creative+writing



The wanderer. By Douglas Garard.

Nothing went right after the war. Can't say I'm not suprised about it though. War isn't fighting, it's a test site for nuclear weapons. The war between Russia and the rest of Europe was a quick game of chess ending in stale mate. The stale mate that I'm talking about, was the nuclear explosion in the newly built iron curtain. A border separating Russia from Europe. The explosion destroyed about half of Europe. I am one of the unlucky ones. I survived.

My name is Jameson Chret. I was one of the unlucky ones that suffer through the aftermath. I have no home. I carry everything on my back. I carry a few apples, water bottles, lighter, my great great great grandfather's bow, 8 arrows, my family's 8 inch hunting knife (in case for close quarter combat), my cross, bible, and a picture of my wife; Elizabeth. Her parents live in Portugal, she took a plane there to see them during the heat of the war. I don't know if she survived. But I'm going to walk there myself, and tear anyone apart, that gets in my way.

All of Italy is in ruins. I don't know the damage Russia caused to their land, but I wish that they all burned. The only friend that I have in Italy is my dog. I think of a name for him, so I called him Dog. I have had him since I met Elizabeth. He is a very loyal and old. I don't think he'll survive this trip though. As I walk though the ruins of Italy, I could recognize every thing that has been destroyed. The shopping mart, soda shop, everything. The radiation couldn't cover everything that I knew. I left the safety of my home land, to the mercy of lower Europe. As long as I walk this path, I will have hope.

The first souls to stand in my way was a thug in south eastern France. "Can you spare some food sir?" he said. I kept walking. "Then why don't you just give me that whole bag then!" and raised up a knife. My dog was arched back ready to strike. I put my hand in front of him to stop. I looked at the thug and said, "You call that a knife?" "Yes" he replied. "Thats no knife" I said back at him. "__This__ is a knife" and brought out my families 8 inch knife. I saw his eyes widen the size of dinner plates, never the less, he attempted a slash at the neck. He missed, and I slashed his head off. I put my cross around my chest to ask God for forgiveness, and moved on. The road seemed to go on forever. My dog would eventually get tired of walking, so we would stop, rest for a while, and move on. When it got too dark to see the road, we would stop at the outskirts of the town, and set up a fire. I would read my bible and my dog would give me warmth and security. If anyone came for an attack, he would know first.

The next day I spotted a deer along the highway. It's a miracle that there is still wild life surviving. It looked very week and old. I was as quiet as I could be knowing that a snapped twig could make it run away. I silently drew my bow, and shot it in the neck. The attack made him scramble through the wasteland, untill it became to exahsted to move. I ran to it and withdrew my arrow from it. He looked at me, wondering what I was going to do next. When I drew out my hunting knife, it knew he was going to be killed, so he slowly closed his eyes, and passed away. I cooked most of the legs, and body of the dear and saved them in my bag. I gave the rest to my dog, it was a while since his last meal.

I believe that I was in the middle of southern france at the time. The next city that I saw had a very bad omen. I wouldn't want to go around it, It would take more time, and the more time I waste, the more chances of my wife dying. I walked through the town with people staring at me. I dare not take my hood off, for they will know who I am. My dog was growling, he knew that these people would do bad things to us if they get the chance. He always knew. when I reached the middle of the city, a gang started grouping in front of me. I hate gangs. They think that they could rule the streets every time a nuclear explosion goes off. These guys had a emblem of an oval and cross swords. Not as intimidating as any other gang with flaming skulls. These guys were serious. I could tell who their leader was, the older man in his mid forties. wore a black shirt, semi-long black hair, had everything that a gang leader should look like. He took two steps toward me and said, "There is only two kinds of people in this city..." he paused to let me "soak" that sentence in. "There are the fighters, and the hurting" he paused again. " Which one are you?"

"Me?" I replied, "I'm just passing through."

And walked on. As I walked through the crowd, he brought out his revolver and told everyone to stand back. I already have my bow in hand. He turned around to fire at me, and ended up with an arrow through his right arm. I ran to him to finish him off and get my arrow back, but the crowd was already all over him. Some outside of the up rising brought out their knives to protect their leader. So I ran to the outside of town until there wasn't a chance of them finding me. I stopped to catch my breath, and hold the cross by my chest, asking God for forgiveness, and walked on.

