C major!

C Major
Cease the Moment

" See major" said the captain, " I have but not all my life waited to tell this to a young lad like you, but the situation so demands that while we must sit here in this room and wait for death to come from all sides, I must confide in someone this secret."

The sounds of the war outside were louder than ever. Bullets rained everywhere and whenever they made contact with the metal they made that perfect sound of clattering which a theater bell makes. It was the start of a new scene , the first of the act that was to follow.

Major Bach was wounded badly, a gash on his left arm was just a memoir of his last slaying spree. But the rest of him lay broken. Like a satin red cloth, his uniform covered bits of him that remained unwounded, like an unsheathed sword waiting to be drenched in blood. he had been brave this night to have followed Captain Ray and provide cover.

In the tiny room that now provided Bach and Ray shelter, there were hardly any signs of existence of life ever. It did do impressions of being a store house at times, with all recognizable items of daily use being present, but the more Ray would look for something useful the wrong thoughts would flash. For there were tools in here but only shovels and drags. Captain Ray was not going let this young man, Bach, who lay in his arms die in here.

"See major" he said again." I have something to show you". He rummaged through his knapsack to find a broken shard of colored glass. Even in the darkness that filled the insides, the light that filtered through a small hole was enough to light this piece and set it to life. It gleamed of joyous times and its colour sang stories of wonderful hours. Crimson at times and sometimes the soothing mustard, it moved and played around in Ray's hands as if it could break of into a jig all by itself.
"What is it captain?", major fought to get words out his wind tunnel. "It is that piece of glass which can make or break a man! It is the piece of glass which no man can destroy and yet it has wiped out civilizations all together!" said Ray.

The screams outside were reaching a new high, and with every tick of the clock, the enemy was moving closer. In no time they would be surrounded on all sides, with nowhere to go or hide. Ray had a plan, he always had a plan.
"So Captain" began Bach only to be interrupted by the captain: " Call me Ray, boy!"
"Aye Aye Captain! So what is it that you were going to tell me!"
" What I am about to tell you Bach, is the secret of everything that has lead me through this life. The secret which has made the winner a winner and the ruler a ruler. "

The flames outside were now clearing the darkness as the enemy set everything in its track ablaze. Ray knew what is to be done. " Major do you know what do I hold in my hand taht makes you stare at it while you are holding on to life? "

"No captain..i mean Ray"

"Major , this is the moment that I hold in my hands" The radio was going buzz now, the enemy was closer and would soon wipe out this building too. "Major " continued the captain, " this is what makes a man, those who cease the moment are those who live. Bach I want you to cease this moment. Here take it and remember "Carpe Diem": cease the moment ! "

Tying Bach's last few wound and leaving his own health pack near him , Ray strapped on his gun and placed his knife strategically. "How many wars have you fought major? "
" 2 sir"
" And how many more would you fight?"
" I do not know sir"
" You shall fight none more! You shall go back and retire after receiving a medal of honour. Am i understood major?"
" er..Yes sir". Even Bach did not know why he affirmed, but he did!
" Fine then , with your word on that major Bach, I take leave and remember : Carpe Diem"
Even before Bach could answer, Ray had moved out and from what remnants of hearing ability that Bach had, he did hear him bring down at least 6 men before he fell. But what he could still hear ringing were the words: Carpe Diem !

2 days later Bach woke up in an hospital. He could still not fell his left arm, but got up on his right instead, unlike the way he was used to. He asked the nurse for the paper. With a glance of utter amazement mingled with slight disgust and maybe compassion, she went out and came back in with a newspaper. Bach went through it at once. There it was, on the second page.


19th November 1942 || 13th Company gains control over Eastern Isles || War now moves south

- Major Bach rescued from eastern isles
- Captain Ray's corpse recovered.
- The British company took strong hold on the eastern isles.
- Total causalities: 36
- Medal of Honour awarded to Captain Ray and Major Bach for their daring efforts. Major Bach assisted Captain Ray as the captain alone gained control over the 4 anti aircraft turrets which later enabled the British Air force to wipe out the Japanese cantonment and gain control over the Eastern isles
............................................
--- Victoria Faith, Times Herald.



Major Bach threw aside the paper and started for the door only to realize that he was still not capable of getting on to his feet and that would take a few more days. He looked out the window and saw the troops marching. He held out his hand and broke a piece of the window with his plaster. he held the broken piece up high and placed it right next to his bed.