Man at War – Excerpt No. 197

26 March 2026

While they were halfway through their conversation Private Lewis came into the dugout holding a burlap sack. Marc knew from the blood stained bottom what it was, although the bulge was smaller than expected.

“Sir,” Private Lewis said.

Military protocol called for the senior officer to be addressed despite the fact he was speaking to the Warrant. Even Marc found that military traditions had several unique quirks that were difficult to follow.

“What is it, Private Lewis?” Murphy asked.

a surreal and vibrant cinematic photo of a soldier with a weary expression, worn leather boots, and a mix of mud and blood on his face, holding a burlap sac with dark red blood oozing from the bottom, set against the ominous and barren landscape of No Man's Land at night, with destroyed trees and tangled barbed wire in the background, the soldier's clothing and style are reminiscent of 1915, with a faded and tattered uniform, a wide leather belt, and a helmet, the atmosphere is tense and foreboding, with a sense of impending doom, the image is rendered in a photorealistic style with a subtle film grain, and a color palette that is muted yet vibrant, with shades of dark blues and grays, and accents of warm golden light, the overall mood is one of haunting surrealism and cinematic drama.

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.