ESCORT DUTY by Edward

OK folks, this one is not for the faint of heart but its a good one if you have nerves of steel and it comes from our very own one man wonder, Edward. It's a little historic and a whole lotta creepy and there's a gut-punch at the end to remind us all what we really should be scared of.

Comment if you love it and show support to our amazing Edward!

ESCORT DUTY

by

Edward

My room door opened and Kate, my youngest sister, stuck her head in and whispered,
“You’re wanted for escort duty.”

“I’ll be right down”, but she was gone already.
Father O’Boyd was dripping on the kitchen floor when I arrived. 

“You’ll need your top coat tonight James”, he said unnecessarily. I crossed the kitchen to the back door where my great coat hung. 

“I cannot believe that you were ever old enough to wear that coat James”.
“He wasn’t father he was only seventeen when he went to war father”, answered my
mother. Father O’Boyd looked embarrassed, replaced his hat and said, “Thank you Mrs. Connors and God bless you”.
The rain had eased as we made our way towards the town. 

“I’m sorry to bring you out on a night like this James.” 

“It’s alright father I don’t mind.” 

“You haven’t told anybody about this, have you?” 

“No father I blamed the activities of the Black and Tans when I was asked by my parents.” 

“You’re a very brave man James going all through the war without a scratch”. 

I did not answer, preferring to keep my nightmares to myself, besides the father probably wouldn’t understand, few people who weren’t there did.
“Is he there again father?”

“Yes James, I can just make him out in the darkness, can you still not see him?” 

“No father, is he in the same place?” 

“Yes, there in the shadows at the side of the bridge.” 

“Who is he father, do you know?” 

“I think I know who he is James. I can’t be sure because I can’t see his face clearly. Long ago I opposed a man’s burial in consecrated ground because I believed it was suicide. I did a terrible wrong, now he haunts my dreams and watches me from the dark places. The rain has stopped, the stars are out, you can return home.” 

We said our goodnights and parted. As I passed the bridge I looked deep into the shadows but saw nothing. I chuckled at the priest’s fear of being haunted by one soul.

 I wondered what he would do if, like me, he was haunted by the hundreds I saw buried by shell fire in the unconsecrated ground of no man’s land.

THE END