Dripping
I hear dripping water
I smell pine and forest, old woodsmoke and big water
I am laying down, eyes too heavy to open
I can not move my legs or arms so heavy... I am drugged
I notice that I cannot feel my left leg. I still cannot move.
I strain my right hand to open, feel the sandy loam under it.
Oh good, my leg is there.
I hear someone moving, dry wood snaps,
scratch, sulpher match flares
I breathe even and slow, hiding my awareness
I have to find out what is wrong with my left leg
Slowly I strain and force my left hand to open,fingers straining down my canvas shorts. There is flesh underneath.
WHY an I not relieved that I have both legs?
I feel the presence of him moving over to me, hear his steps
Reg and the OTHERS riding him
Something drips onto my cheek, runs down to my neck
Just water please be just water God just water not blood or worse
He kneels by my right side
Hello Sweetheart
Reg's voice but not Reg, this one never was Reg
I shudder in my soul and my heart, I knew I would die in this war but his loss is worse than his death that I cannot even give
He caresses my thigh softly and I know terror,
helpless as the hands that once caressed me with care are careful but uncaring
He ties something tightly around my thigh
Tourniquet I struggle to say Toughnaakeath
the knowledge of what comes next blooming darkly in my mind inexplicable
Panic
I HAVE TO SEE! I MUST KNOW HOW I END
The fear burns through the heaviness just enough
I drag open my eyes and see
Trees above me,mostly pine >Not European< I see a maple at the edge of my field of vision
There is a large limestone rock sticking out of the sandy soil above me and to my left,
Closer is a firepit burning
Just past my extended fingertips I see the thick cord tied tightly
Beyond my leg is gone
On my right leg is the same cord tied just as tightly
Above all else I see Reg(oh how I have mourned you) kneeling at my right
He holds a great meat cleaver in his hands
And he is watching me
O God, Oh God he has already eaten part of me and he is hungry
I like it fresh
I MUST STOP HIM i can not
I HAVE TO GET AWAY
