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Taking Shelter
Date: 9/17/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: ClarkRoberts, Rating: , Source: LushStories
“Evening, Captain,” said the Marine sentry saluting as I stepped out of the U.S. Embassy in London. He wore a British style tin helmet reminiscent of the last war. He stood outside a bunker of sandbags. “Good evening, Corporal,” I replied, returning his salute. “They say there’s a good pub around the corner. Is that true?” “The ale’s okay there, sir, but the food is better a few blocks further at the Red Lion Pub. If that’s what you’re after.” “It is. I’ll give it a try. Thanks, Corporal.” I fished a cigarette from my uniform pocket and lit it. The match flared bright in the blacked-out street. I inhaled and felt the smoke bite my lungs. Exhaling, I contemplated my mission. Headquarters Marine Corps had sent me to England to study the training, tactics, and operations of the British Commandos. Someone at HQ thought the Marines would probably be raiding hostile shores once America joined the war. I would be embarking with the No. 3 Commando tomorrow for their raid on the German occupied Lofoten Islands in Norway. “Once more into the breech,” I sighed. Having been in combat before, I did not relish the idea of getting shot at again. I was under the hanging sign with a Red Lion on it before I saw it in the dark conditions. I stepped into the pub and through the blackout curtains. It was crowded and loud. A cloud of cigarette smoke hung from the ceiling. Elbowing my way to the bar, I counted the uniforms of a dozen nations, most of them now occupied by the Germans with exiled ...