...Into the Ardent Awaited Land...

The horror, the horror...

No more have Colonel Kurtz's word rung truer as on Monday night. I was plunged into the very Heart of Darkness, the Apocalypse was most definitely Now.

Atli and I met for a mano-a-mano match of Axis and Allies. For the past few weeks we have been playing with the hindrance of other people, some of them girls even. On Monday night we cast ourselves free of these shackles and went head to head. Atli took the Allies and I drew the Axis powers. The game went well for me initially, North Africa fell to Germany, parts of Russia and China collapsed under the weight of Japanese attacks. The American Navy patrolled the sea bed after sustaining the mighty attacks of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It looked as though the game balance would tip in my favour. But, British forces landed in Western Europe unexpectedly whilst German was starting to apply pressure on Russia. Quickly switching attention to the West lost the German impetus on the Eastern Front. This gave Russia breathing space to renew attacks in the Caucasus mountains and re-enforce all the land already captured. Japan was making great gains in the East, except against Russia who's tenacity in defence was helping keep the Imperial Army at bay. With Germany being pushed in on both sides, I decided to surrender the Axis forces to the mercy of the Allies War Crimes Tribunal. In a final hurrah I shot myself in a bunker under Berlin after marrying Jo in a shotgun wedding.

Atli was not a gracious winner, the next day at work was a living Hell. Every opportunity was taken to mention the war. Every little slip up was pounced upon. I was brow beaten and berated from eight until five. I went home a nervous wreck. I am still discomposed now as I write this. I cannot believe I lost to that simpleton. It just shows what a few simple mistakes can do to a man and his plan.