by Charles james Rudd

Tomorrow Marty, you Private Barber and Scotty, I need you three on watch from the west Tomorrow, get in line Scotty what's your fucking attention doing looking over there when I'm giving you orders here? apologies sir said Scotty.

Although the three of them were almost on auto pilot, if it's not trying not to get in the way of a bullet whooshing past, it's trying to accurately fire at the enemy with trembling hands.

it was obvious Scotty was suffering more than the others, his face pale, hos eyes looking through you with red tears filled.

That morning sleep was not a conscious event, you don't know if you dropped off or not as fear engulfs them.

All in front line positions, the three of them covering the full horizon of enemies lines, nothing much but a trench, weapons and alertness by now lack of sleep Scotty is hallucinating, he is shouting to Marty there is a enemy solider in front of him, Marty thinks unless I'm blind, there is nobody there , it is sleep deprevstion and trauma he is facing, this is the break war has upon these young boys.

As lunchtime approaches, firing attack is on, the enemies are pushing forward, the next thing we all tighten up almost like a triangle covering what they can.

Scotty suggests he should move further East, as there is a big block of rocks maybe 400m yet its 200m closer to the enemy lines.

I don't think it's a good idea said Marty, yet Sargent Matthews did give Marty the orders of final decisions on this mission.

Marty looks, thinks then says OK I think we do need to push forward and even if it's 200 m in its better and more accurately positioned and good cover.

After 3 shouts Marty, Scotty run to your place, take cover, take aim and wait till cb orders, apart from your iwn initiative, got it? Got it shouts Scotty, we are made in the Armey Marty let's kill these barstads he shouts, as he runs, with his gun by his side, at the same time Marty almost chases, moving into his spot.

No more than 20m and all Marty hears is a ear ringing deafening sound, dust and a flash yet he feels his face all warm, almost like someone has thrown warm water over him.

He wipes his face with his sleeve, blood comes off everywhere, automatically, he panicky, over been shot iv been shot he shouts as he looks down and is trying g to make out what the fuvjs happened.

He felt no pain, then as he looks towards Scotty he sees a arm and separate hand on the ground, shock he pauses for a second which seemed like minuets, it's Scotty he has just walked on a mine bomb EDA he has been blown into bits.

Marty, is in shock, a young man new to the Army, new to front line warfare and the complete daily anxieties and fears of, staying alive and shooting other humans although they are enemy, is all one thing, but what's just happened is completely something else.

As he radios through " are you receiving me, we meed firs t aiders I repeat soldier dead , solider dead as his voice breaks with emotion he has never felt before.

Trembling as Ben moves over cautiously and shocked, training was one thing but prepared as they did picking parts up of their fellow soldier, freind etc was something your never prepared for.

by charles Rudd