, did not like him, either. Jacques thanked the doctor profusely and helped him get up and out. Aries kept his eye on him as he left.
“I don’t trust him,” Callahan said.
“Me neither.” He lit the lantern and Jacques came back in. “I don’t trust that doctor.”
Jacques said, “He won’t say anything.”
“Why?”
“If he does, the town will tell them he’s Jewish, and he knows it.”
“Is he?”
“He was a recent convert before the Nazis came. His wife and children left him because of it.”
Aries took a breath and let it out slowly. There was a knock on the door. “Jacques?” came Collett’s voice.
“In here,” he said. Collett came inside and shut the door behind him. “Here you are. How’s Cecilia?” He patted the head of the cow. He tipped his hat to Callahan. “Bonsoir, monsieur. Robert Collett.”
“Bill,” said Callahan, nodding once.
“And John?” said Collett, motioning to Aries.
“Yes,” said Callahan. “Or oui.”
“My English…is as good as Deusch.”
“Better than my French.”
Collett turned to Aries. “You speak the French?”
“Yes,” Aries said.
Collett let off some rapid-fire sentences, as Aries translated, “He’s a contact from the Free French Militia, and he has contacts with the RAF but not the Army yet, though it’s expected that they’ll be in the area within the next few days, since Patton is driving through France according to last night’s radio reports.”
“We can hunker down for a few days,” said Callahan.
“That’s up to our host,” said Aries, looking at Jacques. Aries asked Jacques if he would allow them to stay the few days until the Allies got to them. Jacques glanced at Collett. Collett shook his head saying, “Non,” a couple of times firmly. “I can’t – they are watching me.”
“Which means you could have brought them here!” Jacques said hotly. Collett went to the door and opened it. When he did, three German soldiers in black uniforms ran in, with another one in an officer’s cap. Aries saw their markings: two lightning flashes on the collar. SS.
Callahan groaned and looked up at the ceiling, while Aries said in fast and furious French, “You said I could trust him!”
Jacques said in a voice that could make ice, “I thought I could.” Then he spat at Collett.
“I’m sorry,” said Collett, looking down.
“You traitor!”
Meanwhile one soldier had grabbed Callahan, kicking away his crutch. Callahan leaned heavily on the soldier. Aries was held by two soldiers. The German in the hat walked up to Aries. In German he said, “Well, well, not so simple, are we?” He punched Aries in the stomach. Aries doubled over, exhaling, as expected, but it didn’t do what it was supposed to do. Aries had been punched there numerous times and had built up a tolerance over the years. He could come back fighting if he wanted to. But now was not the time.
Then he walked up to Callahan. “And you, you’re new.”
“William Callahan, Sergeant,” said Callahan. Aries blinked. Why did he bump himself down a few ranks?
He got punched in the stomach too. He bent in half, his weight going on his bad leg, and he almost fell. “Tie them up,” the man in the fancier black uniform ordered, and one of the soldiers released Aries to get some rope.
Callahan stood up straight finally, and the soldier threw him against the main pillar and tied him there. He did the same to Aries, tying him back-to-back with Callahan. Aries made fists to make it harder for them to tie the ropes.
In the meantime, the man in black was talking in French. “We thought it very unusual that you had suddenly appeared, though we never saw you before, monsieur. And when you did not know the Desjardins, who were one of the richest families in Domloup, Monsieur Collett made the assumption that you were not from here. How right he was, yes? Maybe he will get his daughter back in one piece, instead of just her ear, no?”
Aries saw Jacques slug Collette. As the two men started to fight in the barn, two of the soldiers rushed in to break it up. One knocked over the lantern and the book of matches. On the hay and dust of the floor, it immediately caught fire.
“Time to go,” said the man in the hat. Aries tugged at the rope – it was loose. He watched as the man left, the soldiers with him.
The hay that they had slept in went up next. The cow mooed mournfully.
Aries tugged again at the rope, noticing that Callahan was doing the same. His left hand came free, and he untangled it, then undid his right hand.
