Thoughts Of The Mind

A Slender Beauty

A slender beauty

The razor like buzz, of the roaring birds above, rippled over my skin as I tried to focus on the words of the Sergeant before me. Packed as tight as sardines in what was possibly the garden shed of a former home owner. The troops within the squadron hung on to every last word the Sergeant spilled from his lips.

No matter how hard a solider tried to put on his brave face, it was clear to all that we were terrified. This was the fiercest part of the battle and though we didn't want to dwell on the fact, lives would be lost today.

Unlike the others, it was my first time on the front line. At the prime age of 16 I had the zeal of a new born bird eager to fly and leave the nest. Of course that had been from to comforts of home. Now after months of training I was finally here, and my courage seemed scarce.

Scotty nudged me in the arm, as my thoughts threatened to take over the whole of my mind “Focus!” he scolded in my ear so only I could hear. Having trained together in the last few weeks, Scotty and I had formed a bond; one I felt suggested us to be brothers in another life.

The voice of the Sergeant boomed over the top of the crescendo of noise “Smalls, Scotty you take the centre, the rest of us will cover you on the sides”

I nodded as the men began to move out, Scotty waiting for me by the exit of our makeshift camp. Ducked and poised Scotty waved over his shoulder at me. Meeting him at his point he began to relay just how we were to go about the Sergeant commands, but truth be told my focus was elsewhere. Just behind his head, a peep-hole, just big enough for me to see the horrific scenes of which I was about to immerse myself in.

Nervous at the prospect before me, no amount of training could have possible prepared me for this. Scotty's voice faded away in the background as I watched soldiers, some our own, and those of opposing sides fall like lead balloons. The blood curdling screams of mothers and fathers, as they sat helpless watching the children they bore fall to the ground, without a hope of ever seeing their smiling faces again in this world.

I fidgeted nervously with the strap holding my given weapon of defence. Only seconds before thrust into my amateur hands. Unclasping my riffle from its hold, I held it precariously between my fingers in my hands. Sleek, shiny, smooth, the cool metal of slender beauty pierced my skin, causing a ripple through my veins. Although trained, I had never had the pleasure of controlling something of such calibre. Still unsure of its power, my hands trembled as I fidgeted with the magazine in my hand as I tried to secure it properly in place.

“You ready?”

Nodding nervously, I tried to offer a reassuring smile, but I was sure that if I was only the receiving end of that my smile it would be anything but.

Pointing it out in front of me, I followed Scotty's lead watching his back with my life. We made it through the first phase unharmed and as we did my confidence grew. We continued on down the road, the rest of the squad taking down our enemies by our side. Becoming accustomed to the weight of my sudden accomplice I began to walk with confidence, proud of the uniform I bore. Reaching the end of the strip I lifted my head towards the clouds in the sky, thankful to have survived the attack.

Unfocused and unvigilant the worse sound known to man penetrated my ear drums, followed by a thud. Turning to face my companion I saw his limp body on the floor beside me, blood gushing from the artery in his leg. Instinct taking over I ducked just as I had seen him do only moments before. Putting pressure on his leg as I kept eyes peeled for the next possible attack.

“Watch, your back he rasped

Twilling on my heels to face my enemy, I braced myself for the piercing through my flesh, but it never came. Frantically pulling the trigger, in hope something would shoot from within. Noticing the panic as the reality of the situation hit him, he dropped his weapon, lifting his hands in surrender, and he dropping to his knees.

A cold sweat began to spurt at the back of my neck, poised above the fallen soldier, unarmed and defenceless, with no help in sight I placed my hand on the trigger, as he begged for his life in a language I took no time to understand. Pointing my latest companion in his direction all seemed to grow quiet as Scotty's groan pierced my inner mind.

“This one for you” I took aim

The skull shattering sound of a bomb hitting overhead shook me from my bunker, covering my ears with my hands and waking from my restless dream. Groaning as the pain shot through my back as I tried to roll over I landed at the feet of my right hand man. “Scotty?” my voice came out raspy, still full of sleep, sweat still dripping from my back

“Get up Smalls” he began, an incessant shower of bullets masking his words “It's our time to shine” he finished, shoving the sleek and slender beauty into my hand.

Watts Creative 2013