Man at War – Excerpt No. 212

10 April 2026

Twenty-three minutes later, more ammunition arrived and word was sent in. This began a managed rotation of men. Three came up from below to resupply while a fresh team relieved them.

Unsurprisingly small arms fire increased in intensity. Now that there was no need to conserve ammunition, Murphy must have ordered a push into new areas of the mine.

This went on for sixty-three minutes until word came down to send for Padre Taylor and for Marc to make his way down. He suspected their proximity to their lines complicated the clearing operation.

a surreal and vibrant cinematic photo of three British soldiers exiting a damp underground mine at night, wearing worn gas masks that reflect the faint moonlight, their clothing and style meticulously accurate for 1915, with earth-toned trenches coats, puttees, and helmets, set amidst the eerie landscape of No Man's Land, with surreal photography elements blended seamlessly into the photorealistic scene, capturing the haunting atmosphere of war, with noticeable film grain texture and subtle noise, under the faint glow of a full moon, casting long shadows across the barren terrain.

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.