“They’ll be outside the door, Aries,” said Callahan, as Aries started to undo Callahan’s knots.
“We’re not going out that door.” The knots were all tangled, and it took him a bit to get it undone. By then, the loft was going up.
“If we don’t get out –”
“We’re going to get out.” He finished untying Callahan. He stood up, still leaning on his right leg, but better balanced.
“How?”
Aries grinned and said, “I’m a fire sign.” He grabbed a hold of Callahan and walked up to the ladder of the loft. He picked him up in a bridal carry and started to walk into the flames. Callahan buried his head in Aries’s shoulder and curled up tight against him as Aries walked through the flames to an open breach on the opposite side. They heard the cracking of the wood above them, the roar of flames around them. He got through the hole and as he did, the loft came crashing down, throwing up sparks and cinders that didn’t even touch the two men.
Then Aries broke out into a run across the field as the barn went up in flames.
Callahan lifted his head and said, “What about the cow?”
“Fuck the cow,” Aries yelled, and kept running.
2.
It was full night when he tripped and fell, rolling onto the grass. He dropped Callahan, who went flying out of his arms, about five feet away from him.
“Ow,” was all Callahan said. Aries, panting, turned over and looked at the night sky. He couldn’t run anymore. He was exhausted.
Callahan crawled through the grass over to him. “Aries, Aries! Are you alright?”
“Catching–my breath–”
Callahan sighed in relief and lay his head on Aries’s chest. Aries automatically put his hand on Callahan’s head.
“You ran for hours.”
“I don’t know,” Aries could only say. He suspected he ran for a long time, past dusk, into the dark where he could still see in it, jumping over hedgerows, avoiding farms and lights. He caressed Callahan’s brown hair, staring up at the sky. He could pick out the constellation of Leo, Virgo, the Seven Sisters, and the Ursae.
“How old are you? Callahan suddenly asked.
“I stopped counting after 500.”
“You have a few years on me, then.”
Aries chuckled, “Just a few.”
Callahan lifted his head. “You never told me why you told me all that, before.”
Aries stroked Callahan’s face. “Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Callahan jerked back, startled. Aries looked away. “I’m sorry,” Aries said.
Callahan shook his head, as if to clear it. “But you live a long life.”
“Not if I find someone I want to spend it with.”
“What about your goddess?”
“She’s the goddess of War and Love. She understands.”
“So I’ll live as long as you?”
“No. I’ll live as long as you.”
Callahan said, “I wouldn’t want you to die the same day I do.”
Aries shrugged and brought his hand up again to Callahan’s face. “And when we die, we’re joined forever and put among the stars.” He pointed upward.
“You believe that?”
“I know it.”
Callahan turned to his side and rolled onto his back, looking up at the stars. “Beautiful.”
Aries found Callahan’s hand and took it, squeezing. “Yes.”
“Have you ever been in love, Aries?”
“Just this once. Right now.”
Callahan squeezed Aries’ hand. “Me too.”
They lay there looking up at the sky, even while the planes sailed overhead, a thrumming roar, and they could hear a distant siren wailing, and the distant booms of bombs hitting the earth.
Aries didn’t notice he fell asleep until he felt the heat creep up on him. Callahan had curled up beside him, laying on his chest. Aries woke up like he normally did, and bent his head to kiss Callahan’s hair. “Wake up, sunshine.”
“Uhhh…I fell asleep?” He stretched his arms out sideways, and saw that he was on Aries’s chest. Callahan scrambled up.
“Why such a rush?”
“Well, one, I have to water the garden, and two, I didn’t know how you would feel about that.”
“Bill. I come from a time and place where men having sex with each other is not unusual.”
“That long ago?”
“The time of the Romans, when they still ruled Gaul.”
“You’re going to have to tell me that story sometime,” he said, and struggled up. He limped a few yards away and pissed in the grass. Aries did the same. “Now, where are we?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Well, east is that way,” he faced the rising sun. “North must be that way,” he pointed to his left.
“Let’s head that way.”
