Brothers

My foot sank into the wet soil. The pattering rain gently hit my face as I stealthily made my way through the dense forest. My wet uniform was proving to be a distraction. I shivered as it touched my skin every now and then. Nonetheless, I tightened my grip on the rifle. The bastard was nearby. I had lost track of him a couple of minutes ago as he was moving to my east. The rain obscured my vision. Dusk was approaching. And the droplets dripping from my helmet simply made it worse. I had to get rid of my helmet to improve my odds and my vision. The helmet gave me an idea.

I held the rifle in my right hand as I unstrapped the helmet from my jaw. Holding it by the strap, I flung it as far as I could to my east, where I had last seen him.

It hit the ground with a light splash. Immediately I saw a flash of light to my left. A split-second later barrage of bullets descended upon the area where my helmet had fallen. My eyes traced the trajectory of the bullets and ended up on a pair of hands that were partially hidden by a tree not fifteen feet away from me. I’d found him.

Kneeling, I adjusted my rifle and held the barrel firm against my left shoulder. Closing my right eye, I took in a deep breath. I aimed for where I assumed his torso would be. It was already five seconds after my helmet had hit the ground. A few more and he would realize his folly. So, I squeezed the trigger.

The bang as the bullet was released and the whoosh I heard as it made its way through the rain was music to my ears. There was a splattering sound as the bullet hit the tree's bark and pushed through it. It must have come out from the other end because I heard a loud yell that conveyed shock, pain and helplessness. I got him.

He fell to the ground as his legs gave away. I couldn’t make out if he still had his rifle. His upper body was still hidden from me thanks to the tree. But his screams gave me the courage to step towards him.

I made my way around the tree, so that I could see his hands first. He had dropped the rifle. It lay a few feet away from him. In immense pain and shock, he began to twitch. He didn’t have long. But I needed to hear him say it. I wanted him to beg for mercy.

I read the name on his soldiers’ badge. He was a captain. Big fish! Moving into his line of sight I asked, “How does it feel to know that your country isn’t safe anymore soldier? Your country will lose the holy war. The one whom you call terrorists will conquer your country. We shall kill your women and children till the adhere to the word of our God. What do you have to say to that soldier?”

Of all the things I had expected from him - tears, a sorrowful scream or even a cry for mercy - I least expected a smile. In his immense pain and his last heaves of breath, he was smiling at me, his eyes glancing over my shoulder.

A voice behind me said, ”You forgot one thing bastard. He has a brother too.”

I felt the other soldier keep his gun against the back of my skull. “You can take our children and our families. You can destroy our motherland and submit her to your will, but only after you kill all the ones who protect the borders. And if we all fall? Our countrymen and women will pick up our guns.”

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down from them, knowing fully well that not even God could save me.