and so I walk

The trumpet sounded early again. Earlier than yesterday. I struggle into my gear as we hurry to our positions, the men around me my brothers, cousins, uncles, and friends. We were called.

So we walk.

It is the sixth day since our leader came to us. Since he told us his great plan for defeating our enemies. He explained in detail what our goal was, that victory was assured and that our enemies would be annihilated.

So we walk.

In the heat of the day, under the beating of the sun. We walk.

Into the shade of the wall, so high that the tops cannot be seen and the darkness appears to our watery eyes like death itself; we walk.

Under the jeers and shouts and taunts of an army so vast and powerful that we cannot hope to defeat it; we walk.

In exhausted silence, with gritted teet. We walk.

I sweat, and I ache. My feet and face blister. My lips chap and bleed. And yet I walk.

As I have walked since that day. The day my Lord spoke. The day my Lord called.

I do not know why or for how long. I only know one thing. I was called. I was chosen.

So I walk.