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Evil In The Jungle

Slowly I move through the dense vegetation of the rain forest, weapon ready, every effort keyed on making no noise. Evil will hear any noise and know I am near.

I look deep into the shadows of the triple canopy jungle, looking for something, something deadly, something cunning something sinister, something evil. Everywhere there are shadows…look, look, look.

I move very slowly, one footfall at a time peering deep into the shadows where evil dwells, where evil waits, where evil plots. I move very slowly softly caressing the trigger of my rifle, listening for any sound, looking for any movement. Looking deep into the shadows where leeches slither, big hairy spiders watch, deadly snakes curl and evil waits for me. Sweat rolls down my forehead - not from exertion – from tension, fear. The shadows envelop everything. Should shadows move?

Alarm, alarm, my heart pounds! What was that movement I saw, I think I saw? What was it? A snake hunting for a meal, a jungle deer, evil wanting to kill me - not wind, not here. Caution, caution, something isn't right. My skin crawls.

Is it evil?

I bend down slowly, trying to hide in the vegetation; looking, listening, feeling. Is evil here? I can feel evil. Is he hungry? Is he here? Has someone told him I am his evil looking for him? Am I evil? Do I make his skin crawl?

I wait and wait and wait, nothing happens, nothing different, nothing not of the jungle. I step forward slowly, one footfall at a time, caressing the trigger of my rifle, looking deep into the shadows where evil dwells, where evil lives, where evil plots.

What was that sound?!?

Asian soldiers in a jungle.

Montagnard troops.

Biographical Details

Primary Location During Vietnam: Kon Tum, Vietnam Vietnam location marker

Story Subject: Military Service

Military Branch: U.S. Army

Dates of Service: 1966 - 1968

Unit: MACV Advisory Team 24

Specialty: Infantry

Young G.I. smiling.

Me in late 1967 or early 1968 before Tet.

Story Themes: 1966, 1967, 1968, Army, Art, Charles Schwiderski, Fear, Humanity, Infantry, Kon Tum, Kontum, MACV Advisory Team 24, Montagnard Troops, Nighttime, North Dakota, Poetry, Read, Terrain, West Fargo

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