It was hot.

Well, it was North Africa after all. And seriously, I didn’t think riding inside the tank would be any cooler. I and my four men had gotten separated from our column when we had come under attack by a German patrol. We only survived because the British army had shown up in the form of a single M3 Honey. The Honey is a M3 Stuart retro fitted with fender skirts and other items the British military wants. It was named Honey because when the British tested it, it was a honey of a tank. Fast, maneuverable and they couldn’t throw a tread even when they tried. It was just under-gunned.

The tank was attached to a garrison holding the only water well in a 120 click radius.

The tank came to a noisy clanking stop, rocking forward slightly. I tapped the tank commander’s shoulder. “What’s up, lieutenant? It’s almost dark and we’re still several clicks from the well.”

The tank commander turned to face me and pulled his goggles down as well as the bandana covering his mouth. “Right. The men have requested permission to brew-up. Since Jerry’s been kind enough to not show himself since that bit of excitement this morning when we picked you and your lads up, it seems like a good time for it. We should hit the well around dusk.” I just nodded.

Something I learned recently was that most British tanks carried a small stove and a tea kettle so they could have their spot of tea on the battle field.

Sgt Benson, who was riding on top of the engine cover turned to look over at me where I leaned on the .50 cal mounted on the turret. “Hey LT. Why are we stopped?”

Grinning, I chuckled, “It’s so they can have a spot of tea.”

The Sgt laughed and affected a very bad British accent and said, “Right. Pip pip, cheerio and all that rot. Can’t let a little thing like a war interrupt tea-time!”

The tank commander grinned with uneven teeth as he jumped down on the hull to help with the tea. “The bloke’s got that right. Smoke em if you got em, chaps. We leave in fifteen minutes. Mick, keep an eye out for Jerry.”

“Break time, boys,” I said as I jumped off the tank to stretch my legs. “Sgt, toss me a candy bar, will ya?”

I set my helmet down on the tank and wiped the sweat and grime from my face with my towel. I scanned the horizon. Nothing but sand and more sand or as they said back home in west Texas, miles and miles of miles and miles. I shook my head thinking about where I was before the war. I was living in London working burlesque as a dancer. A female impersonator. And that is the most closely guarded secret in the Army.

The Honey rocked to a stop at the well. The last rays of the sun were striking the British Union Jack flag mounted atop a small three story building housing the garrison. Backed into the building was a disabled M3 Lee tank partially covered by a tent and covered with sandbags. Between the tank and a fence surrounding the well was the entrance to the building. Inside were two tables with maps spread on top of them. Inside were also the munitions and rations stores. These supplies were running dangerously low.

I walked into the makeshift headquarters of the small garrison to find Major Thomas Meriwether along with two other British officers. The major stood when I entered and extended his hand to me. He also allowed a grin to cross his face. We both had known each other before the war. The major wasn’t sporting a moustache last time I saw him.

Chuckling, he said, “Lieutenant, (of course he said something like ‘leftenant’) welcome to our posh officer’s quarters. I appreciate you being here.”

Taking off my helmet and setting it on the table and I saluted and said, “Thank you major. I’m Lieutenant Paul Johnson and I’ve been ordered to bolster the garrison you have here.” The major already knew who I was but the other two officers didn’t. “I had more men before we ran into a Kraut patrol that separated us from our platoon. I’m very thankful one of your tanks arrived.”

Pointing at a chair, the major said, “Have a seat Lieutenant. Right. Jerry keeps probing this area. This well isn’t on the maps and I don’t have to tell you the strategic importance of a water supply. We also have several barrels of fuel buried in the sand behind this structure.”

I pointed towards the front of the building. “I gather that the Lee is out of commission?”

The major nodded. “Quite right. The guns are all serviceable. So as long as the enemy attacks us from the north east, we can use the 70mm. At least while we have ammo. We can swivel the turret to make use of the 37mm. So far, the biggest tank we’ve faced has been a couple of Panzer III’s. Luckily we’ve been able to deal with them. I’m afraid we’d all be dead if they had any bloody Tigers.” The Lee had a sponson mounted 70mm gun mounted on the right side. You could raise the gun up and down, but would normally have to rotate the tank to change direction. The German Tiger tanks are equipped with a deadly 88mm gun that would pop the M3 Honey like it was a toy and we were lucky there weren’t any here.

I squinted into the dusk. “Isn’t Rommel interested in this well?”

Major Thom shook his head. “Not yet. So far we’re keeping that wanker busy with their oil fields.”

I chuckled. “Tanks can’t run without oil and men can’t run without water.”

“You got that right. Want to come up to the pent house?” The major grinned at me. “Great view.”

We started climbing up a ladder that groaned and creaked with each step. The second floor of the building was largely empty. It contained more ammunition for the water-cooled .30 cal mounted on the roof and several bedrolls.

