author's note: this links in with two other poems; "Spun Sugar" and "Late", but can stand alone.

Astray

Softly through the moonlit clearing;

Rapid footsteps,

Pounding heart.

Bridge destroyed, successful mission;

Team now scattered;

Split apart.

~0~

Split apart by close encounter;

Guard patrol

On lonely track.

Now he's got their full attention,

Hopes the others

Made it back.

~0~

Made it back to base, and safety,

While he leads

The troops astray.

Hopes that he'll avoid their clutches;

If he fails...

He'll have to pay.

~0~

He'll have to pay, for those who matter.

Not a noble

Sacrifice;

Simple, heartfelt understanding,

Knows his mates

Are worth the price.

~0~

Are worth the price, beyond all counting;

Mouth quirks up

At such a thought.

Shakes his head, continues running;

Better if

He isn't caught.

~0~

He isn't caught, he reaches cover,

Leaves curl round;

In soft embrace.

Gunfire rips through tangled branches;

Head ducks down,

He stays in place.

~0~

He stays in place, he stills all movement;

Listens, watches,

Slows each breath.

There's quite a knack to cat and mouse games;

Hide and seek and

Life or death.

~0~

Life or death; the daily choices

Now and...then;

His troubled past.

Skills acquired in years of hardship

Found a worthy use

At last.

~0~

At last the noise becomes more distant,

Shots recede,

And voices fade.

He doesn't rush, he rises slowly,

Slips through dappled

Light and shade.

~0~

Light and shade conceal his actions;

Bearings gained,

He circles round.

Caution with each step he's taking;

Twigs can snap,

A sudden sound.

~0~

A sudden sound...a new disturbance;

Whispered words

Some yards ahead.

Grins; delighted recognition,

Moves to join them...

Stops instead.

~0~

Stops instead, observes the party;

Danger is not

Over yet.

Stays in shadows, under cover;

Foe still near,

Must not forget.

~0~

Must not forget and drop defences

Prematurely;

Big mistake.

Trusts his ears and eyes and instinct;

Follows on

In comrades' wake.

~0~

In comrades' wake, he walks unnoticed;

Has their backs,

Unheard, unseen.

Trio on a narrow pathway;

Camp ahead,

Searchlights between.

~0~

Searchlights between, he knows the pattern;

Every sweep

Of wire and land.

Count the seconds, beams pass over;

Every step

Precisely planned.

~0~

Precisely planned, a curve past pine trees,

Reappears

By friends, wide-eyed.

All unscathed, relieved, bone weary;

Down the ladder;

Safe inside.

~0~