That night, I set up camp a few meters from the highway. I got a fire started and sat by a rock to read my bible. I was reading the book of revelation when I saw my dog pearch his head and ears up and stared at the highway, pointing near the city we just went through. I quickly doused the flame and made myself scarce. I saw a Hummer, going slow on the highway. I knew immediately that it belonged to the gang that I ran in to several hours ago. It stopped. My heart raced faster, there must have been eight people in the back. The driver came out with a flash light. He flashed it along the sides of the highway, trying to find some clues to where I am. He opened the back passenger door and said, "He should be here at this time."

"Did you find anything?" another voice said. The driver shook his head. "All right, lets get back, to the hideout."

The driver closed the door and said,

"The boss isn't going to like this." He got back in the car and drove back the way it came. When it left, I sighed deeply with relief. I decided to not make another fire, and sleep in the dark.

The next morning, I felt very stiff. The cold night took a toal on my back. My dog didn't lay down with me that night. He was probably worried with the gang coming back. But I stretched it out and moved to the next town. On the way I saw a gas station in perfect condition. Nothing was broken, How could there be a building as tall as two and a half meters survive a nuclear explosion? Even my dog was confused. I decided to walk in. It look like any convenience store before the explosion. I was looking for the owner, and I saw someone in the far corner with a broom or a mop. I walked with caution toward the corner, Bow ready in my hand. I jumped in front of the isle, and found a bald guy, completely unharmed. He looked up at me and said, "Can I help you?" My head was spinning with questions; how did you survive the explosion? Why is this place still standing? But instead I said, "uh... do you have any Kit-Kat bars?" It was my favorite candy bar. "its in the front counter" he said. "i'll be right there." I walked to the counter, still confused about this gas station still standing. Before I could theorize, the clerk walked up to the counter and said, "How many?" It took me a while to think

"Uh... one...-no two" I replied.

"what will you trade for it?" The clerk said. I wondered, anything in my back pack could help me in the long run, but I decided to give him some of the deer meat that I saved. Before I left, I finally got the courage to say, "How on earth did this survive the explosion?" He stared at me with an evil face, and said, "If you must know, the explosion was a little to high for it too do any damage." I was still confused, how that happen? Why did the explosion miss him? I decided to not think about it, and I thanked him for the chocolate bars.

As I left, I could hear a familiar sound. The sound of the same Hummer going for another search. Dog and I went behind the store. We could hear everything that was going on. We could hear the oversized car pull over, I could hear them go inside, I could hear them yelling at the clerk to ask where I was, And I could hear the back door beside me unlocked and open. I have my bow ready in hand, to fire at anyone. When thug #1 opened the door, my dog beat me to it, and got a death bite on his arm. Thug #2, came out to help his friend, and kicked my dog in the head. I fired my bow, firing right through __his__ head. I told my dog to back off and ran toward the Hummer. I cut a hole in the gas tank and ran as fast as I could. The rest of the thugs got in their hummer and started chasing me in a matter seconds. Leaving a trail of gas behind it. Their boss must really want my head for what I did to his arm. It wasn't a real challenge for them to catch up. I was still running when the hummer drove beside me. The window started to roll down. Fearing a shot from the passengers seat, I dove down on to the hard pavement, hearing a couple of gun shots in front of me. I looked on my left side and saw the line of gas on the concrete. I pulled out my lighter and set the line on fire. It took the flame about 5 seconds to reach the Hummer and create an giant fire ball. The shrapnal spread about 10 meters from the wreck. My dog and I did nothing but stare at it for the past 5 minutes, when something caught my eye. It was the pistol and ammunition that the front passenger had. The hand was still on it. I grabbed the gun by the nozzel, and shook the hand off. I didn't have a need for guns, but it would be useful in longer range, so I put it in my pocket and walked on.

When we got to the next city, it was dark, and to late to walk through it. I set up camp at the out skirts and broke out one of my kit-kat bars. I haven't had any sugar in my body for the last week. Well... any added sugar. I felt very relaxed after I took a bite. I felt like a euphoric child again. I could feel the sugar, releasing a wave of energy go though my entire body. My dog staring at the chocolate bar brought me back to reality. If a canine like dog were to eat any chocolate, they would get poisoned and die. I put the rest of the chocolate bar away, and gave Dog some of the deer meat to take his mind off it. He will need his strength, I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a very busy day.

