“Calm down, this is the only place I could find” This made me think. It was common sense that it is easier to see two people in one place than it is to find just the one person.
“There’s not enough room here, you’ll have to go.” My voice must have become quite loud by now due to my panic and my comrade covered my mouth with his hand. When he had realised that I had got the message, he removed his hand. I could barely hear myself say the following words – I couldn’t risk being too loud and giving us away now. “Seriously, please go, you’ll give me aw…” There was a noise approaching. It must be the enemy. I dragged him down into a crouching position next to me. “I guess you’ll have to stay. If you go now, both of us will get caught.”
The noise was drawing ever closer. It was definitely footsteps. These footsteps had a purpose, they were loud and unrelenting. They were out to get us. We both held our breath, we didn’t want to be caught. I was now trembling - we couldn’t be found now. It would be the end. We would be taken in. My comrade tried to stop my shaking by clamping his hands on my shoulders. How could I have been separated from the rest of the troops?
A breeze picked up, making the nearby trees sway. It also made the branches of the bush we were in rustle. This was good, it meant that I could slightly move the branch to see if anyone was there. Slowly and carefully, I pulled back as few branches as I needed. I could see a long shadow moving nearby. It was definitely in the shape of an elongated human. The enemy was nearby. I warned my comrade. He looked surprisingly calm for the situation. I suppose we’ve always been told to remain calm in adverse circumstances. As quietly as I could, I took a few deep breaths. This calmed me down a lot.
The footsteps came closer and closer. We held our breath for fear of discovery. Even with the long shadows, they must have seen the exact bush next to the wall that we were in. They paused. There was some muttering. We could almost make out what they were saying. I think that it was something about where they had looked. I began to lose my calm again. They had pretty much looked everywhere. They must know where we are now through elimination, if not by the sound of my shaking. “I’ll check over here, you go over there,” were the words I could now make out. This was it. I knew by ‘over here’ the opposition meant our bush. There were more footsteps. I braced myself for discovery. I was shaking more than ever. How could a strong member of the troop like me end up such a trembling wreck like this?
The footsteps were moving…moving away. I could feel the relief of my comrade by my side. He had let out a silent sigh of relief. Our bodies were so close due to the limitations of space in the bush. I could feel his sigh. It must have been a trick though. I couldn’t believe that they had been so close, yet still walked off in another direction. It must be a trick, they must be waiting around the corner for a few minutes for the right time for the pounce. Shock, we have always been told, is the best tactic. It places the targets in panic, the perfect frame of mind in which to be captured. They won’t be as alert to their surroundings, allowing easy capture. I reminded my comrade of this. He understood my point and agreed. We held our breath, not wanting to move and therefore give them reason to pounce. Surely if they couldn’t hear us, they may doubt their reasons for waiting. This would move them on.
We were sat there for what seemed ages. At first we just couldn’t move for fear of discovery. Then what seemed at least half an hour must have passed. We began to slip into the dangerous state of relief. They must have moved on by now. We were both breathing more easily at this point. Looking back on these moments, we shouldn’t have relaxed like we did. Relaxed troops means unattentive troops.
We were both still crouched, however we were really uncomfortable. We had to adjust our positions as our legs were starting to become painful. We stood up together, keeping our heads stooped to avoid being seen through the thinner top branches of the bush. Just as we were about to go back down again, I saw it. I glanced to my left. There was a third head there. I screamed. The shock of seeing the head without warning was staggering. I was clinging to my comrade, who was also in such a state of shock.
“I’ve found you.” These words were said in a quiet chilling voice. What was even worse was that he then called to his companions: “I’ve found them! Over here, by the brick wall.” I could hear footsteps approaching from all directions. This was it…the end.
“So that’s where you were,” and “Nice hiding place,” were among the many comments from the remainder of the enemy as they appeared at our bush. They had surrounded us now. It was the end and we knew it.
“We found you, it’s your time to count now” one of them said. “Count to fifty and then you’ve got to come and find…” Before he could finish this though, my mum came out of the nearby door. “Time to come in boys, its getting dark and you can’t play hide and seek in the dark now, can you?”
“But mum…”
