Steven Appleby
Ruth Brandt
War. What is it good for? That was the question asked by Edwin Starr in his seminal 1970 protest song – and by many generations of soldiers and widows for millennia before that ... The answer (if there is one), as anyone who’s studied First World War poetry, read Tolstoy, Remarque or Pat Barker, or come across the short stories of Tim O’Brien, is extraordinary literature. War takes away homes, freedom and even lives; but the art that arises from con ict is undeniably some of the most powerful and moving ever created, from Picasso’s Guernica to the poems of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. Small comfort, perhaps, that appalling situations produce beautiful writing – but just as death is part of life, war is part of human society, and one that we have not yet been able to eliminate. We’re an aggressive species, but we are a re ective and compassionate one too – and in this issue you will nd stories that embrace the pity of war as well as its horrors.
Nadia Stevenson’s A War Monologue addresses that most dif cult of subjects – a soldier talking about his experiences of killing, while Richard W. Strachan’s subtle story of war games The Wild Geese brilliantly conveys the insidious glamour of battle for young boys, with a sinister twist. In Among The Ruins, Lennart Lundh imagines a post-apocalyptic world in which bare survival is the goal, but somehow love remains. Hassan’s Zoo, by Ruth Brandt, shows a zoo-keeper’s struggle between duty and self-preservation and Gail Newton provides some welcome comic relief in When The War Comes, a tale of a lone survivalist ignoring his life (and his wife) in favour of his blog.
In the light of recent events – perhaps the biggest single battle so far won in the ongoing ‘war on terror’, or at least on Al Qaeda, with the death of Osama bin Laden – this issue is more relevant than ever. War touches us all, wherever we are, and nobody is safe. Most of us will be lucky enough never to have to experience it rst-hand, but in The Iron Gates of Freedom – a semi-autobiographical story by Iraqi writer-in-exile Kusay Hussein, cowritten with author Sue Reid Sexton – we have a dispatch from the frontline. Read it and hope.
Katy Darby Editor June 2011
$%& %i* da+% Ha%%a c!'ld ’& lea(e h!'%e %ha$ed )i&h m!&he$, fa&he$ &)! ge$ %i%&e$%, Haja Fa$$ah. A% e*"l!%i! j'dde$ed &he ce%%a high-"i&ched %h$iek% mi%%ile% "a%%ed !(e$head, )!$$ied &ha& &he+ )!'ld all die, %'ff!ca&ed b$ick d'%& c$ea&ed )all% &ha& !) "$!&ec&ed &hem, &hei$ c$'%hed ch' $'bble. T!)a$d% &h!%e da+%, ca$ef'll+ %elec&ed )he !i%e )a$fa$e d'lled, "e$mi&&ed hea$& )i&h &ha& migh& be !(e$, a& &he%e &ime% ed a)a+ f$!m )ha& held famil+ &!)a$d% imal% %h!'ldha(e bee ca$i f!$. He e(e$ d!'b&ed &ha& !&he$ ,!! %&aff )!'ld h!led &hei$ h!'%e% !cca%i! al (i%i& eighb!'$ )i&h e)% mi i%&$+ b!mbed, bl!ck &ake "a%%ed %&eal&hil+ "e$%! "e$%! &ha& elec&$ici&+ )!'ld a(ailable a& %e(e &ha& e(e (a$iabl+ al%! ci&+ %&$ee&% em"&+ !f ci(ilia %. E(e d!c&!$% '$%e% )e$e %&a+i a)a+ h!%"i&al% )he$e life-&h$ea&e j'$ie% &he$e )e$e &he%e di%c'%%ed g$ie(ed !(e$) )e$e lef& a&&e ded Wha&mad e%% )a% &aki "lace?
‘T!m!$$!) )ill be&&e$,’ Ha%%a ’% fa&he$ )!'ld "acif+ (i%i&!$% hi% famil+ )h!, like c!'ld (i%age $!%ie$f'&'$e.
‘Sh!ck a)e.’ Hi% fa&he$ %h!!k head a% %aid )!$d%, a% him%elf )e$e a)e mili&a$+ !"e$a&i! &aki "lace c!'
B+ &he %e(e &h da+, f!!d %'""lie%, ga&he$ed dilige &l+ d'$i &he "$ecedi )eek% !f eg!&ia&i! %ea$chi f!$ )ea"! !f ma%% de%&$'c&i! )e$e bec!mi l!) d, al&h!'gh b'cke&%, em"&+ ca e(e hi% +!' ge%& %i%&e$’% d!ll%’ "$am )e$e b$immi )i&h )a&e$, &he dail+ half-h!'$ g'%he% f$!m &he &a"% had cea%ed. The %&e ch !f '$i c!m"!%&i faece% c!'ld !& be a(!ided, h!)e(e$ fa$ )i&hi &he f!'$ )all% Ha%%a $!amed f$!m &he '%hable &!ile&. Hi% ea$% had bec!me imm' &! &he f$e#'e ca%cade% !f %h!&% f$!m &he )!$ld !'&%ide he f!' &ha& mai &ai &he high le(el !f fea$ he had li(ed )i&h f!$ %e(e$al da+%, %i ce &he %&!$ie% !f +!' gi$l%’ "'$i&+ bei &ake b+ &$!!"% f$!m b!&h %ide% had $%& &e$ed &he h!'%e, had bec!me im"!%%ible.
