Gray SaintsGray Saints logo.II: Quoth the Raven

Gray Saints. A Jim_Riley and Uberslug production.
June 9, 1944. Several miles beyond the beaches. A United States Army truck is driving through the road in France.
Inside the truck are Lieutenant Woods, Sergeant Riley and their troops. Sergeant Riley notes to himself that they met little resistance, surprisingly, when they took Isigny. The little farmer's village of about two thousand townspeople was their first objective after securing Omaha. Of course, it look longer to actually take Omaha. The 88's they were hoping to capture upon landing had been towed inland. Luckily for them, they didn't get too far and the rangers took them out without much trouble. The bastards put up quite a fight for those guns but they still got a good number of them too. After they, the 29th Division, secured Isigny, they met with a motor division moving transporting troops inland. Now, they were on a one-way trip to the frontlines.
One of the soldier notes that town would have really been a nice place to live if they didn't bomb the living hell out of it. Another, Alex, retorts not to mention that Grady had to toss a grenade into the only wine cellar in the whole damn town.
A soldier, Murphy, scolds Alex that the last thing they need is him and Larry drunk, riding off to fight Jerry. Alex notes that a few souvenirs wouldn't be so bad though.
Alex points out that France is practically the wine capital of Europe and he's pretty sure it won't be that hard to find more to drink. He adds that the moment they do get to Paris, the guys can probably loot whatever cellar they want.
Murphy retorts that something tells him it won't be that easy. Larry replies unless the Krauts hand over France for them. Murphy asks what that's supposed to mean.
Larry tells him to just think about it and notes how fast they took Isigny. He adds that the Krauts were on the run from the beginning and they just cleaned up the stragglers.
Larry also points out none of them were hit or killed. Alex corrects himself to almost everyone and asks the lieutenant how his hand is, anyway.
Lieutenant Woods stares at his left hand, which has a large gash where the thumb connects with the rest of the hand. While advancing into Isigny, Lieutenant Woods jumped ahead of them to pinpoint their objective and a Kraut soldier popped up and shot him while he was walking. Kowalski was quick to react and plugged that soldier befor he could get back down. Woods was quickly retrieved by Taylor where he was welcomed with relieved laughter from his men. Woods tells Riley it's much better and that Taylor says the bulk of the shot shattered his Thompson. Any deeper and he would have lost a finger.
Larry thanks God for small chances and Alex tells Woods with all due respect that next time he plans on going all Patton on them to make sure they at least killed the enemy first. Woods asks Stephan if he's going to put that incident down into his diary. Stephan replies yes, sir, and that that's something he won't forget about.
As the truck drives across the fields of France, the soldiers pause a moment in peaceful quiet, then a soldier, Jack, tells Stephan he's been thinking of that diary of his and that he thinks he should publish it.
Stephan replies that that's actually a good idea and asks what the guys think. The rest murmus in agreement.
Stephan says all right and that, when the war is over, he'll see if he can publish it, then asks how many copies they think he'd be able to get published anyway.
Larry jokingly whispers if anything at all and laughs, then Murphy elbows him mockingly.
Murphy then says more seriously that he doesn't know and guesses eighty copies. Riley tells him he doesn't know and maybe more, pointing out this is Stephan they're talking about after all.
A soldier asks if Stephan is still thinking about becoming a writer then. Stephan tells him you bet and that he guesses after all this he really should.
Murphy tells the rest to make this fun a while, then says they got eighty copies so far and to place their bets. A soldier with a machinegun suggests one twenty and another a hundred fifty.
Murphy asks Sergeant Riley what he thinks. Riley gives him a small smile.
Riley then says he really doesn't know. With a wide grin, Woods mockingly orders him to guess as his commanding officer.
They all crack down in laughter. As it dies down, Stephan says that before they continue on with the betting, he wants all to sign the diary.
Stephan says he figured people might as well know who the guys are when it gets published. Alex then asks Larry if he remembers that Susan girl from high school.
Larry asks if he means Loose Susan and laughs, then asks how could he forget, noting she was always fun at parties. He adds that he was actually able to date her before and that someone still owes him six bucks for that too. Another soldier then tells them to shut up and listen.
The soldier asks if they all hear that. Another notes that it sounds like gunfire, a lot of it, and tells the rest they better lock and load.
The truck screeches to a halt. A soldier reaches the back of the truck and screams at them to come on and hurry up, they're holding up the whole goddamn war. The troops descend down from the truck.
Riley looks to the side. A part of the forest is on fire, with medics carrying wounded soldiers around. Woods tells everyone to get into the ditch.
The troops jump down into the ditch and conceal themselves in the bushes.
They're all surprised when a crow suddenly lands on one of their M1 Garand rifles. The crow caws at them menacingly.
The crow then flies off. Allen asks Riley what the hell was that all about.
Riley replies that he has no idea as they both stare up at the sky. End of part 2.
Special thanks: BSG, Sorvin, Pedroleum, GoY, Hamberglar, Wearwolf0025, Dirty Diaper, Wile E. Coyote, Albatros. Dedicated to 29th Infantry Division, whose sacrifice does not go unnoticed. And for all those who continue to support and anticipate this comic. A Jim_Riley and Uberslug Production.

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