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The Journals of Raymond Brooks 79

CHAPTER VII

The Madness of War

The fighting periodically broke out and then receded for three
days in a row. The town was divided, each half governed by an
opposing side. The rebels were mostly miners, people of strong
build who were used to daily hardships. Most of the soldiers,
on the other hand, were idlers. However, we were better armed
and armored, and commanded by a Lord who was a formidable

warrior. On the third day, we were moving in for an all-out fight.
We pushed the rebels back only to be snared by a fire-trap.
The rebels had cleverly dug a trench, filled it with oil and water,
and lighted it as soon as we marched forward in our Roman
formation. I remember the flash of light blinding me and the
feeling of heat suddenly surrounding me. I remember the
screams deafening my ears and, most vividly, recounting the

chaos that only moments before had surrounded me, and now
enveloped me.
I can’t seem to recall much of what happened afterwards. I do