The Gold Circle of Valor, and the Sacrificial Pistol
by Alice Turow
War has a tendency to give rise to objects that are immediately familiar yet somehow alien. We all know what medals are, but to see one nestled in a grandfather's cardboard box can still give us a breathless pause . . . especially if he never mentioned it before. We likewise know what firearms are, yet many of us have never even held a pistol, let alone fired one, or used it to take a life.
Here, then, are two wartime items with mysterious effects. The reasoning behind them is not explained; blame the occult, superscience, or the workings of "top men." Although designed with World War II in mind, these two objects can easily be transplanted to many eras with almost no effort; there have always been medals of honor, and the Sacrificial Pistol could just as easily be the Sacrificial Sword or the Sacrificial Phaser.
The Gold Circle of Valor
"There are deeds that a conscionable country cannot ask of its citizens, yet that must be done. There are prices too great to be paid, yet too dire to not. There are sacrifices made that keep a man from sleeping at night, so that all men may slumber in peace.
"Through your actions, Sergeant Jessen, three dozen men have lived. You have sacrificed for your nation, beyond the realm that any merciful power could ask. For that, you have our gratitude. We can grant you peace in the only way possible, yet at the cost of another sacrifice. Do you accept the Gold Circle?"
The Gold Circle . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: December 7, 2001
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