They walked through pastureland and then through farmland, where corn rotted on the stalk. Aries took some of the corn off the cob and ate it straight. Callahan did the same at Aries’ direction. “This tastes like – raw dough.”
“It’s pure starch,” Aries said. “Gives you energy.” He sucked on the cob, drawing the juices from it. They came upon another farm.
“What do you think?” asked Aries.
“I think we should avoid them. Any way we can follow a road?”
“Have to find one first,” he said, and they followed one of the stone walls that marked off farming fields from fallow. That led to a cow path, which they followed.
Aries suddenly stopped. “Do you hear that?”
Callahan stopped, listening. “Vehicles,” he said.
“We’re getting near a road.”
Down the cow path they kept walking, until a fence blocked their way. Beyond the fence was a road. They jumped the fence, with Aries helping Callahan over it. They followed the road, hearing vehicles somewhere. “What if they’re Jerries?”
“I carry you away again,” said Aries.
The vehicles began getting closer, they could hear their roar. As they crested a small hill, they could see the leading vehicle of the convoy. It had a star on its hood.
“Thank God,” said Callahan, his whole body sagging in relief.
“Let’s sit down over here until they get here.” He pointed to a trench on the side of the road, and both of them ducked down into it.
The first vehicle saw them and stopped, and both men had their hands up. “Are we glad to see you,” said Callahan.
“What’s your name,” yelled the corporal, a little too loud.
“Captain William Callahan, and this is Sergeant John Aries, from the 29th infantry.”
“29th? You’re a long way from home,” said the driver with a midwestern accent.
“You’re from the 8th.”
“What’s going on, private?” came someone from another vehicle.
“These two men say they’re from the 29th.”
Aries helped Callahan out of the trench. “Lieutenant,” said Callahan, “we’d like to report to your superior officer.”
“Private, escort these two men, please.”
Aries knew they were going to be not trusted until they were verified, so he went along with Callahan. Callahan walked side by side with Aries as the private held the gun to them. They arrived at a jeep, where a man was standing up. “What the hell is going on?”
“Found these two men, sir,” said the lieutenant. “They’re from the 29th.”
“No shit. Who’s your CO?”
“Colonel Philip Dwyer, Captain.”
“Your name?”
“Captain William Callahan and Sergeant John Aries.”
“Ain’t you a little too east for being the 29th?”
“To tell you the truth, captain, we don’t know where we are.”
“We just liberated Rennes if that helps. No? You won’t mind if we wait a little while we check your bona fides, do you?”
“Not at all,” said Callahan. “Though could we have something to drink?”
“Get them some water,” yelled the captain. “And radio HQ, tell them we have two guys here from the 29th.”
They served the captain first, but he gave the cup to Aries. Aries took it, drank it down and gave it back. “It’s gonna take a while,” said the captain, and then the radio squawked. “Blue Bonnet, those two men are MIA, repeat, MIA.”
“Lemme see your tags.”
Both men leaned forward and showed him their dog tags. “Tell them they’re not missing any more. You’re injured, there, son?” he said to Callahan.
“Yes. Fractured thigh.”
“Get him to the rear and bring him back to Rennes.”
“Excuse me,” said Callahan, “I’m not leaving without Sergeant Aries.” He said, seriously and straight, “He saved my life numerous times.”
Aries crossed his arms, as if daring anyone to make him move.
“Go,” said the captain, and faced front.
3.
At the Army hospital in Caen, Callahan indeed had a fractured femur due to a bullet hitting his leg. He recovered and was back in the 29th with a newly-constituted B-Company, never getting rid of his limp. Aries was transferred to the staff of B-Company, and for the duration of the war, the two were never very far from each other.
Aries started getting gray hairs by the end of the war, and he wasn’t moving as swiftly as he used to. Callahan fulfilled his promise to Aries by making him a first lieutenant at the end of the campaign, with Callahan being discharged honorably as a major. Aries had more awards than a chest to pin on when he was discharged.
Both men moved to Florida. They both lived there until they died on the same day, 7 August 1979. at the age of 60.
They were placed in the sky as Lambda Arietis.