When I woke up the next morning, the energy from the sugar made me wake up a lot better than the previous morning. I looked around the fire place, and found my dog missing. I called his name and didn't hear a response. I called louder again, and I heard my dog howl. I quickly ran to the source, and found Dog's mouth duct taped and his legs tied. I ran to his aid, but before I could get to him, I got hit on the head with a blunt object, knocking me out instantly. My mined was full with confusion. I saw peoples legs scrambling around me, and that was the last thing I remembered.

I came too from my comma, sitting behind a wooden pole with my hands tide to it with a cloth of some sort.. It felt like I've been knocked out for the passed few hours. My vision was still blury from that bump on the head. I looked around the room trying to figure out where I am. It looked like a basement of some kind. But when my vision became sharper, I then realized that I was in a bomb shelter. There was canned food, water jugs, and my back pack with all my things. I stood up, don't know why, but my mind was tellin it to do so. I felt my lighter still in my pocket. If I could get it in my hands, I may have a way to escape. But before I could start trying to get it. I could the hear the steal door opening. A shadowy figure walked down the stairs with a tray of some sort. When it came to the bottom, It was a brunette girl some where in her early teens. Walking with a sandwhich and glass of milk.

"About time you woke up" she said, handing me the sandwich. "Oh yeah, thats right, your hands are tied up." she said pulling the sandwich away.

"Do you think you can untie me?" I said.

"sure!" she replied. "But first, I have to ask you a few questions." she said with a sly tone. She put the tray on the table in the corner and said, "First off, whats your name?"

"Jameson Chret" I replied.

"Was their anyone else with you?" she said.

"Just me and my dog ...- oh-no DOG. Where is he?" I demanded.

"He is safe... for now." she said. "Now lets stick to me asking the questions. O.k.?"

"Fine. What is the next question then?." I replied.

"Are you with any gang members?" she said.

"I'm not. But one is looking for me." I replied.

"Which one?" she continued.

"I don't now, but they have an emblem that has a blue oval with crossed swords." I replied. Her eyes widened, she knew something. I didn't seem like she was going to tell me though.

"I'll be back in one second." she said rushing up the stairs. Now was my chance for an escape. My lighter was in my right pocket. I jerked my body so it could slide out of it. I started hearing a loud conversation upstairs. I knew that I was going to be in trouble if I didn't get my self out of here. I used my foot to kick it closer to the wooden pole. then I lied down, so my hands could grab it. I lighted it, and burned the cloth off. I could hear footsteps rushing to the bomb shelter up stairs. I quickly grabbed my back pack, and hid underneath the stairs. The door creaked open, with the little girl walking down the stairs.

"Alright, you can be untied, if you promise to behave." she said. She was startled to find only a wooden post, and burnt cloth. She started running towards the stairs, but I blocked her path. "Now little girl..." I said with my best serious face. "It's my turn to ask the questions." She knew I was angry. I could see the fear in her eyes. "Where am I?" I said.

"Your in north eastern Spain." she replied.

"Where is my dog?" I said sounding more serious.

"He's upstairs in the guest bedroom." she replied.

"Is their anyone else in this house?" I continued.

"My Mother is upstairs in the living room." she said.

"Anyone else?" I asked. She tilted her head in sadness and said,

"No... that's all" She paused for a minute and dropped to her knees crying. I couldn't help but feel bad for her. "Hey, hey now, what's the matter?" I said.

"Everyone that I knew besides my mother is dead!" She said crying.

"My friends! My Father! My brother! They're all dead!" she continued.

I knew exactly what her pain was. I found my father dead in his house on the first day of the aftermath. My friend loosing his head in his favorite pub. All I have to lose now is my wife. And I'm going to do my best to find her.

"What is your name?" I asked with a calmer voice. She took a few minutes to stop crying and wipe her tears, and said,

"My name is Sarah Farns" She said with a sense of pride.

"How old are you?" I continued.

"I'm 14 years old. What about you?" She asked.

"I'm 28." I said.

"Really? you seem older" She said

"Ha ha, thats really funny." I said with a sarcastic tone. "Why don't you introduce me to your mom?" I continued.

"Sure thing. But could you keep your weapons down here?" she asked.

