Dawn at Cambrai - La Mort d'Un Oiseau (4) (1943 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Cambrai
Rating: 1.86 on 35 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Hadley Tobedone (View user info) at 2005-08-16 13:12:28 EDT
Part 1 - Abstractions: http://www.ubersite.com/m/69763
Part 2 - Das As: http://www.ubersite.com/m/69961
Part 3 - Men In a Box: http://www.ubersite.com/m/70772
It had been a long time since Henri had heard the drums. He had never seen them but the sound - deep, ominous rumbling - always reminded him of the kettle drums he had heard when his father took him to the symphony in Paris. He lay back in the grass, letting the sun bake him as the vibrations rose through his body.
His eyes closed and he could almost see his father, trying to get the kite out of the tree. Try as he might, Papa could not stay angry at his smiling son. Henri beamed as Papa got the kite free and sent him away from the trees to play. A gentle breeze picked up, and Henri tossed the kite upward, watching it slowly -
"Henri!" His mother's cry brought him back to the present. He stood and waved so that his Maman could see that he hadn't wandered off. For some reason, she didn't like him playing outside when the drums started. They usually made the men come out and Maman always made him come inside when they did. He looked into the trees but saw no sign of anyone. Good. Henri didn't want to play inside today.
Out of the corner of his eye, Henri saw a butterfly land on a flower. With a laugh, he began to chase it, jumping and giggling. He was so engrossed with his prey that he almost missed the buzzing sound, slowly growing louder. He looked up just in time to see a plane fly overhead. Butterfly forgotten, Henri began to run, waving and calling out, "Allo l'Oiseau!" The plane banked over the trees and Henri called out again but the pilot, as usual, didn't wave back. Disappointed, Henri kicked at the dirt and looked over at the trees l'Oiseau had disappeared over. He was starting to think that l'Oiseau didn't like him. It was clear that he had been seen. The first time Henri had noticed the plane, it had circled around as though the pilot was trying to determine if Henri was of interest. Now he just flew away without a second glance at the lonely boy.
As he looked around, Henri found that the butterfly had disappeared. With one more glance around for l'Oiseau, he walked back toward the house picking flowers. The last ones he had given Maman were all brown and the petals were falling off. As long as Papa was gone, Henri would take it upon himself to make sure that Maman was happy. He wanted to make Papa proud of him.
He knelt in the grass, arranging the flowers into a small bundle. He looked up as he heard l'Oiseau's buzzing again, but something was wrong. L'Oiseau was flying low, barely above the trees. It seemed to Henri that when the plane passed overhead, he should be able to reach up and touch it. Henri was frozen as l'Oiseau dropped toward the trees, jerking up at the last second. Part of the tail was torn off, showering the air with small slivers of metal. Henri called toward the house, "Maman, l'avion tombe en morceaux!"
The next time he looked back, l'Oiseau had hit the treetops again. The wheels were ripped off and the plane had gone into a spin. As l'Oiseau sped past, his eyes locked with Henri's for a moment. Henri heard two distinct screams, one deep, the other higher-pitched and feminine, before the house and l'Oiseau erupted in a ball of flame.
With a sob Henri knelt in the grass, flowers clutched in his hands, while his tears splashed into the dirt.
User Reviews
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-04-26 15:17:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
short but sweeeeet
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-10 21:42:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I still cannot say 100% that you are not HFCS, but whoever it is seems to be pretty vulgar (in a Zoidberg kind of way). I don't think you are like this, but I could be wrong.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-10-06 22:09:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-06 19:53:34 (#)
Ranking: -2
Don't hide behind an alter.
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You know, your ignorance is mindboggling Stabby.
Submitted by inbreakingnewsT.A.N. (user info) at 2005-10-06 20:17:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-06 19:53:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Don't hide behind an alter. You and "highfructosecornsyrup" seem to have the same people you dislike... oddly enough, highfructose has never ranked one of your posts and vice versa... Coincidence? I don't think so.
And, if for some reason...you aren't highfructose...it doesn't matter. As long as I get any response on any of my posts, whether it is a +2 or a -2, I will respond over here with a nice shiny -2.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-09-09 01:50:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You didn't really think I'd be smart enough to have something unique to saw about each one did ya?
+2 Mofuga
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-18 13:21:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-18 13:21:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/cgi-bin/message_get.cgi?message=112430401579903194#1533623
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-08-18 11:00:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-18 10:24:44 (#)
Ranking: 2
I haven't read this or the previous entries (people tell me it's very good, but I like to read uber series once they are complete), but I fucking hate d-prime and everything he does.
