/**/
3/25/2010

100 Word Challenge - Ferocity

What follows is the result of the 100 Word Challenge - usually authored by the tenacious Velvet Verbosity, but today offered to you by Moi as I host Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge - temporarily. Today's word is "Ferocity".

Afterward


They stood there, like gray ghosts, because there is no color in moonlight. The silence around them was eerie, strange, a shocking contrast to the incredible noise of the firefight they'd just been through. Wisps of gray smoke drifted silently through the compound as if in slow motion but they - they were too stunned to move.

The Cong were gone. The attack had been sudden, out of the blue, and came with a ferocity the Cong had never demonstrated before. It ended almost as suddenly as it had started.

They knew the days of 'easy duty' were gone now. Forever.


Ndinombethe.

15 comments:

Jientje said...

You have lived this, I know.

Nan Sheppard said...

Your short stories are so amazing. You should publish a collection. Really.

Shadow said...

is there ever 'easy duty'?

Patsy said...

A glimps into the past you try to keep hidden from us.

Big Mark 243 said...

Amazing stuff... and yes, it does make me think back to personal experiences.

David Odeen said...

Reading Karl Marlantes, "Matterhorn" he describes this exactly.

Good story from the real deal.

PattiKen said...

Ah, Lou, of course I believe ALL war is horrible, but somehow that war always plays more "ferociously" in my head.

You and I are the same age. You were there with our friends, our classmates, our brothers and a few of our sisters. And those of us at home waited and prayed, and watched in horror as "the body count" was updated on the nightly news.

moneythoughts said...

Well said.

Tara R. said...

I don't think I could even explain why, but this... brought a tear. Beautifully done.

Emily/Randomability said...

I'm shuddering at the thought of being there.

Unknown said...

I cannot imagine.

Sage Ravenwood said...

Your words snake around me and draw me in, they take me places and when they're done leave me speechless. (Hugs)Indigo

Joyce-Anne said...

Simply amazing.

Unknown said...

Jientje: A long time ago.

Nan: One of these days.

Shadow: No, but some is easier than others.

Patsy: There's nothing that can be done about what I've lived through - and nothing that can be gained by reliving more that is necessary.

Big Mark 243: Thank you, Mark.

My point: Thank you, Sir.

PattiKen: I saw it from the other side of the 'tube'.

Moneythoughts: Thank you, Fred.

Tara R: Thank you, Tara.

Emily: Me too.

Hyphen Mama: Don't even try.

Indigo: Wow. Thank you, Indigo.

AuroraLee said...

Awful subject, wonderful piece, beautifully described.