"Seems fair." I said putting my back pack on the table. The stairs seemed to be centuries old, they creaked at every step we took. The door seemed to be the same age. The inside of the house had orange walls with a red outline. Very nice hall rug on the hardwood. And the windows weren't even broken. It looked like we were in the living room. Their was a flight of stairs that lead to the upstairs, I'll have to look up their later. There was a small couch in the eastern wall and a chair beside the door. A brunette woman was sitting on the chair. Guard duty, probably.

"Mom..." Said Sarah. "This is Jameson. Jameson, Mom" The woman lifted her head slowly, like the sun coming up from the east. She looked like she was in her later 30's. She looked very sick, and tired. She stood up and said, "Welcome Mr. Jameson. It's a pleasure to have you." "The pleasure is all mine." I replied "But I cannot accept your hospitality for long. I must leave soon."

"Why? you just got here?" said sarah.

"I know, but I need to get to northern portugal." I said.

"How come?" she replied.

"I'm looking for someone." I said.

"Who is she?" said the mother. I didn't reply, I don't need to tell them. "I have to leave. I will get my dog and belongings, and be on my way." I said with a serious tone.

"Very well then" said the mother. "We hope you find who your seeking" The first thing I looked for was Dog. I walked up stairs, which were less creaky then the basement stairs, and hurried into the first room on the right. It was empty, nothing but a piece of news parer. The next door was the master bedroom. he only bed in the house was inside it. The next door was supposed to be what I guessed the bathroom. But the explosion took it away I guess. Door #4 was the guest bedroom. A small single bed. I looked around the bed, and on the other side of the bed, there was dog hogtied with duck tape over his mouth. I quickly ripped the duck tape from his mouth. A few loud barks came after wards. He wanted me to hurry with the untying. The rope wasn't tied as well as I thought they were. Sarah probably tied them. Dog was very happy I was with him. He wagged his tail (which is something he wouldn't usualy do) and had a happy dog face.

Back in the basement, My back pack was on the table were I left it. Before I went upstairs, I looked in it to see if they took anything. Everything was were it should be. And with that I went back up stairs. The two of them were waiting for me by the door. Sarah seemed rather upset that I was leaving. I was probably one of the first people she talked to besides her mother. "Well..." I said "I'm off"

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for a while?" said Sarah.

"I'm sorry, but someone is waiting for me. And I have to hurry." I replied. "Take care of yourself Sarah." I said walking down the front step. But as I walked on the side walk. I heard that familiar sound again. Only more intense. I turned to the east and saw three Hummers with the blue oval and cross swords. Sarah and her mother were still in the door when I said. "Guy's?" "Yes?" the mother replied. "Run inside. Hurry!" I said running back inside. "Come on lets go to the basement." said Sarah. "I'll stay here to give you guys some time." said the mother. "No mom, you can't!" said Sarah with a teer in her eye.

The mother said, "Sarah listen to me. I'm not going to let these people hurt you. Mr. Jameson?" "Yes?" I replied. "Take care of my daughter for me." she said with a sad face. "Do not worry Mrs. Farns, I will guard her with me life." I said. "Now hurry! Their in the front drive way!" the mother said. I took Dog and Sarah down to the basement. We hid underneath the wooden stairs and waited. I could hear the Hummers making a loud stop in front of the house. We heard them banging the door in and yelling "All right, where is he?!" "Who are you talking about?!" said the mother. "Don't play innocent with me!" said the thug. "Get out of my house!" said the mother. "We aren't leaving until we find him!" said the angry thug. "Get of my house!" she said throwing a vase or something. A gun shot followed with a thump on the ceiling. "NO!" Sarah yelled. I quickly covered her mouth with my hand. I could see her sadness, she is the only one left with the Farn's blood. The muffled crying escaped her mouth. "shh. stay here. I'll be right back." I left her underneath the stairs with a few boxes behind her. I walked up the stairs, and hid by the side of the door. The door soon opened violently, with a thug walking down with a flashlight. He looked around by the stairs trying to me. I slowly closed the door behind him. Nothing but darkness. surrounded the thug. He was on the floor of the basement now. He was very careful moving through the darkened basement. He could hear the growling of my dog, and pointed the flashlight at Sarah and Dog. He chuckled a little bit, and pointed his pistol at them. She started hugging dog. and closed her eyes, in fear. Just before he shot it, I jumped off the stairs and sliced his hand off with my hunting knife. A loud yell of pain filled the house, and set off the rest of the thugs. I grabbed both of them and ran to the back door. As we exit through the back door, another thug tackled me down to the grow by surprise. The pistol I took slipped out of my pocket in front of Sarah. Dog jumped on the thugs back, but was immediately thrown off, into a wall. The thug then picked me up by the neck and drove me to the wall, chocking me. I struggled for a few seconds, but a gunshot killed the brute instantly. I collapsed on my knees, trying to catch my breath. I saw, Sarah standing about a one and a half meters away with my pistol, in her hand. I could tell it was her first time killing something. Her eyes were scared, and her hands were trembling, and fell to her knees crying. I went to her and helped her up, wiped her tears and ran to the front.

