Collect

He staggered, dazed, bewildered; whilst the world around him burned;

He should have acted sooner, hadn't listened...

Lesson learned.

He hoped his mates had reached the barracks, headed home as planned;

He heard approaching voices, hostile orders,

Close at hand.

He straightened up, defenceless, would delay them if he could.

Two shots, his two assailants fell, he turned

And understood;

Saw four familiar figures through the flame-lit, swirling smoke,

Obeyed their frantic gestures, hastened over

As one spoke;

"You think we would abandon you, to face the foe alone?

We don't collect downed strangers and neglect to claim our own..."

~0~