He moved across the field hiding from imaginary aircraft strafing his village. Since the General had secured this area he was in limited fear of reprisal from anything, except for the elements and the wild animals, who were explicitly protected from any harm, despite their disregard for his own safety and life. He took two quick shots at the sky just to let that vast expanse of blue know he meant business and that they would conquer it too, eventually. This display of imagination, poetic personification, and strict regard for the new laws showed not only his age but also his naivety towards a situation he was born into.
He was only eight-years old when he first met the General & ten when he first volunteered, although he wasn’t allowed to enlist until he was eleven and a half. The General was admired for many things, but mainly for his excellent navigation of enemy territory, swift and decisive victories, and for having the best moustache he had seen since before the war. It reminded him of his Father and how the bar of hair would tickle his cheek every morning when they embraced. His Father was not an intelligent man, nor was he creative, but he could handle an axe, had the rifle aim of a sniper and could knock down a cow with his left hook. That man didn’t deserve what happened to him, but he really should have watched his actions. He told the young boy, the day he was hacked to death by young boys with machetes, “I love, but you bring me down.” No one, not even a family member should go against the law. The law brings peace and food to the table. The fight must continue to preserve a way of life.
On his first patrol, his unit was ambushed as they were crossing a river. As soon as half of them were across the slippery bridge of rocks an explosion rang his ears and blasted him to the ground. All he remembered was a lot of loud shooting and loud explosions near their position. After that he regained consciousness in a make-shift hospital in the field, but according to the briefing they had lost three men but taken more land.
Post a Comment