We walk in wisps of nauseous fumes, in tickling rot of hate: in words, in deeds. We’re destined, weighted with our AK-47:s, and C4-belts. We hate your joy, your music and your food.
The young man slouches, his curious eyes glistening, embraced by nightlife he could be on his way to a date. He smiles to a waitress, smoking outside a bar.
“Whore”, he mutters.
“Maybe later” (Louder), she smiles back at him.
Continues glancing at his watch, just another 10 minutes.
“Infidels, our blood will mingle in the gutter.”.
He stops outside Le Petit Cambodge. A handsome man.
Having missed one week I was eager to get back. Last week was crazy with a book-release on the weekend, a business trip to France and some other thing. I’m sorry but I couldn’t get any other story in my head… I guess I will not be the only one.
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November 18, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Powerful story, especially because of the reality it captures. When a story gets in our heads, there’s really no other choice but to write it 🙂
Indeed.. how else could we do but try to capture them like this.
This is chilling, Bjorn. You really got inside the mind of evil.
I hope it’s a way of being less evil myself.
Looking back at the picture I’m not sure why I didn’t think of Paris. Probably best that I didn’t. This piece more than does the job. Good one.
I have to see if anyone else does Paris..
Poignant and more.
Thank you.. more is probably what make up my nightmares at present.
You are definitely not the only one who has France on the brain… interesting to be inside the thoughts of a bad man. 😦
Great take on the photo prompt!
It was scary to write… I really wondered what they feel right before they do it.
You have done a great job getting inside the head of a terrorist. A meaningful piece filled with emotion.
Thank you.. I think we need to try to understand a little of the twisted logic they carry inside.
Ah, others have said it all.
Where next? Who next?
We all wonder… that’s the scariest part.
Your words painted the scene well. Heard the story of the 2 brothers on the news..
Lily
So horrible.. hate must be very deep in souls like that.
Powerful as ever, Bjorn, getting in where it hurts.
I does… it really hurts my heart.
Your story has made me think. Perhaps terrorists do think more of women as whores rather than themselves as destined to dine with god as they gather their courage. I wonder if it’s hate or love that they believe in. So many very religious people believe in conversion as if they “love” the ones who do not believe, as if they are “saving” them by “offering” their beliefs. Is it love? Or contempt? Or a sense of superiority? I don’t know if a non fanatic can understand a fanatic. Perhaps every fanatic has unique beliefs, a unique way of overcoming the doubts they must have. Or maybe that is what makes a fanatic. Maybe they have no doubts. I agree that understanding is crucial. Not more violence.
I think their love has to be very selective… to me it has to be hate… but who really knows.
Yes, my guess is that they only love the ones who agree with their world view. Or maybe only themselves. Or maybe they don’t love anyone at all. That is the saddest possibility of all.
“Our bloods will mingle in the gutter” – expressed a powerful image. Well written.
Careless about his own blood careless about his victim… sad truth.
Can only agree with what has been written Bjorn, powerful and to the point.
Thank you.. It hurts to try to feel like a terrorist.
And we thank the universe we are not.
Dear Björn,
I hate to like your story. Powerful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
It’s a sad world
It is easy to demonise an enemy. I understand your frustration with the bloodshed. But tell me, how should an Iraqi or Syrian wrest his country from the control of others?
I think most Iraqi and Syrians asks how their country should be wrested from Daesh… but there are probably a few that don’t…
I don’t claim to know the numbers Bjorn, but it is clear that Daesh is not short of Iraqi and Syrian volunteers.
A strong tale that makes me ashamed mine is frivolous! Well done on the book release.
Love something frivolous..I will get around later.
Powerful. Sadly so true.
I do not know if it’s true… but somehow they have to feel something like this to be able to cope with killing.
“our blood will mingle in the gutter and then we will find out too late that the gutter cannot tell the difference between the shooter’s and the victims’ blood. that it flowed in vain.”
In vain…? it depends on the purpose… maybe they think we are doing exactly what they wanted.
Masters at blending in. Powerful and topical story.
I think they often look quite normal… the schoolkiller we had in Sweden looked like a normal guy..
It’s not all white hats for the good guys and black for the bad in real life.
A tribute to Paris.
If only we could spot the bad guys before it was too late.
I think they look as nice as anyone else…
Too bad.
paris must be on your mind when you wrote this story. it’s amazing how many are drawn to destroy what they can’t have.
Oh yes.. I’m happy I cannot understand.
Believe me I know! I was shocked when my story didn’t reflect recent events. You’ve done it well.
I think we need to to come to the right conclusions though… I hope we do the least bad.
A poignant and well written story, Björn! (I, too, had Paris in mind when I wrote my story, but I changed it to a bombing.)
It’s bombs or guns or both… Scary though.
It has all been said above. Powerfully written story. Gave me chills.
Thank you
Well done, sir. A thought provoking piece.
I don’t like to think about it.. But I do.
scary & amazing peice
Things for nightmares.
A timely tale indeed.
100 whimsical words for Friday Fictioneers
Alas.. I hope to write something funny next time.
Very powerful and gripping. C- It works. I has just the right amount of understanding and emotion to make us wonder. I’ve been looking at pictures of these men and women and thinking, they are so young. Why do they have so much hatred inside? Why don’t they value their own life more? It’s not all religious fanaticism, it is a lot of brainwashing, too, apparently. I’ve read reports from a former hostage about his interaction with these people and it’s frightening. They rejoice when they see us react in fear and hatred towards refugees and Muslims. Apparently they hate to see us live together in peace and tolerance. So, what would smart people do?
I think that strong feeling and dedication that youths can have can be manipulated… and that is what happens with these… alas it has happened before and will happen again.
WOW. Took me back to the night the tragedy occurred in Paris. Terrorism is such a curse on society.
Thank you Susan.. I can but guess how they thought.
That is a frightening thing to wonder what goes on in their minds before they commit such atrocious acts of evil. You did well conveying that. Powerful story, Bjorn.
Fortunately I have no idea if that is what is going on in their minds.. but this is one way
Considering you’ve just been to France it’s no surprise the bombings are on your mind. Fits very well with the picture, too.
It’s very much on my mind of course… there is something so childish about such passion.. maybe when we grow old and mellow we think twice or thrice.
A powerful piece. But as the mother of an idealistic impressionable 20 year old I’d say we can’t just demonise these people. They weren’t born that way.
No indeed.. They are, though..I was once that way myself, and could have been pulled into such things myself (the terrorist of the 70s where not all that different).
Powerful, painful, and perfect.
While I could never know what’s inside the mind of a suicide bomber, I have a feeling you captured it pretty darned well. Chilling…
That brings us inside the head of a terrorist, Bjorn. It’s not a comfortable place to be. Well done. — Suzanne
As always you’ve written a poetic prose of an ugly situation.
nicely penned and chillingly true, thanks for stopping by on my blog
Fascinating uniquely expressed story. You have a way of depicting truths in a very different manner than the norm. Very good!
Intriguing look inside the mind of a fanatic. Distilled down to the core essence it is raw hate but there is a degree of complexity behind those reasons that we need to unravel.
You delivered what I expected. Always feeling a pulse of this crazy world, you rarely miss a bit.
This is wonderful. You’ve got inside his twisted mind, but also allowed us to see him as not so different – still human – ‘a handsome man’.