Chapter three (Matthew Williams)
'BRITAIN DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY – CANADA MOBILISES' Matthew looked at the newspaper in his hands. "What are you thinking, darling?" His mother asked him quietly. "They need soldiers... They need soldiers that will be going to Europe" Matthew replied silently. "You're not really thinking about going to war there, Mattie, do you?" she asked in horror and grabbed his hand: "Don't you remember the stories of uncle Pete? Why he can't see anymore?" "I know, mother. And no, I do remember these stories. But when no one goes there to fight, the offender can take whatever they want" he replied, avoiding his mother's concerned eyes. "Matthew… war is not a game. It's hell" she whispered in tears. "I know. But what if they lose? What will the world be like that is ruled by the Nazis? Aunt Josephine is a Jew, remember? What would you do if they were to come after her? Isn't that hell, too?" Matthew asked, his voice slowly turning firmer. A tear from his mother's eye fell on his hands: "Of course, my darling. But I just – I just don't want to lose you!" Matthew pressed his lips together. He was scared, too. But then, he forced himself to look at his mother's sad, scared face: "I don't want to die, either, mother. But I could never stay behind and just wait for someone else to do the fighting without helping, too. It's against the principals you have raised me to let others do the work and to pay the price without helping." "Oh, darling" she whispered under tears and hugged her son: "Does your father know?" "I haven't seen him today, I fear" Matthew replied, trying not to cry himself. Not necessarily because of his coming future, but because of his mother's pain. "I fear… I fear he will understand" she choked. "I know you do, too" Matthew replied and smiled at her. "… I fear that, too" she whispered, "My god, why? Why do they fight again? Weren't the millions enough that had to die thirty years ago?" "They're mad, mother. Hitler is mad. His followers are mad. They separated themselves so much, they found endless enemies within and without. That's why I must go. They must be stopped" Matthew replied and pressed his mother's hand: "May the price be high, but it's worth it. For our freedom and the safety of our homeland." "I cannot say I support your plans with my mind, but I know in my heart that you are a good boy. My little son, I just don't want you to suffer" his mother said, trying not to cry yet again. "I know you don't. I don't want to leave you, either. But the war won't go away by staying behind" Matthew replied, "And I don't want my country to suffer."
The following day, Matthew approached the recruiting centre that was the closest to his home. He was surprised by how many young men were standing there, ready to join the army – if they were allowed to. After being examined by a doctor, a member of the armed forces asked each and every one of the possible future soldiers why they wanted to join the armed forces. Matthew stood there, waiting to be asked as well. "So, Williams? Why do you want to join the armed forces?" "Sir, it is my duty as a citizen to defend what I hold dearest. My country and its values!" He replied, surprised by his own confidence. "What branch of the armed forces do you want to join, Williams?" Of course, he had thought of that, but to say it was always harder than to think about it: "Sir, the Army, infantry, sir!" The officer in front of him let out a grunt-like sound and told him to stand in the line again. Then, he went to the next man.
That day, Matthew accepted. He did join the infantry – because of his prior experience as both a hunter and just shooter in general, he was assigned to the Royal Regina Rifles, a regiment that had seen combat in the great war. A regiment that was admired by many who knew the Canadian Army.
Just a few days later, the news broke that Poland officially surrendered to both Germany and the Soviet Union. No one was really surprised by the news – no one could expect any nation to win such a hopeless fight – but now, the concern shifted to the west: Who was next? And when? Because even the veterans of the great war were no experts on Blitzkrieg. How Matthew hated that word. But he found it was surprisingly fitting for the Nazis to use such a strategy. Their elite troops, the SS, wore two 'S' on their uniforms that looked like a lightning, like a Blitz. He had seen them a few times on television and in the newspaper. How they all stood under the same flag, behind the same men. Those weren't men anymore, those were cattle. A cattle that followed the wrong leader.