MonoMay 3

The Prisoner

You’ve been in this solitary cell a month now, and have had plenty of time to think and reflect upon your situation. They are coming to get you. You know that. They want you back at the front that you ‘ran away’ from. They see you as a coward to be made an example of. They will not understand that two years of fighting made you see the futility of it all. They will not agree with your thinking that what they see as a war of defence and liberation, you see as one of aggression and conquest. It had nothing to do with religion. You are not a religious man, but that doesn’t mean that you can ignore the basic humanity of respecting fellow human beings for being people like you and simply wanting to live their lives. None of that is in their thinking. You know that you are not going back, and that, even if they force you, you would rather die than fight. The warden comes to take you to the interview room. There they are as you enter, an officer and an NCO.
“Do you not salute an officer private?”
You ignore him and take a seat. These people are not worthy if your respect.
“You are going back to the front private. Other need to see that cowardice is pointless.”
The NCO tells him that taking you back would be pointless, as you would rather die than fight. You begin to wonder if the NCO is a mind reader.

The officer makes a big thing about how you would fight if a German officer were molesting your wife. The NCO intervenes
“No sir, he wouldn’t, and can’t.”
“Why the hell not, has he no respect for his family?”
“Because an English officer got there first sir. He would rather shoot you than a German.”
You realise that the NCO has done his homework, and has an understanding of your point of view. The interview goes on and on, and round and round for another hour before the officer realises that he is not going to get his way. You had been listening carefully, and had come to the conclusion that, like yourself, the NCO was close to becoming a conchie*. He also seemed to understand the pointlessness and futility of it all. The officer finally seemed to come to a decision.
“We’re wasting our time here. I have better things to do than convert a coward. Leave him here to rot.”
This brought a smile to your face, and you couldn’t resist a comment dripping with sarcasm.
“Well, if I ever get out of this fucking hell hole I’ll still have my arms and legs, which is more than most of the other poor bastards will - Sir!”

* Conscientious Objector