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a)e &' *+')!e*, !f c'%e bac# ac+!&g ",*+ *a%e 0',) a**,%(+!'&, !%ag!&e, !* a+ !+ d!d&’+ $ea-e %a)#. O) a+ dea$+ .!+ !+ .e$$. a+ I’-e (,+ !+ be !&d %e !& &!ce a&d ea$+ .a0.
D!d 0', e-e) $''# !&+' %0 e0e*? D!d 0', e-e) )ea$$0?
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B,+ d' 0', &e-e) *ee ‘!+’ !& %0 e0e*? Y', e/(ec+ 0',) *+')!e*, ') &e)-',* +.!+c e*, d'&’+ 0',?
He)e’* *+')0. *a%e .ee# *!g&ed ,(, %0 f)!e&d Lee *+a)+ed .')#!&g d'.& )'ad a+ *,(e)%a)#e+. We .e)e e!g +ee&. He g'+ c'&+)ac+ a&d d!d +''. F!)*+ "'b f') b'+ 'f ,*. B'+ 'f ,* '& .age. J'b* a+ .e’d b'+ '*e& +' d'. I+ .a* .')#. '*e !+. g'+ (a!d f') !+. #&'.. N'+ !&g -a$!a&+ !& !+. J,*+ be!&g $ad, a+’* a$$ !+ %ade *e&*e, &'+
a.#+"%1 ca&(- a!ed a'd a*&ed /#," b*($e' b*a'c"e+ a'd +,#c$+, c-+,(&#+ed -',#% ,"e1 *e+e&b%ed ,"e %a,e+, #' 1970+ &e*ce'a*1 "a*d/a*e, a'd /#," A*&1/Na.1 +,(*e ca+,be*e,+ a'd ca) bad!e+ a'd ca',ee' eac" +%-'! a*(-'d ,"e#* /a#+,+, ,"e ,/( b(1+ $'e%, a'd a))*a#+ed ,"e *#d!e (' ,"e (,"e* +#de ,"e e%d /#," !*#&, )*( e++#('a% e1e. Va',a!e )(#',+ (* +'#)e*+ ab(-'ded. T"e*e, b1 ,"e (-,c*() +,('e ,"a, !-a*ded ,"e %e , a'$ a'd ,"a, %(($ed d(/' #',( ,"e "(%%(/ de %e a, ,"e ed!e ,"e *#d!e, /a+ c%ea* )(+#,#(' (* a&b-+".
A%e0a'de* %(/e*ed "#+ b#'(c-%a*+. W#%%#a& )%aced "#+ *# (' ,"e !*(-'d a'd c"ec$ed ,"a, "e +,#%% "ad "#+ !*e'ade+ ,( "a'd; "e "ad a+"#('ed ,"e& *(& ,"e )#'e c('e+ ,"e1 "ad b(," c(%%ec,ed be"#'d ,"e "(-+e be (*e ,"e1 +e, He /a+ *e%#e.ed ,( 'd ,"e& +,#%% #' ,"e )(-c"e+ ,"e c%a+)-b-c$%ed be%, "#+ !*a'd&(,"e* "ad b*(-!", bac$ (* "#& *(& ,"e A*&1/ Na.1 +,(*e. A%e0a'de* "ad ('e +#&#%a*. G%#',#'! a, ,"e *(', "#+ +$1-b%-e be*e,, A%e0a'de* "ad ,"e ca) bad!e a' RAF %#e-,e'a',. Acc(*d#'! ,( "#+ bad!e, W#%%#a& /a+ #' ,"e SAS.
+c*ee' ,a%% !*a++ +"#e%ded ,"e& b(," a+ ,"e1 )%a''ed ,"e#* ad.a'ce. W#%%#a& +/a%%(/ed b*ac$#+" &(-," -% /a*& /a,e* *(& "#+ ca',ee' a'd, -'c('+c#(-+%1, A%e0a'de* d#d ,"e +a&e, /#,"(-, ,a$#'! "#+ e1e+ ,"e *#d!e -) a"ead.
‘F*(',a% a++a-%,,’ W#%%#a& e*ed. ‘G*e'ade+, c(.e*#'! *e?’
‘R#+$1.’
