On the eve of a great battle with the infantry in dream, the old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning. He awoke from the night just to tell what he had seen and walked slowly out of his tent.
All the men held tall with their chests in the air, with courage in their blood and a fire in their stare. It was a grey morning and they all wondered how they would fare ‘till the old general told them to go home… he said:
I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting. I have seen their mothers and I will not order to follow me where I'm going. Take a shower, shine your shoes. You got no time to lose. You are young men you must be living. Go now you are forgiven.
But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders, not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders. The general said he would do his own duty, but would not extend it further. The men could go as they pleased…
Not a man moved, their eyes glazed straight ahead ‘till one by one they stepped back and not a word was said. And the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head. He then prepared to fight…
(Dispatch - The General)
