Livestock

I stand in a train car with more soldiers than should be able to fit.
The door to the car has been locked shut as the last man is tossed in.
The reek of urine is thick in the air as nerve and control is lost, by some.
We are sheep led to slaughter, and we do this for our country.

From the train I am am yanked, forcefully, and pushed onto a boat that should hold half as many men.
The captain strides from one side of the vessel to the next, not caring whose fingers or toes he steps on while from letters of home he reads,"Volodya, my child, I know that it is for our motherland that you are giving your life. Everyone here knows that you will not fall back. Everyone here is proud of you. Your father is dead. Your brothers are dead. Avenge us on the hordes of fascists-"

The Bf 109's drop in on us and a metal rain cuts through our only protection, a thin roof of canvas. In a single pass our unit is cut in half-- decimated. The boat begins to fill
with blood.
The frightened begin to jump from the side of the boat and into the salty sea, but the traitors are shot in their backs to discourage the rest of us from following.
We are sheep led to slaughter, and we do this for our country.

We are a mass of bloody forest as land is struck once more; the wounded being carried away on crude stretchers while the remaining forces are herded still closer to the chopping block.

A man stands at the back of a truck that spills over with the standard issue rifle. The mans shouting is heard above the mortars. Heard above the anguished screams of death that fly overhead. His voice is all that I hear now.

"The one with the rifle shoots!
The one without follows him!
When the one with the rifle gets killed
the one who is following picks up the rifle and shoots!"

A rifle is forced into my hands and the soldier behind me follows close. His fingers look as if itching to rip the rifle from my grip. Too bad for him, he'll never get the chance.

I am no sheep.

Reviews

[Emily]

I really liked the way you started it!
You should send me some read request.
Keep on writing!