‘A,,ac$ *(& ,"e a'$+?’
T"e (%de* b(1 +#!"ed ,"*(-!" ,"e '(+e a'd +"(($ "#+ "ead. He ,(($ "#+ be*e, a'd +c*a,c"ed ,"e *ed /ea% #, "ad %e , (' "#+ (*e"ead. I, /a+ a%/a1+ e#,"e* ,(( ,#!",, (* '(, ,#!", e'(-!".
‘N(,’ "e +a#d. ‘We 'eed ,( be ca*e -% /#," ,"#+ ('e. I' 2’
He )a-+ed. ‘I' %,*a,e!’
W#%%#a& '(dded +a!e%1. C*ad%#'! ,"e *# #' "#+ a*&+, "e +%#,"e*ed ,"*(-!" ,"e !a) #' ,"e e'ce a'd be!a' c*a/%#'! ,"*(-!" ,"e e%d /"ea, ,"a, +e)a*a,ed ,"e& *(& ,"e *#d!e. A+ "#+ ca'.a+ ,*a#'e*+ d#+a))ea*ed #',( ,"e +/a1#'! +,a%$+,
$%"ned $he #h &el and $am!ed $he ea"$h &e" $he g"a&e.
‘Wa# i$ me ne $ha$ kne'?’ S$ea"n# had me %! behind me 'i$h hi# %#%al #ilence. %ldn’$ gi&e him $he #a$i#fac$i being #$a"$led.
‘Y ne&e" me$, fa" a# kn '.’
‘Odd. $h %gh$ I’d me$ e&e") ne he"e.’
‘Fi$*ge"ald 'a#n’$ ne $he "eg%la"#. He came in 'hen he needed me$hing $he cabin. T"aded fe' %"# "k 'ha$ he 'a# af$e", $hen 'en$ back %$.’ ge#$%"ed 'a"d
$he $hill# $ha$ "med 'l a" %nd 'ha$ had nce been $h"i&ing ci$). ‘M #$l) he #$a)ed $he $he" #ide.’
‘I$’# nel) life %$ $he"e.’ S$ea"n# ben$ e(amine $he g"a&e. ‘Y nice "k. E(!e"ience $ell#.’
‘Wa) m%ch !"ac$ice,’ all 'ed. #e$ $he #h &el a#ide and #$a"$ed fe$ch ck#. Wi$h %$ $hem, $he animal# %ld dig Fi$*ge"ald %! b) ne($ "ning. S$ea"n# d"a!ed hi# a$ &e" b%#h and len$ hand 'i$h $he cai"n. ge$he" 'e made #h "$ b%$ ca"ef%l "k i$.
Sa$i# ed, #$"a!!ed $he #h &el behind m) "#e’# #addle and nned m) 'indchea$e". A# %n$ed, ked &e" m) #h %lde" a$ S$ea"n#. ‘D"ink?’
He he#i$a$ed, e)e# d"if$ing ac" ## $he line hill#. ‘Y ne %$ $he"e?’
‘Yeah. The !lace i# #e$ #$"aigh$, and $he"# ha&e $aken $he animal# and 'ha$e&e" el#e $he) migh$ 'an$. had Mi#$e" Elli $$ me $he "i$%al.’
‘Then d"ink %nd# d.’
We de 'i$h %$ #!eaking f" $he ceme$e") $he edge 'ha$ 'a# ba"el) &illage. 'a# $hinking ab %$ Fi$*ge"ald and $he ne# bef "e him, nde"ing man) "e I’d ha&e b%") bef "e i$ 'a# m) $%"n. didn’$ kn 'ha$ S$ea"n# 'a# $hinking. #$ $he $ime, 'a# ha!!ie" $ha$ 'a).
I$’# $ha$ S$ea"n# 'a# e&il. Th #e %# 'h #%"&i&ed %nde"#$ $he di#$ance be$'een $ha$ and indiffe"ence. He 'a# call %#ed, ha"dened in 'a) hadn’$ ma#$e"ed )e$, and
d&%’+ "%&. h&. #&%g .a* a.a"e +he gh+. .a* #0 %g &% $0 bed .)a''ed +he da)"%e** .h ch .a* a## &-e) +he c&,%+)0 %ce +he &,+b)ea" &f .a) f&)+0 da0* bef&)e. .a*
*+e% %g +& +he #e%ce a* bea,+ f,# *&%g. "e'+ *+e% %g a%d
*+e% %g, ,%+e+he) %g $0 +h&,gh+* a%d fa%+a* e* +& . +h +he . %g* &f $ag %a+ &% a* fa) a* +he0 c&,#d a%d #ea-e +he !a f&)e-e).
