Revenge

Anticipation

He takes a deep breath and as he exhales, he pushes the last smiling images of his mother and sister aside. When the time comes to complete the final part of this task, he will call them back, and keep them in his mind for as long as it takes to avenge their needless murders. But for now, he needs to recall all the training, all the calculations, and every single auditory signal so that he does not fail.

Corinna would have been celebrating her birthday later this week, she would have become an adult this week. An adult who had to carry the responsibilities of someone who must fulfil her destined role in their community. An adult with the ever-optimistic beliefs of a child. An adult, who would make him and his mother proud, even if it was not what she had envisioned for herself.

Armond is not a man who would have forced her into her role, but then, she would never have placed such a burden on him or his mother. Corinna knew her responsibility was to her community as much as it was to her family. The deaths of his mother and sister were even more devastating to the community than that of the young men who would have become the next generation of fighters and fathers, for without these two women there would be no future for their community.

The vibration of the earth, as the tank approaches the bridge, once again brings Armond back to the present, and to reality. His hands move with fervour and certainty. He knows what must be done. The wires must be connected at exactly the right time, the fuse ignited with the precision of a Swiss watch, and then, if there are any survivors on the wrong side, he will lift the rocket launcher to his shoulder and do what must be done.

He looks around one last time, makes sure that everyone is in the right place, ready to do their bit for this act of vengeance. He knows these men are not the best in the community; the best, were left behind to guard and rebuild. But these men, scattered around the bridge, are as motivated as everyone else. They have already proven their loyalty and commitment several times in the weeks since the massacre.

The splintered ruins of another match stick join the small heap of half chewed pieces of wood by his feet. They are his weakness, the only evidence pointing to the fact that he is the one responsible for what will happen today. These bits of wood, which will become one with nature again, are testament to his commitment to the people in his community. Like the men who will shortly pay for their part in the atrocities committed, the toothpicks will be absorbed by nature; feed the natural processes of Mother Nature, pay their debt to the natural order of the universe.