Noise in the Brush - A Colonial Tale (356 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Colonial
Rating: 0.77 on 9 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Graveyboat (View user info) at 2009-06-16 03:16:53 EDT
"What was that noise?" John readied his musket.
"I didn't hear nothin'" came the reply from his patrol companion, Ernie. They stood for a moment, the cold night wind gently ruffling the grass around them.
After a moment, they continued on. Patrol was not the job of choice; still it was the life of a soldier in His Majesties Expeditionary Force and if you were ordered to ship off to New England, you did. If you were ordered to head into Iroquois territory, you did. If you were ordered to patrol outside the relative safety of the camp, you did.
John and Ernie did all these things. John didn't like it here; his wife and new baby were untold miles away while he toiled here for some reason he didn't fully understand. His thoughts lead him to Emily, his daughter still a baby and his wife Elizabeth. The two reasons for his existence, the two reasons he realised he was on the other side of the world killing heathens; that and the pay of course.
The pay is good he thought, those few years ago when he signed up. Now, he regrets it. Still, fighting on behalf of the King is a noble cause, isn't it? Surely that earns him a place in Heaven should he die? Surely he is doing his kin and his family proud? Surely?
"Did you see that?" It was Ernies turn to be edgy, John chastised himself for letting his guard down and being absorbed by his reverie.
"I didn't see anything Ern" John replied.
"I'm sure I saw something"
"Whatever it was, it is gone now" this was more hope than it was truth.
After a while he sunk back into his train of thought about his young family. He was 20 and in the prime of his life "I should have become a blacksmiths apprentice" he thought suddenly wishing he weren't here. He glanced at Ern, his best chum. When John had told him he was signing up Ernie insisted he come along too "someone needs to watch your back, you're a terrible fighter". Maybe Ern was right; maybe he wasn't cut out for this.
"Ernie"
"Yes?" Their voices nearly whispers. Still in the cool breeze they knew the sound carried far. The moon had just started poking round the last of the cloud that had plagued the night and plunged all into a deep mournful darkness and it illuminated the two Colonials faces as they spoke.
"I've decided to resign and go home"
"It's about time" Ernie's response surprised John.
"Elizabeth asked me to make sure you got back safe, I knew you weren't destined for this. Fighting some half naked savages in the middle of nowhere"
John was relieved and for once in a long time he smiled.
There was a quiet almost guttural thud and John looked down. The warmth of his blood spreading out from the arrow head now protruding from his chest. He looked at Ernie who had suffered the same fate but was already dead. The last thing John remembered as his now heavy body sunk to its knees then slumped to the leafy floor was his Elizabeth.
User Reviews
Submitted by RoadSong (user info) at 2009-07-02 14:44:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"John didn't like it here; his wife and new baby were untold miles away while he toiled here for some reason he didn't fully understand. His thoughts lead him to Emily, his daughter still a baby and his wife Elizabeth. The two reasons for his existence, the two reasons he realised he was on the other side of the world killing heathens; that and the pay of course."
I am thinking there are men on many battlefields thinking the same thing NOW.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2009-06-17 09:19:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Way too short.
The story is all build-up, then sudden death.
Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2009-06-16 14:34:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2009-06-16 13:22:47 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
who on earth chastises themselves? apart from JoeyG after a posh wank
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The caption on the photo I sent you actually read 'Polish Wank'. Not as in a wank from Poland, but a wank involving a tin or Pledge and a yellow duster.
MR SHEEN SHINES UMPTEEN THINGS CLEAN.
Submitted by Ebenezer_Spooge (user info) at 2009-06-16 12:08:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
My years, this brings me back...
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2009-06-16 09:07:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
This could be so much better in so many ways.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2009-06-16 08:22:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
who on earth chastises themselves? apart from JoeyG after a posh wank
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2009-06-16 06:18:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Umm?
See this had the old times movies feel to it.
"When I get back from this last Sortie I'm going to marry my childhood sweet heart Nancy and move to the hills over looking the bay where we shall sit and chat as she knits and laughs sweetly at my jokes before going inside to make sure the staff are making dinner correctly. Then she will come out and get under the table as I smoke my pipe, and she will smoke MY pipe, before thanking me for the privilege and demanding that later I plough her heartily from behind. Then I shall eat and have a cigar whilst the maid polishes my Weapon and then retire to my own bed alone for the evening, after ensuring the wife was thoroughly stuffed in. The next day will be more of the same, until Geoffrey comes home from Boarding school for the holidays and we go hunting and talk about the showers."
When you hear something like that you just know he's a going to die on that last Sortie and old Nancy is destined for a life of destitution and whoring herself to his old friends.
Submitted by trilaac (user info) at 2009-06-16 04:46:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Interesting setting and use of characters. Doen't seem to follow a strong plot though.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2009-06-16 04:15:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Pretty shit.