When Major Meriwether stepped onto the roof, the private on guard duty snapped to attention and saluted. The major returned the salute and said, “At ease, private. There is some tea and rations by the Lee. Go get something to eat. I’ll man watch for twenty minutes. That’s a lad.”

The private saluted me as he started down the ladder. I took a few steps towards the wall to look down at the desert when my shoulders were gruffly grabbed from behind. I was spun around to find the major’s lips pressed against mine.

Grinning, I stepped back. “Major! That’s behavior unbecoming of…”

Thom interrupted by rudely saying, “Oh sod off!” He took me in his arms and kissed me again, harder. “Blimey, Paul. It’s so bloody good to see you!”

I immediately slipped into a feminine mode. I threw my arms around him and kissed his neck. This was breaking so many rules, but neither of us gave a rat’s ass. I was in heaven. I missed my Tommy so much.

His blouse was about half-way unbuttoned as it was and I started to unbutton the rest of it. Thomas put a finger up and shook his head. He whispered, “Later. The private will be returning soon.” I simply nodded and took a step back.

I sighed and said, “It’s been a long time, Thomas.”

He nodded. “Too long.”

The ladder began wobbling back and forth indicating someone was climbing it. The soldier got to the roof and saluted us both

The major returned the salute. “Carry on, private.”

The private nodded and said, “Yessir.” He picked up his binoculars and stared out into the very black night. He wasn’t going to see much.

The major looked over at me in the star lit gloom. He said, “I always make a perimeter walk here in the evening after it’s cooled down. Would you like to join me, lieutenant?”

I stood a bit stiffer. “Yes, of course, major!”

As he walked to the ladder, the major said, “Always gives me some peace of mind to personally inspect our little bivouac. Just last week I found a kraut hiding under our tank. Scared the piss out of me. Bloody wanker.”

I grinned at the major. “Get any good intel from him?”

Major Meriwether chuckled as he started down the ladder. “We might have if I hadn’t shot the bugger.”

Once on the bottom floor, we exited the building. The side hatch was open on the Lee and a warm glow lit Cpl Nicol’s face.

I stuck my head inside the tank. “Getting anything on the shortwave, Nicols?”

The corporal looked back at me. “Yessir. Fibber McGee is about to start.”

I chuckled. “Don’t run the battery down.”

I followed the major out of the compound and into the desert air. A gentle breeze disturbed my air and reminded me I’d left my helmet inside. The major and I walked a short distance from the well. It was a beautiful night if you ignored the fact that we were ringed by Kraut forces. We were outgunned and outmanned. I wondered if this was what it was like at the Alamo.

It was easy to follow the major. The stars at night were big and bright here as well as Texas. I was curious about where we were going. We weren’t just walking around the compound. We were heading up a slight hill.

At the top of the hill, the night was beautiful. Thom cleared his throat and said, “I remember you as a romantic, Paul. I thought you’d find this view nice even at night.”

“Yes, it is.”

Pointing in the dark, Thom said, “See that over there? Those lights? It’s Jerry getting ready to attack us. They know we have a small force so they don’t care if we can see them. I suspect we’ll be hit in the morning. Are you afraid of death, Paul?”

I sighed as I stuck my hands in my pockets. “I try to avoid thinking about it. We’re all going to face it at some point. I’m willing to die for my country, if that’s what you mean.”

Still looking off into the desert, Thom said, “Perhaps. But it’s much like clearing the mind when a man knows he will be hanged in the morning. I feel we are facing our end, Paul. Can we really face down three Panzer III’s and seventy-five men?”

“We’ll do our best, sir.” I said finding this discussion depressing.

Thomas nodded. “Yes. I’m sure we will.” He had been carrying a blanket and spread it out on the sand. He laid down on the blanket and looked up at me. “Join me, Paul.”

I got down on the blanket and we kissed. We talked about how after the war, God willing, we’d start our lives over. I’d go back to dancing.

I felt his massive hard on press against me. It had been months since I’d had a man inside me.

“Lieutenant.” Someone was shaking my arm. I was laying on a bed roll on the floor of the building. I had no idea what time it was and I was sore from sleeping on a hard surface. “The major needs you outside, sir.” I looked up at the person who had shaken me awake. He was a private with a worried expression on his face.

As I stood up, I asked, “What’s the situation, private?”

He took a deep breath. “Jerry’s on the move, sir. The major is expecting an assault at any moment.”

Muttering mostly to myself, I asked, “Why the hell was I allowed to sleep?” The private just shrugged.

I quickly made my way outside. It was a bright morning with a cloudless, deep blue sky. Major Meriwether was standing on top of the M3 Lee’s turret. I climbed up to stand next to him.

He grinned at me. “Top of the morning to you, Paul. It seems Jerry has finally decided to make a run for this well. I suspect he’s throwing everything’s he got in this region at us. They did send an emissary to offer us surrender terms.” He looked over at me and huffed, the brim of his pith helmet shading his eyes. “I don’t feel much fancy being a prisoner of war, do you, Paul?”

