All day br stuck up this bloody tree br in the middle of bloody nowhere. br br All the landscape br shrunk to this crossroads br br like the crosshairs br on a gun sight br br brings the distance br into focus. br br “Bloody Nora! ” br He swears to himself br and laughs. br br His mother’s name was Nora. br br Always thought it was hilarious br to swear by her. br br Remembers one time br as a boy br br swearing at her: br br “And eh by gum br she didn’t half hit me hard! ” br br “Blood seeping through the gum br still taste the taste of it br on my tongue br bloody ‘orrible it was! br hated it ever since.” br br “Now, look whatcha made me done! ” br she hollered at him. br br “Yes…sorry our Mum! ” br br He didn’t dare cry br ‘cos she’d hit for crying! br br “She was a hard one…our Mum! br Had to be with us bloody lot! br br She were fun though when she were happy! ” br br He hoped to God br that his man br would come br br so he could kill him br and be done. br br Didn’t know him br from Adam br br (leader of the insurgents br capable of getting men around him) . br br “Dangerously br Charismatic! ” br br Better dead br to keep the British br br peace alive br as the Empire lay dying. br br The sun setting br dying him a golden brown. br br “If he don’t come soon br I won’t have the light br to kill him.” br br “Remembering shooting game br with our Dad br br rabbit…pheasant br up ‘eath br in sunlight such as this.” br br The dangly bloody rabbit br turning into next night’s stew br br eating a celebration br of what you can do br do well...kill. br br How he came to be br here br br up a bloody gum tree br gun in hand…staring br br waiting for a man br to kill. br br Same bloody thing. br br Simple bloody plan! br br Waiting 3 days now br and no br man. br br “Keep your position br ...over.” br br “Maintain radio silence.” br br “Report in when job done.” br br “Roger ok that br ...