The 6th wave of jets carrying troops had just landed in the town square. Putu and I were patrolling the path just outside the square. To keep ourselves occupied we would talk about our beloved families that we were forced to leave in Indonesia. The government conscripted many teenagers, including the both of us. They made it very clear to all men who were conscripted that if we did not cooperate, the government would cut off all food and water supplies for each of our family’s; leaving them to die. We were repulsive of war, we wanted nothing to do with it, but leaving our family for death was certainly not an option. We were trained for three months before the jets left for Australia. War became reality. It was hard to think that not four months ago Putu and I were sitting in a class room studying, and when the day was dark we would go home. I would see my mother, my father and my sister. …show more content…
Our shift was nearly over, I was very relieved about this because I didn’t want to have to get involved in any troubles with the prisoners. Tonight just wasn’t our lucky night. We could see several figures that looked to have escaped from camp, possible carrying weapons. I felt my senses heighten and my breathing increase as adrenalin filled my bloodstream. It felt as if I had drunk five cups of coffee. Without a second though, Putu and I hustled after them, guns loaded in hand. They scurried off like lightning, running onto someone’s property to hide. We lost sight of the soldiers. It was too dark to determine whether they had weapons or not but we didn’t want to take any chances so we crept up slowly. We could hear the faint creaking of tin and an undecipherable whisper. I was shaking to the bone, I had never taken someone’s life before, nor had Putu. I knew that if they were soldiers, we would not make it out alive if we didn’t put up a