my time has come

"Its okay. Be afraid. Its alright."

They could hear the guns coming. In fact they had heard them from at least two miles away. And they had almost gotten used to the sound, had let it slip into their subconcious so that it seemed as natural as hearing crickets chirp or rain fall. Then another sound came which stirred them all. The screams. The sound of men screaming in terror,in pain, in defeat. The enemy was close, with Death riding their coattails. They began to cower in the trench. Their hands trembled, their hearts raced. The fatigue of their five day journey, building the trench, and laying in it awake for fifteen hours suddenly settled in. They were terrified of what was approaching.

"You just take that fear, turn into your strength."

Then one man looked at his comrade and saw the fear in his eyes. He reached out and grabbed his arm. And that man did the same for the next. The chain continued until they were all connected, anchored by one man whose fear was overcome by his sense of duty to his fellow man. They knew then that this was why they came. To serve, protect, and, if need be, sacrifice. They turned towards the sound of the gunfire. They steadied their rifles. They lay quiet and still, until the enemy was nearly standing atop them. And they fought because they wanted to live but were prepared to die.