#Writephoto – Daybreak

Uncategorized 1 Minute

Here is another unedited extract from A ghost and his gold:

“The following day, Robert volunteered to accompany the wagons which were going out to retrieve the bodies of the British troops who had fallen during the skirmish.

At daybreak, the Boers had declared a truce to enable this expedition of recovery and Robert had leaped at the opportunity of escaping the town, albeit for a short time and for such a miserable purpose. Viewed from his hard seat in the back of the wagon, the glorious early morning sky with its fluffy white clouds tinged with varying shades of pink did not bring him the happiness he sought or expected. The journey seemed endless and his trepidation at what he must find at the end of it grew with each jolting rotation of the wooden wheels over the rutted ground. His chin gradually dipped until it rested on his chest as he grappled with his desolate thoughts, ignoring the fresh beauty of the unspoiled countryside.

He was vaguely surprised when a small contingent of Boers met them at the site of the altercation and helped the small party of men seek out the bodies of their comrades.

Once again, the enigma that was the Boers struck him. Their faces were sorrowful and their eyes downcast when they came across the body of a dead soldier, smashed by a bullet and crumpled into a grotesque and twisted shape on the hard ground. Their expressions and words gave no hint of elation or pride at their triumph during the previous day’s warfare.

Robert’s mind grappled with the unpleasantness of having the faces of these men, his opponents, imprinted in his thoughts. These pictures would overlay his preferred depiction of a faceless and devilish enemy, upon whom he could fire without remorse, a scowl of rage upon his face and his heart wrapped in a protective blanket of British righteousness.”

Published for Sue Vincent’s Thursday write photo prompt. You can join in here: https://scvincent.com/2020/01/30/thursday-photo-prompt-daybreak-writephoto/  

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

58 thoughts on “#Writephoto – Daybreak”

  20. I agree… those enemies we cannot see can be imagined – but once seen especially in a helping mode – makes war all the more senseless. Reminds me of the States ‘Civil’ war where brother fought brother…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. When my FIL passed – (I may have mentioned) we opened a small trunk he had brought home from WWII and had never opened while he was alive…. Hubby believes his dad was one of the lib orators of one of the ‘camps’… though FIL never spoke of it. The only stories FIL told were of good things that happened (however few and far between they were…).

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  26. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up: Daybreak #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo
  28. Pingback: Five Links 2/7/2020 Traci Kenworth – Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger

Leave a comment