‘Waves Of Darkness’ by Cord Meyer Jr.

Waves Of Darkness by Cord Meyer Jr., 1946

The magic trick:

Amazing material paired with amazing writing

C is for Cord.

This is a remarkable portrait of World War II – not in terms of strategy or politics. This is the view from the ground. And it’s not hero worship stuff. It’s awful. It’s harrowing. And most importantly, war is pointless in this telling of it. Totally pointless.

So that’s magic right there – having insight into an experience everyone hears about but few know intimately.

“Waves Of Darkness” is more than that, though.

The story of course gives us present-tense battle action. It also includes thoughts of our protagonist. Some of those are memories. Some of them hypothetical things he would say. The narrative balance is great.

This isn’t simply a case of amazing material. It’s amazing material paired with amazing writing, style, and story structure.

And that’s quite a trick on Meyer’s part.

(Incidentally, it seems Cord Meyer is the most interesting man of the American 20th century.

The selection:

“I’ve got to leave,” he said to the corpsman, who kept waving the flies away with one hand while he felt the failing pulse in the boy’s wrist. “Has he got any chance?”

“Always a chance, Lieutenant,” was the cheerful reply. “Now if we had him on a good clean operating table we’d bring him round in no time.” The corpsman smoothed the hair back from the wet forehead with a tender gesture. Then, realizing there was no operating table and no need for professional optimism, he shook his head wordlessly and finally added, “I’ll keep the flies away. They bother him.”

As always, join the conversation in the comments section below, on SSMT Facebook or on Twitter @ShortStoryMT.

Subscribe to the Short Story Magic Tricks Monthly Newsletter to get the latest short story news, contests and fun.