“The field surgeon has one great enemy in battle. Halflings, dwarves, elves and humans all live inside it. A barrier between innards and evisceration.” Know your organs 1st Edition, Rasmus Greybeard.
After GCE and A-level exams I can now try to rediscover creativity with Linda Hill’s Stream of conscious Saturday.
Many of the participants I already know through other groups and blog connections. As a writer I thought I might use this to explore back story for a new world that might become the origins of a novel at some point.
I will stick to the exact purpose of SoC here. This, apart from using the WP spell checker, is rough. No planning, thought or preparation or editing. Words as they tumble out. Please take that into account before despairing critique. I’ll also say I’m well out of writing practice so this is likely to be unpractised.
Ras’s field tent flapped in the breeze. Outside the butchers were making ready the weapons of war. Armour clanked and horses snorted as dawn grew over mountains to the east. Rocks that had seen these days before. Many times over the ages and likely many more in the future.
This was to be his first action. Long before his works in the Surgeons Guild and books like “Know Your Organs,” and a century before the Keep was laid waste, bringing… well that’s not this tale. Suffice to say Rasmus lived beyond this day and learned his trade amidst screams, death and a smell, that once tasted, never quite leaves dreams untainted.
He looked up and across the table draped in linen. Pristine, as were his tools and smock. The girl opposite was barely out of puberty.
“Morgan, fear is something one has to deal with when the time comes and the place leaves you nowhere to run.” His own hands were trembling. Calm before the storm.
“Have you,” the girl choked back tears, “have you done this before.”
“Many times.”
“Liar.” Yish swept through the tent flaps.
“Not really Elf.” Ras half smiled, his hands steadied. “I dream of times like this in my nightmares. Friends laid upon this altar with theirs organs unfurled. Blood spraying from broken arteries as screams echo round this.” His arm cast an arc around the field hospital.
“Have a care Ras, the girl almost fainted.”
The surgeon embraced the elf and kissed the side of her cheek. “Just ensure you don’t wind up here Yish.”
She place a finger over his lips. “I don’t intend to Ras…” she paused looking deep into his eyes, “…and I fully expect to see you on the other side of today too.”
“Aye, that was the wish of all at breakfast this morning I’ll wager. We’re somewhat safer here than those on the field.”
“And if we lose, how safe are we then physician?” They both turned to the girl.
Yish took her hand. “If it comes to that fly and don’t look back.”
Morgan looked at Ras. He shook his head and drew fingers across his throat. “The black horde take no prisoners at all. Whatever leads them deep in Ang Nafud sees nothing but darkness threading through our lands. Consuming everything before it.”
“Ras, stop it.” Yish turned and glared at him.
“Aye, best to pretend all’s well and ignore the truth.”
“Morose as ever comrade.” A dwarf stood holding back one of the flaps.
“And why not Nahar, we’re the ones knee deep in guts and the dying. The ones trying to make good from butchers in war. I have every right to be morose.” Ras clutched the dwarfs forearm. “You keep her alive or I’ll come gut you myself.”
Nahar laughed. “You could try surgeon, but like as might if Yish falls then I’ll be gone from this world already.” He released the surgeons grip. “It’s good to see you old friend. Next time let us find an inn and not some bloodbath waiting to happen.”
“Agreed. I expect all who stand here now to honour that after this war is over.”
“Won,” said Yish, her voice falling softly.
All eyes turned to her.
“Because if we lose then there won’t be anybody left will there?” Morgan searched each in turn, looking for hope.
Calm before the storm. I’m guessing waiting is perhaps worse mind wise. Knowing somethings coming and not being able to escape it. Possibly seeing your last daybreak. I’m of a mind of trenches waiting for the whistle to blow.
I know this can be enhanced significantly. I have much to say on war at an individual level. Parts of the machine as it were. Quite a melancholic topic, but a very real one to many, past and present.
Stream of conscious Rules – Taken from Linda’s Blog
- Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
- Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
- There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.
- Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent ping-backs will be found at the top. NOTE: Ping-backs only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
- Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.
- Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
- As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Comments are welcome and I look forward to meeting new bloggers via the SoCS community.