• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Authors Without Borders

Tales of Resilience and Heroism

  • Home
  • Stories
    • Title A-M
      • Akbar’s Bride
      • The Blushing Sea
      • Britannia ‐ New Dawn
      • Carpe Diem
      • The Dragon Tailed Star
      • Earth Redux
      • Einar The Black
      • Flight Of The Raven
      • Godwinson
      • The Headache
    • Title N-Z
      • Pagan Rebel
      • Shadow Of Doubt
      • The Stones Of Venice
      • The Unjust Men
      • Vengeance
      • The Woman Who Was Loved by Death
      • Who All Die
  • Authors
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

Who All Die, Day 50

May 29, 2020 by Alex Gough Leave a Comment

The noise from beyond the town defences was muted, and he could hear no urgent shouts, yells or screams from his comrades on guard, so after refilling his water flask, Oclatinius wandered wearily over to the hospital area to check in on Bricius.

“You look dreadful,” he said, when he saw his friend propped up on one elbow, face pale and sweating profusely.

“How many women have you talked into bed with that sweet tongue of yours?” muttered Bricius.

Oclatinius laughed. If his friend’s dour sense of humour was returning, that was surely a good sign. Then his attention was caught by two glum looking legionaries carrying a stretcher. Fulvius yelled to them, beckoned them over, then directed them to one of the sickly patients lying in an orderly row. The legionaries picked the soldier up by his hands and feet and dumped him heavily on the stretcher. Oclatinius winced at how roughly they treated him, until he saw the head loll to one side and stare at him, sightless eyes looking out from a pustulent, blistered, fly-covered face.

He was dead. All the soldiers, maybe half a dozen in that row, were dead. Oclatinius suddenly felt as cold as when he had jumped into the Euphrates, despite the fierce sun.

Fulvius caught him looking but he had no words. He just shook his head, and continued with his work, squatting down by a man with nose haemorrhaging and blood-stained saliva drooling from the corner of his mouth. He offered him water, but the clearly dying man didn’t even respond.

Shouts rang out from the direction of the main gate. Oclatinius looked towards the noise and saw arrows flying again, some flaming. He cursed, patted Bricius gently on the shoulder, and ran back towards the affray. And as he charged towards the battle, he wondered what would kill them all first. The Parthians, or the sickness.

Filed Under: Who All Die

Donate To Amnesty International

This story is being written to benefit Amnesty International, an agency dedicated to protecting human rights.

Click To Donate

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Get Your Stories By Email

Never miss a single episode - sign up to get each day's stories delivered.

Sign Up Now!

Stories

  • Akbar's Bride
  • Britannia ‐ New Dawn
  • Carpe Diem
  • Earth Redux
  • Einar The Black
  • Flight Of The Raven
  • Godwinson
  • Pagan Rebel
  • Shadow Of Doubt
  • The Blushing Sea
  • The Dragon Tailed Star
  • The Headache
  • The Stones Of Venice
  • The Unjust Men
  • The Woman Who Was Loved by Death
  • Vengeance
  • Who All Die

Recent Episodes

  • The Unjust Men, Week 9
  • The Unjust Men, Week 8
  • The Unjust Men, Week 7
  • Godwinson, Week 10
  • Godwinson, Week 9

Recent Comments

  • Vicki Cornelius on Flight Of The Raven, Week 10
  • Vicki Cornelius on Flight Of The Raven, Week 10
  • Stephen Clifford on The Unjust Men, Week 9
  • Ann Moore on The Unjust Men, Week 9
  • Stephen Clifford on The Unjust Men, Week 8

Archives

  • November 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020

Footer

Image Credits: Keight Maclean
Website: Rob McClellan, ModFarm Design

Get Your Stories By Email

Never miss a single episode - sign up to get each day's stories delivered.

Sign Up Now!
  • Post Your Story
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Powered by ModFarm Design · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Accept