I shook my head. “No Thomas. I can’t say that I do.” I heard a bullet whiz past our heads and impact the wall behind us.

“Damn. It’s started. Any words of inspiration?”

I grimaced and said, “Remember the Alamo?”

“Right.” He then started to open the hatch on the stop of the turret. He shouted, “I need men on those walls now. I need the gun crew in the Lee now.” He pointed at the Honey and said, “Try to hit their flank from the east. The sun will be in their eyes.”

The tank command saluted and closed the turret hatch. Exhaust smoked belched as the tank turned and clanked away. The water cooled .30 on the roof started chattering away. Several of the enemy who just crested the dune in front of us were taken down. A moment later, the commander’s turret .30 started chatter. The main turret rotated and the 37mm hit a Panzer III broadside, breaking the tread.

I sighed and jumped to the ground. I ran up to my men. “Nichols, get that BAR up on the wall. Blow the head off anything that moves.”

“Yes sir,” said Nichols as he hefted the BAR to the top of the wall.

“Sgt. Take your sniper rifle to the second floor of the building and scout out the windows. Take out anyone who resembles an officer.”

There was a thump and one of the Brits fell from the wall. The .30 from the commander’s copula on the Lee was now constantly firing. The 37mm fired again and missed the Panzer III it was aiming at. The Panzer III rotated it’s turret, fired and our water cooled .30 on the roof was history.

I slammed a new magazine into my Thompson just as four Krauts breached the wall. Over the sound of the Thompson, I heard the .45 slugs slap into their chests. I watched as a group of Krauts were cut to ribbons as the Honey blasted through their ranks firing the two side mounted .50s and the turret mounted .30. I watched in horror as an 88mm panzerschreck rocket blew the honey apart. Two Brits were picked off the top of the remaining Panzer III as they dropped grenades down the hatch which brought that tank to an end.

From out of nowhere, a British Spitfire came down and made three stafing runs before black smoke started belching from the engine. It made a sweeping curve and disappeared behind a hill. We were taking a beating.

I jumped up on top of the Lee and manned the .50 cal. I looked up and Sgt was no longer sniping from the 2nd floor. I managed to take out an entire halftrack full of enemy before it clicked into silence. Dead men lined the walls, but it didn’t look like the Germans were fairing any better.

From inside the turret, I heard Major Meriwether shout, “Bloody hell! The thirty is empty!”

Several Germans scaled the wall as I pulled my sidearm from its holster. Three .45 slugs took them down. I thought, oh my God. We’re about to go hand-to-hand.

Thomas crawled from the top hatch of the Lee and shouted down to his men now fighting with bayonets. “Hold them! Hold them!” And then a bullet went through his leg, shattering the bone and he fell from the top of the tank.

“Thomas!” I shouted as I reached for him. I was struck in the back of the head by the butt end of a Mauser and all went black.

I woke up to seeing an American medic holding his canteen up to my face. “Go slow, lieutenant.”

I looked behind the medic and I swear I saw General Patton looking quickly around. He looked down and saw me. “Good job, lieutenant! Your men held this garrison defeating the German assault long enough for us to arrive.” He looked around again. “Where is the commander?”

Behind him I heard someone say, “He’s already been removed, general. He’d lost a lot of blood.”

I tried to stand, but got dizzy. I felt the back of my head and saw all the blood. I passed out. I never learned Thomas’ fate.

The music ended and I turned to take a deep bow. My own long hair, not a wig, fell across my face. I smiled as I heard the applause. The war was a distant memory. I was happy that I was able to return to the burlesque theater, so I could start over as an exotic dancer. I had a chance to start over as a female impersonator and dancer. I was happy that I had managed to survive the war with my sexy legs intact.

There was a knock on my dressing room door. I was still in my dress and make-up, but I called out, “Come in.”

The door swung open, revealing an English gentleman with a bushy moustache and holding himself up with a cane.

After a minute, he said, “Bloody wanker. Are you going to invite me in and kiss me or what?”

“Thomas!” I cried out. “It’s actually you!” I rushed to him and took him into my arms. He kissed me deeply.

I said, “I lost track of you. I never knew where you went.”

Thomas shook his head. “Bloody hell. I was sent back to London and then I joined up with Monty for some foolishness called Market Garden. I always thought we went a bridge too far.”

I grinned at him as I took him in my arms again. “It’s just so good to see you.”

He took my hand. “What do you say about dinner?”

Smiling, I said, “I’d love to. When?”

Thomas laughed. “I meant right now.”

I said, “I would love to! Let me change.”

“You’re beautiful the way you are right now. Let’s go.”

“Let me get my purse.”

He treated me to a beautiful evening. I thought again of being out in the Sahara desert. It just wasn’t as hot.