The ground shook as I woke. The Fritz have already started there first attack of the day at only 4am . My eyes are still weary from my short three hour sleep. The ground shook again. “Get up everyone Young, Greig, McHarg, Hunter, get out to the machine guns. Clark, Lochrie, Donnelly and eh you.” Hage pointed sternly at my brother Andy. “Out on the front line.” My heart began to race because I knew only a few of our soldiers would come back.

“Good luck Andy.”

“Don't worry Shortie I'll be back in no time. I promise!” I left while Andy was fixing his bayonet to his rifle. I waded through the thick muddy water. I reached the metal ladders, each step I took up it I felt more painful and colder on my tired legs. My eyes covered by a layer of rain, I wipe it off with my dirty hand my eye now itchy I block it out. I reach for the large black gun stalactites dripping from the handle. I load the gun with a snake like round. In no man's land the white bursts of fire lighting up the surrounding soldiers. I fire randomly from left to right but still making sure not to hit our soldiers. The Fritz takes down about three quarters of our soldiers, some of our platoon scurry back to retreat. I pray one of them is Andy. I fire into no mans land I know I have a hit because the bursts of lights and sounds of the guns fade. I go back into the trench the water now ten times colder than it was just a few minutes ago. I go in search of Andy.

Jonathon Young 2B2