Man at War – Excerpt No. 67

16 November 2025

As there was no apparent threat, Murphy dropped into the trench and moved along it a part of the way to maintain cover. The first section followed single file until he broke cover and closed in on the church.

As they neared the fallen bell, Murphy motioned for Sergeant Ryan’s team to break off and head inside. If their intelligence was correct the section would find a basement with catacombs. These are ideal locations for creatures feasting on the dead. The smell is already a giveaway.

a cinematic colour photograph of armed British soldiers jumping into a dark and abandoned trench at night, with soldiers wearing worn and muddy Great War-era uniforms, helmets, and carrying rifles, set against a sombre and ominous nighttime backdrop with faint moonlight casting long shadows, the scene capturing the intense and chaotic atmosphere of wartime, with the soldiers' facial features illuminated only by the faint light, revealing determined and weary expressions, their skin tones muted by the poor lighting, and the overall mood of the image conveying a sense of tension and uncertainty, with the photography style emphasizing dramatic lighting and deep shadows.

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.