The Hummers were empty. All of the thugs have were in side the house. I knew we could make up a lot of time if we took them. So we did, and their was a cloth and a glass of vodka. Perfect pieces to making a nice fire starter. I turned the car on and threw the Moltove coctail in to the house, and drew off. The fire spread quickly through the house. I Sarah's eyes start to teer again as she looked back at the burning house. One of the Hummers however drove back the way it came. They will be back, and I think it will be the last time we'll meet.

We drove for a few hours, and no one said a word. Not even Dog. Until Sarah final said,

"Where did you come from any way?" I didn't answer her right away, then I said, "I came from Northern Italy"

"Thats a long distance to go to meet someone." she said, "It was tiring, especially since I walked all the way here."

"You walked!?" She replied with a suprised tone. "Yeah." I replied.

"Do you even know who you're meeting?!" she said. "Yes." I replied.

"Well who is it then?" she continued. I didn't answer. I just paused for a minute, and said, "Lets change the subject."

"Sure" She said. "Do you have any family?" "I have a dad." I replied. "How is he?" she said. "He's dead." I replied.

"Oh... what about a mother?" she continued. "Never knew her." I replied. " Do you ever wonder who she was?" she continued. I paused for a little bit. and said, "I found it better to think that I never had one." "Why?" Said Sarah. I didn't answer, But she could see why. "By the way..." She said, "...I still have your pistol if you want it." "No thanks, I do not need guns." I replied. "You can use it if you want." She looked at me, then at the pistol, then back to me again. She finally said, "Alright, you would probably need it, since all you have is a hunting knife." "My Family comes from a large history of archers." I said. "I'll be fine." We are almost their." I said. "We are nearing the Portugal border."

Portugal was the most eastern point on the main land. Yet it still looked like the other cities. I started to feel closer to my goal. The first Idea to look was her parent's house. A mansion sized house, with 2 acres. But the grass fields are covered with trash now. And the mansion took the full force. "Who are you looking for again?" said Sarah as I pulled up in the drive way. I didn't answer. "Don't you think it's time you told me the truth?" she said with a more serious tone. I walked up to the door and sighed. "I'm looking for my wife." I said kicking the door open. "What's her name?" she asked. "Her name is Elizabeth" I answered.

"You know Elizabeth?" the voice said coming from the room in the left hand side. I ran to the next room to find the source of the voice. Their was an old lady lieing on the couch on the western corner. "Shannon!" I yelled.

"Shannon? Who's Shannon?" said Sarah. "She is Elizabeth's mother." I replied.

"Jameson..." said Shannon. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here." I said. "It's to late." She replied. "I'm already dying."

"Do you know where Elizabeth is?" I asked. She took a minute, and said, "Before the explosion... she went to the church... where you two married. And Jameson..." she paused. "If she is dead... burn the church for her creamation." She closed her eyes, and passed away in my hands. Dog howled as she passed. It was his way of saying goodbye. "come on Sarah." I said. "Lets go."

The church was close to the parents house, it was a rather short ride, but the road ended, and we had to walk the rather long trail over the hills to the church. Sarah really wasn't ready for a long walk, especially with the steep hills. When we got to the top of the hill, we could see it. The church. It Hardly got a scratch. Nothing was brocken. We ran as fast as we could to the entrance. "Were almost there!" I shouted running down the hill. "We made it!" yelled Sarah. Everything became serious again when we came to the entrance. I opened the door to found everything as it was when we got married. Their was a woman on the praying step. "Elizabeth?" I called. No answer. "Elizabeth!" It was indeed Elizabeth. But when I turned her to look at her face. There was a whole through her forehead. Gun shot. "No...no, no,NO." I broke into tears, holding Elibeth in my hands. Dog howled like he did with Shannon, and Sarah even broke a teer or two. Every familly member I knew... was gone.

