Crimson Fields

Pressure on the trigger, the trigger clicks back, the firing pin moves forward, and touches the round, the cordite ignites and pushes forward, the lead tip spins violently as it is forced out of the chamber and down the barrel; it pierces the air as the rifle kicks back. It flies through the silent still countryside and,1

“MAN DOWN!”2

Knees collapsing, blood rushes up through the throat, warm and sticky, pain everywhere, the chest is on fire. Gun fire; sporadic rifle fire cuts the air, sharp cracks and violent hiss’3

“Sniper!”4

A few more gunshots, bark explodes off the trees in violent cracks as men hit the dirt, crawling to find some cover. On his back, the blue sky above, the birds shooting from out of the trees, wings flapping hard to escape from the danger mankind has bore down upon them.5

Silence, a cough, and a moan, fingers scraping at the hard mud, finger nails peeling back, pain arching up the fingers and into the mind. Shallow breathing, blood flowing down the nose freely like a river, crimson falling upon the grass, teeth bloodied. Pain, agony, convulsing, footsteps.6

“OK, your going to be fine”7

Hand reaching up to grab the medics shoulder as his uniform is cut open, blood squirts up like a water gun into the air and splashes at those coming to help. A machine gun opens up to where the Sniper was, brass falls to the ground singing a hymn like that of children.8

“Everything’s going to be OK Corporal”9

Eyes begin to close, the pain unbearable, bottom lip trembling, tears flowing down the cheeks flowing pink with the blood. A scream flowed by pressure on hands and feet, trying to hold him down.10

“Mammaaaa!”11

Back going warm, all around people shouting and running, gun fire, and howl and a whine as a shell falls short, followed by a hollow crump. Shadow, the medic covers the face. Rattling and pings sound out as debris and bits of dirt hit the helmets of those gathered round. A new hand, someone taking his hand, he grips it as the pain shoots into his mind, he screams a silent scream as everything begins to go out of phase.12

“I cant see”13

“Your going to be fine, pain is just….” He whispers to someone else, within seconds, a sharp pain in the thigh.14

“This will help OK”15

“Were losing him!”16

Blood flashes across the eyes as they cut deeper into the chest.17

Heart beating, blood rushing through the veins, out of the wound, around the bullet and into the air, clotting, running like viscous tress sap down the torn uniform and onto the soil, thousands of miles from home.18

“Where is she….?”19

“Where’s who Trooper?”20

“My baby?”21

Eyes roll back, time stops.22

K.I.A.23