Man at War – Excerpt No. 1

After the last light surrendered to the night, the air cooled and humidity began to cling to their uniforms and weapons. It was a matter of time before they started shivering after the humidity soaked through their jackets and kilts.

Sergeant Murphy poked into his breast pocket and pulled out a silver pocket watch. It was a gift from his father, the watchmaker, before he boarded the train. The first leg of the long journey to the battle worn shores of Europe.

He rubbed the glass clean, but there was a persistent fog within now. Still the familiar ticking was present, and there was just enough light from the crescent moon above to make out the time.

a cinematic photograph of a WWI Canadian Sergeant in No Man's Land, sitting inside a deep crater with rugged earthy walls, looking at his vintage pocket watch, his face worn with a mix of exhaustion and concern, his eyes fixed on the timepiece, the scene is eerie and ominous, shrouded in a thick fog that swirls around him, with a crescent moon hanging low in the dark sky, the sergeant's uniform is tattered and worn, his skin pale, his facial features strong, with a determined jawline and a distinctive mustache, the overall mood is one of somber reflection, the photography style is dramatic, with deep shadows and muted colors, the crater's edges are rough and irregular, with twisted metal and shattered wood scattered around, the sergeant's eyes are sunken, his eyebrows furrowed, his skin smeared with dirt and grime.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.