Book excerpt They wielded short knobbed sticks with which they struck each other blows to the head that reported like rifle shots
rading themselves within six miles of a garrison of the British Empire. That night the kid shared a tent with Evans and the joiner and ten others. Evans groaned in his sleep and muttered of the lash and Norfolk Island and in the morning they woke to Herrid’s shouts and dressed and began to assemble for Sunday service. Before communion with God could commence there were shouts from the Fingo levies. Several hundred naked men were struggling like demons in a cloud of dust. They wielded short knobbed sticks with which they struck each other blows to the head that reported like rifle shots and removed tufts of hair and skin so that blood flowed freely. A party of disputants, fearing themselves outmanoeuvred, took up their stabbing spears and entered the throng in a tight unit slashing left and right. The Commandant ordered a field gun to be loaded with grapeshot and swung round to bear on the men but Johnny Fingo poured
a palmful of black powder into the bore of an ancient musket and seated a ball above it. He placed the butt of the weapon on a hitching post and fired off a blast which echoed across the hills and the mountains and stilled the disputing warriors. They were tall men and well made and they stood silent and pale with dust and streaks of bright blood flowed down their faces. They looked like a demon horde, vigorous and powerful and struck dumb by a miracle. CT James Whyle has published poetry, short stories and journalism. Radio dramas, commissioned by the BBC, include “A Man Called Rejoice” which was published as “Rejoice Burning” in the UK. His story, “The Story”, was chosen by JM Coetzee as winner of the 2011 Pen/Studzinski competition. His book, “The Book of War” was short listed for South Africa’s Sunday Times Literary Award. He blogs at http://jameswhyle.blogspot.ca
“A brilliant, unforgettable debut. Steeped in carnage. ... grips from the outset and soaks the imagination like blood in sand” – Andrew Donaldson, The Times, Johannesburg.
The Book Of War By James Whyle Published by Jacana media
$19.76 at Amazon.com
56 ColdType | March 2014