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Futility
A Story Every Day in 2024 May 25th 146/366
"Here they come."
Soldiers were lining up in front of the tribe, gathered to fight. Methodical, rigid, they moved as one. Light glinted off the metal of their armour, like an ocean's ripples under the sun.
Despite his fear, Calgacus could not help but admire the scene before him. He pushed back the hopelessness that threatened to envelope him and stood tall. His gut shrank in a way that he would never show in his posture.
He looked around at his men. Compared to the ordered legions, they looked feral. Their hair was shaggy like wild bears'; matted, one piece. They were tired. And now, he was having to ask more of them again.
He looked at Segovax. He had been by his side through these battles with the Romans. He had clubbed and torn his way to survival; a lasting image that Calgacus had of him was wiping blood from where it had spattered on his face, his eyes black and mouth contorted.
And yet, he had memories of him in the feasting hall, smiling, his wife and children around him, a jolly, affable man, gentle and compassionate. This is what war did to people, he thought. Made them barely recognisable.
The Romans had gone still now.
This was the time that he hated the most; the stillness before the fight; the silence before the fury; the static before the chaos.
"Wait," he ordered as he sensed the tension in his men.
Across a landscape, people not so different from each other in their hopes and dreams faced each other; close, and yet worlds apart.
A creaking was heard. Wood? What place for wood on the battlefield? There was a further ratcheting sound which was new and tense.
Calgacus thought, What fresh hell is this? but muttered nothing out loud. There was no mobilising, no orders being given. There were a handful of soldiers moving on the periphery, barely perceptible.
Suddenly, there was a shriek and a whistling as something was launched high into the air. It was too late to run but he gave the order anyway.
Metal bolts, thick and sharp.
As one entered Segovax's spine, Calgacus fully realised the futility of war.
***
366 words
I have been reading about Hadrian's Wall, this story having been inspired by an incident related in that book. The names I have used are based on real British tribespeople but they would not have fought together.
If you want to discover more about what I based it on, follow this link.
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
146/366
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Comments (14)
You sure cover diverse topics… the title says it all, regarding war!
What an interesting and captivating subject that you explored in this! The mismatched power dynamic between the two forces was visually stark
Well-wrought indeed. Some lines from another one of my favorite Brits, Geezer Butler (unfortunately, no relation): "Politicians hide themselves away, They only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor. Time will tell on their power minds, Making war just for fun. Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait till their judgment day comes." We are far removed from the days when the politician was a general and the general stood on the front line with his men, willing to die by their side. A man will throw himself to death to protect that which he loves. Therefore I dare not call those who profit from war in today's world men, and I am not even sure they are human. As Smedley Butler (also, unfortunately, no relation) once remarked: "War is a racket."
Intense and gripping!! Really great work - such a tragic ending!
I wondered about those names as I was reading your story. And you put this brilliantly: "Across a landscape, people not so different from each other in their hopes and dreams faced each other; close, and yet worlds apart."
Yep the futility of war. I don’t feel like we ever learn. I walked through Arlington cemetery a few weeks back - it’s a truly sobering experience. Your story was excellent Rachel.
Thankfully, I can only imagine the fresh hell that would be. Really well done.
Having never been in battle myself, I can only imagine what the introduction of new weapons on the battlefield would mean to soldiers in that moment. Terrifying and confounding, I'm sure. You've written a compelling piece to capture the moment. I suspect this one will stay with me, lingering.
Great story. You did an exceptional job with building the tension before the fight and driving home the message of the futility of war.
This is exceptionally well imagined, Rachel! What new devilry indeed!
Rome continues to compel you, though you have supplied some insight here into the enormous challenge it posed to those it opposed. It must have been like battling a tank on horseback!
Yeah. I never really thought about the fear of innovation in war before but you are right... fresh hell indeed. The fear must have been incredible!
Oooooh. is there no genre my chum can't turn her hand to? Well done on this tense and exciting, and quite insightful, micro of historical fiction! That sounded like a flipping proper review lol. Anyway, chum, yuo know how I feel whenever I read any of your shorts (and poetry) this one had that gut wrenching tension and ended in a bloody way that really did show the futility of war. Loved the fact you researched the names etc. Will check the link out at some point. Well done, Rachel!
Oooo, thank you foe providing that link, I enjoyed that photo hehehe. Loved your story!