When Mathilda closed her eyes she still saw the muzzles of Kalashnikovs, held by trigger happy boys drugged to do the wet jobs for ruthless war-lords. Her soul bore the marks of prices that’s been paid. She was just a pawn in their game. But when she heard that Jonathan had been recruited too, she realized that her land was lost.
Even Jonathan with soft hands and velvet eyes had taken up arms. She realized she was just a piece of flesh to her own son.
That’s why Mathilda was one of 282 victims for Jonathan’s heat-seeking missile.
For Friday Fictioneers a quick story.. I’m still on vacation but I could not miss another week.
Check out Rochelle’s homepage for more info, the picture is also copyrighted to her.
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July 30, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Good story. I’m now following you, as redhotrabbit, on Twitter
Hard hitting story Bjorn. And another story that is very relevant to current events. Enjoy your vacation!
terrific: trigger happy boys drugged to do the wet jobs for ruthless war-lords.
Even Jonathan with soft hands and velvet eyes had taken up arms. This tells it all! Great story, Bjorn. Glad to see you back at FF. And how wonderful that you got to meet Dawn Landau. She’s a lovely person.
Wonderful to meet Dawn. Hope more Fictioneers are heading to Stockholm
If wishes were horses….
And wonderful to meet you, Björn! It was such a nice lunch!
stomach turning…like the story of the boy soldiers…and to think that your own son…ugh…hard to even imagine….tight little story bjorn
I think those last 2 paragraphs made me want to smoke a cigarette and I don’t even smoke! Raid the fridge, maybe … 😀
No, no trips to Stockholm planned … yet. BUT, we’re getting the IKEA store finished in Kansas very soon. St. Louis is JEALOUS!
Heat seeking missiles are a nightmare come to life – and personally, I fear, the next great horror that awaits humanity. Thousands of them have gone “astray” and likely many have fallen into terrorist hands. Unlike military planes designed to take on the threat of surface-to-air missiles, these systems are too costly and impractical for commercial airliners and, even if they weren’t, commercial pilots would have to be trained in maneuvering away from a missile once it has “locked on” to their plane. But that is never going to happen because, there would still be no guarantee. Like all monstrous weapons – they distance the killer from the consequence to his actions. Mathilda’s Flight drives that message home like a stake to the heart. Excellent write.
This is heartbreaking.
Imagination meets politics …
very well penned. you definitely stick a strong chord with this piece…
stick = strike
This is tragic in so many ways.
I mean the story speaks of so many tragedy, personal and otherwise. 🙂 Just to be clear.
Bjorn, Tragic indeed, and hard-hitting. This could be a special on one of the news channels today. We all know it’s happening. Well written. —Susan
A stark tale, well told. I liked the concept of ‘wet jobs’. Nice one.
Dear Bjorn,
A sad tale that is all too true. Well said.
Aloha,
Doug
Dear Björn,
A breathtaking tale. Bleak and sad and as a mother, I find it horrifying.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Sickening but good write.
Gut wrenching story, that leaves a bitter taste. Great descriptions and choice of words.
More fact than fiction. And the scary part is the number of unaccounted missiles in the hands of these so called war lord.
Wow, that last line gave me a shiver. I like the reveal of who Jonathan was (her son) and then the gut-wrenching ending.
Same event 2 approach – yours and mine – loved your’s Bjorn ! 🙂
A very tragic and true to life story, well done.
So many sad sentences here, all threading together to make a powerful and tragic tale. Well done (as usual!)
Losing her son to the dark side was heartbreaking. Great writing (as usual), Bjorn.
Really sad, Bjorn…
Fits in the current situation….
Here is mine-
http://anitaexplorer.blogspot.in/2014/07/jump.html
War is never a good idea. I’m always amazed when I meet a mother who seems to think it might be.
All my best,
Marie Gail
Bjorn, this is sad – but it seems like it’s happening more and more! Good story – and right for the times, unfortunately! Nan 🙂
How sad and how apposite. Well done, as ever.
A terrifying and tragic tale — too much violence these days with the attendant, heartless shadow of irony behind it all.
It’s a harsh, harsh world.
all is lost when hearts grow so cold that love ones count as nothing but mere targets. wonderful story Bjorn. enjoy the rest of your vacation! 🙂
A story for these times.
Lily
What a heartbreaking story. Well told. I love how you described the son with soft hands and velvet eyes. I hope you’re having a great vacation, Bjorn!
Hard-hitting stuff here. Let’s stop all this.
So sad, the sense of loss and acceptance is overwhelming in this
Very bleak and very effective. I thought the stark callousness of this phrase was particularly excellent: “drugged to do the wet jobs for ruthless war-lords.”
A story that encapsulates so much of the pain and horror of that event. There are so many gems here, Björn. Apparently, a little time off does you well! Welcome back. * I am wondering if “She realized she was just a piece of flesh for her own son–” was meant to be ‘to’ her son? Perhaps not, but that one line confused me.
I think it’s much better .. yes I will change that.