We got the gas from the Hummer back at the house. We put the propane along the sides, and put a small line out in front of the church. I let Sarah light the line. The fire burned slowly as my best memories of her start to reapear back into my mind. It was a never ending torture that filled my mind with sadness and hatred on my self for not coming sooner.

"My condolences my friend." said a familiar voice. It was the gang with an even bigger group. "Remember me?" said the gang leader with bandages on his right arm and the arrow that I shot him with in his left. "You are most certainly a fighter mister Jameson." he said. "How do you know hy name?" I asked. "We have intelligence everywhere." the man answered. "You killed her! Didn't you?!" I yelled.

"Oh I wouldn't say killing, I would call it- oh what do you call it, payback?" the leader said with a smug look. "I would love to finish what I started with your arm" I said with my body filling with rage. "Really?" said the confident leader. "We have you dangerously out numbered." he said with the group pulling out their knives and guns. "But we aren't going to fight this way." said the leader pulling out a small one way radio. "Jeff?" said the leader. "Fire them up." a few seconds went by when I saw a flash of light on the top of the hill. One of the gang members had a rocket launcher aiming right at us. "If you were to hurt any one of us..." said the leader, "Jeff will blow your heads back to France!" He made the big mistake with laughing afterwards. He gave me enough time to get my bow out and fire an arrow in his stomach. The gang members ran to his aid like last time, only one grabbed the one way radio and yelled "Fire the rocket!" The gang member fired the firry missile at us. I only had seconds to think of a plan, or we'll go up in smoke. I grabbed another arrow, and fired it at the missile. The arrow bounced off the rocket with the highest pitched *ting* and hit the gang member that fired it. Everything seemed go in slow motion afterwards. The missile was still coming at us, But the arrow was enough for it to change the angle and miss the ground. still coming directly towards us, Sarah and Dog ran from its path, but I stayed, cross tight in my hand, waiting for death to come. My eyes were closed, but I could feel the heat of the missile missing my face by 2 centimeters. The missile flew off in the air, and flew back, to the earth, but instead of heading back to me, it was heading for the gang, and their vehicles. The explosion seemed like the best of both worlds, relieved that its all over, and scared because the explosion was spreading to us. Sarah and Dog ran to me, scared. I grabbed them and turned them away from the firry explosion. When the fire settled, every thing seemed confusing.

"What happens now?" said Sarah. "I don't know." I replied. "But I do know that the leader is still alive." I turned around and saw the gang leader on his back, pushing himself away from the burning truck, with the arrow still in his stomach. I pulled my quiver and an arrow out again. He stopped with exhaustion. The arrow was enough to take the energy away from him. I walked up to him, enough to get a clear shot at his fore head. He knew he was going to die. He stopped panting to say his last words;

"Your wife screamed like a pig."


 * Creative Writing Questions.**

1. Bow and (8) arrows: Belonged to his great, great, great grandfather. Hunting knife: Family herloom 8" Picture of his wife. Cross: Christian (Catholic) His dog: Only friend he has left.

2. Jameson Chret is 28 years old and weighs 183 lbs. 6'1" and dislikes gangs. Mostly silent, only speaks on a need-to-speak bases only.

3.Jameson Chret's home was destroyed, he walks through southern Europe to find his wife Elizabeth.

4. Bow and (8) arrows, 8" hunting knife, apples, water bottles, lighter.

5. A war with Russia v.s. all of Europe leaves all of Europe in ruins. The protaganist wanders through the brocken roads from Italy to Portugal, to find his wife.

6. Shoots an arrow through the gang leader's head.

7. He becomes more socialable.

8. A gas station in fine shape when all the sophisticated skyscraper are ripped apart by the explosion. Giving a young girl a gun isn't what someone would usually do. All the thugs went in the house, which gave Jameson and Sarah an escape vehicle.

9. An 8" hunting knife is a symbol of a deadly weapon or person. Eyes widen the size of dinner plates, meant that person is shocked or intimidated. A man on his back pushing himself away from a burning car meant he was in pain.

10. Wars aren't about fighting, they are chances for scientists to test nuclear missiles and the suffering one endures with a fired one.