series1bk3.4.1

 

Turning an eye to each uncertain face,  I placed them in mind like a new deck of cards; hard lidless expressions, dressed to assess the measure of my own humanity and power of command. Granted the insight of fretful retrospection, direct from recollection of details where our feet were ground down into rolling stubs, and our bodies trodden in shit, it's fine that smiles can shine. Entwined together in a single silken skein, it's plain to see that confraternal bonds, fondly - if without affection - unite my troop's grouping to a comrade fellowship in arms.      It never fell to us to fight a foe,      but if we had, such butchery they'd know!