The little shit.
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I concur. With zak????
I musnt' be feeling myself....
*quick check, hands above the table..*
well, I never...
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-08-18 10:58:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-08-18 09:46:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
hadley, I'm sorry about this little twerp.
I fucking extend my graciousness to him slightly, and here he goes being an asshole.
But you know what they say, give 'em an inch...
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Mrs Rad concurs..
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-18 10:24:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I haven't read this or the previous entries (people tell me it's very good, but I like to read uber series once they are complete), but I fucking hate d-prime and everything he does.
The little shit.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-08-18 09:46:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
hadley, I'm sorry about this little twerp.
I fucking extend my graciousness to him slightly, and here he goes being an asshole.
But you know what they say, give 'em an inch...
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-08-18 05:29:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-08-18 03:24:20 (#)
Ranking: 2
okay d_prime that was fucking uncalled for.
This had a nice 2 streak going and you come in here and fuck it up?
and get my name involved in it?
I told you I'd play along with the whole thing, but this was immature.
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Remember when I emailed you and told you I was Arnie? And thorpe was soooooooo fucking insistent it was you? And I took the piss for like fucking ever and you had to shut up about it? Now THAT was fun...
http://www.ubersite.com/m/62680#1226096
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-08-18 03:24:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
okay d_prime that was fucking uncalled for.
This had a nice 2 streak going and you come in here and fuck it up?
and get my name involved in it?
I told you I'd play along with the whole thing, but this was immature.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-18 02:54:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You may want to look at my Rad tribute post.
Looks like we ARE the same person. That means that if I approach this site the right way, I can have people who hate me become my fan! Looks like we shouldn't get emotional and serious and passionate over people we only know on the Internet, eh?
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-08-18 01:01:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Aaaaand I'm done. Another good segment.
These seem a little short. Just when I start getting into it, the installment is over.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-08-18 00:59:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Best one in the series thus far, Had. Keep it up, with a penis pump.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-08-18 00:58:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-08-16 20:02:45 (#)
Ranking: 2
Hahahahahahhahahahaaa gasp hahahahahhahahahhahahah
too many place to take this... too many follow up options....
my head asplode
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Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-08-16 18:46:06 (#)
Ranking: 2
Other than gaping man ass, do you do anything that sucks?
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Okay, I'll pick up for the otherwise incapacitated Crystle. The was this one time, at Vacuum Camp, that Hadley stuck his dick in a Dyson(R).
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-08-18 00:44:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm going to read and rate all these installments because I feel your pain, and because that damn Krissi post is so goddamn retarded.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-08-17 19:07:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very nice, Hads. Well done. Will there be more? Damn I hope so.
Submitted by QueenAshlee (user info) at 2005-08-17 16:43:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good job, dude.
Submitted by krissi (user info) at 2005-08-17 16:15:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was very good.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-08-16 20:02:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hahahahahahhahahahaaa gasp hahahahahhahahahhahahah
too many place to take this... too many follow up options....
my head asplode
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Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-08-16 18:46:06 (#)
Ranking: 2
Other than gaping man ass, do you do anything that sucks?
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-08-16 18:46:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Other than gaping man ass, do you do anything that sucks?
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-08-16 18:00:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love these.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-08-16 17:05:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-08-16 16:13:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
This would get a lot more hits if you suggested a possible anal-probe in the title. Good stuff, my man.
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That is so unfortunately true...
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-08-16 16:19:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-08-16 16:13:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This would get a lot more hits if you suggested a possible anal-probe in the title. Good stuff, my man.
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-08-16 15:03:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-08-16 14:32:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good stuff Hadley very descript.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-08-16 14:04:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Sorry....
You did pretty well on your own though.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-08-16 13:36:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I've added that movie to my Netflix queue, Caul. Thanks for the tip.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-08-16 13:33:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
These posts remind me of "A very long engagement"
+2 for that
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-08-16 13:20:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Once again.. well done, Hadley.
This series is gem-like. All sparkely and pretty, with real substance and worth
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-08-16 13:15:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ok, for you people who fear foreign words, simple translations:
La Mort d'Un Oiseau = Death of a Bird
Allo l'Oiseau = Heelo bird! the way a child would likely say it
Maman, l'avion tombe en morceaux! = Mama, the plane is falling apart!