Wa* gh+, .ha+ e-e)0&%e had bee% *a0 %g, +ha+ Sadda$ a%d )eg $e had *,dde%#0 *a''ea)ed? I+ .a* ha)d f&) $e +& be# e-e +ha+ d%a''e) "e Sadda$, .h& had +a"e% ,* h&*+age f&) +h )+0 0ea)* a%d ),#ed ,* b0 )e a%d )&%, c&,#d #ea-e cha a%d *a''ea) a* $'#0 a* +ha+. N&b&d0 e/'ec+ed +ha+, a+ #a*+, he .&,#d ,*e +he b)a head %*+ead &f .ea'&%* &f $a** de*+),c+ &%, *& .a* +ha+ +),e? d%’+ +h %" *&. Ma0be *&$e &f +a)0 &f ce)* had . *e#0 dec ded +& ')e-e%+ +he $'e%d %g $a**ac)e. E-e)0 gh+ +he #a*+ f&)+0 da0* I’d +) ed +& fa## %+& dee'
*#ee' +& de f)&$ +he dea+h--& ce* &f ** #e* a%d e/'#&* &%*. The0 *+a)+ed . +h +he .h *'e)* &f +he fa)-a.a0 gh+e) )c)af+ a%d .e)e f&##&.ed b0 h,ge de+&%a+ &%*. B,+ %&. e-e)0+h %g had cha%ged. c&,#d%’+ *#ee' beca,*e &f $0 d)ea$*. fe#+ +ha+ e-e)0+h %g .&,#d cha%ge aga *&&%. The .e##-"%&.%
$a/ $, TODAY IS BETTER THAN TOMORROW, .&,#d %&+ a''#0 a%0 $&)e. We .&,#d%’+ be a#&%e. The g#&ba# '&.e) .&,#d be . +h ,* +& )eb, #d +he c&,%+)0. We .&,#d be "e +he *,))&,%d %g c&,%+) e*; %e. h&,*e* %*+ead &f +he*e &#d &%e* c)ac" %g . +h age, %e. ca)*, %e. *e)- ce*, e(,a# &''&)+,% e*, a%d %&)$a# fe . +h %& $&)e .a). &'e%ed $0 e0e* a%d #&&"ed +&.a)d* .he)e $0 ce)+ ca+e h,%g &% +he .a##, b,+ c&,#d%’+ *ee a%0+h %g +he g#&&$0 da)"%e**. )e$e$be)ed .he% I’d +a"e% +& +he *+)0 &f
C,#+,)e a%d A)+* $$ed a+e#0 af+e) $0 g)ad,a+ &% -e 0ea)* ag&. .a* *& ')&,d .he% *h&.ed +& +he Pe)*&%%e# *ec+ &%. B,+ +he0 +&#d $e +ha+ d%’+ ha-e 'a)+ *a% )efe)e%ce
Whe %he (a# c!me$, %he#e (! ’% be gla$$e$. E)e gla$$e$, mea !% %he ki )!& d#i f#!m, al%h!&gh
%h!$e (ill "#!babl) be $h!#% $&""l) a$ (ell. )!& ca #&le !&% c! %ac% le $e$. The#e (! ’% be $!a" $! i% (ill be im"!$$ible %! (a$h )!&# ha d$ "#!"e#l) %! "&% %hem d! ’% (ea# %hem %he$e da)$, beca&$e )!& d! ’% (a %! be $%&ck a% %he !f %he (!#ld (i%h )!&# c! %ac% le $e$ (a) %! $afel) #em!'e %hem, gla$$e$. Beca&$e %he (he#e (!&ld )!& be? Ea%e b) fe#al d!g, m!$% likel).
M) lef% e)e i$ -5 m) #igh% -6.5. We ha'e ’% e'!l'ed (ell f!# (!#ld (he#e )!& m&$% $&#'i'e (i%$ $%#e g%h al! e. Na%&#al $elec%i! !( fa'!&#$ %h!$e able %! %!&ch-%)"e, !# c#ea%e gagi P!(e#P!i "#e$e %a%i! $. Whe %he (!#ld d$ %he c!m"&%e#$ a#e dead 'ide!c! fe#e ci $eem$ like $%#a ge hall&ci !ge ic d#eam, %he all !f %he !f ce (!#ke#$, (i%h !&# $h!#%-$igh%ed e)e$ $%iff eck$, (ill be ab$!l&%el) $c#e(ed. I’'e %ake "#eca&%i! $, $! $h!&ld )!& m) f#ie d$. Take ad'a %age !f ‘b&) ge% f#ee’ !ffe#$ a% !"%icia $. Ge% f!&# "ai#$, if )!& ca hide %hem )!&# #adia%i! $hel%e#. Beca&$e (he %he (!#ld all) c!me$ c#a$hi d!( a#!& &$, %he#e (! ’% be !"%!me%#i$%$. The#e (! ’% e'e be
