His Home
Posted By: Ubiquitous<UbiquitousWaste@aol.com>
Date: 26 February 2001, 9:41 am
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The log was his home. It's massive form lying horizontal on the side of the
hill and braced against another tree standing high. Toppled unknown ages ago,
it's cool bark provided for the growth of dark green moss which cushioned the
marine's body. The wood provided shelter just above the marine's head. It
smoldered at spots with gray smoke rising from splintered holes. Birds
circled in the blue skies above making the only noise in the solitary forest.
The marine breathed slowly and cautiously. The rest of his squad was
scattered through the green foliage. He couldn't help them now. There's no
way to help the dead. He listened for the sounds of inevitability, yet heard
nothing but silence. His grandfather was a fisherman on one of the colonies
and made prolific usage of the phrase, "the calm before the storm." The
marine knew he wasn't on open seas now, but the threat of danger lurked
within these motionless trees and strangling weeds as deadly as any storm his
memory could conjure up. In contrast to the silent forest, the radio in his
ear crackled with life. "This is transport group 7 requesting the location of
the infected area, please respond Squad 43." The marine knew the noise would
attract unwanted attention. He felt a tickling on his hand. A lone insect
climbed over his bleeding knuckles searching for food. The marine vaguely
remembered punching the ground in anger, but it all seemed so distant, as if
from a dream. He summoned a quiet rumble within. "This is the single
remaining member of Squad 43. Section 25 is beyond containment. All is clear
for neutralization." Seconds ticked by as the beetle on the marine's hand
sucked at the running crimson liquid. "Understood 43," the voice paused with
regret, "commencing neutralization in T- 30 seconds." The marine heard a
crack of motion in the distant. A familiar hum of a vibroblade raised alarm
in his mind. The blue figure stepped out of the shadows. It noted the
marine's wounded body and halted it's approach. The marine smiled. Over his
radio he heard "7-6-5-4-3-2-1." Through the forest in front of the marine's
failing body, a glowing whiteness began to emerge. The blue figure turned
towards the light, it's weapon dropping slowly into the dirt. The light grew
increasingly bright... hotter then the sun above as trees crashed down like
dominoes towards the marine's body. His flesh began to burn, the beetle on
his hand shriveled. Peace entered his mind, then nothing. The log became his
home for eternity.
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