Man at War – Excerpt No. 13

23 September 2025

Both were not new to killing or stealth, but Roy somehow managed to find the only dry stick in theatre. The snap it made caused that thing to pause, followed by an eerie orange glow. Like a lighthouse the glow swept over the surface until it passed over the corporal.

Roy froze in place, entirely transfixed. Without hesitation Murphy closed in fast, grabbed it by the shoulder, and sliced his throat. The motion left a black viscous liquid all over his blade. What in Hell’s name is that?

a cinematic photograph of a young British corporal wearing a Brodie helmet and traditional Scottish kilt, carrying a rifle, stood in the midst of No Man's Land at night during World War I, his foot stepping on a twig, his facial expression a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, with a slightly raised eyebrow and a hint of redness on his cheeks, the surrounding landscape illuminated only by the faint moonlight and starry sky, with trenches and barbed wire visible in the background, the overall mood somber and tense, the photography style resembling a film still, with high contrast and dramatic lighting.

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.