The Rifle Tells its Story

A World War 1 infantry rifle calls itself The Rifle and narrates its life story. It reads the mind of the human holding it and senses their every emotion. The story is of The Rifle's first owner, named FC, and his descendants. The horror of the French muddy trench warfare and the killing of humans is described unemotionally and graphically by The Rifle. The Rifle, however, is untouched but intrigued by the deep emotions the human feels when killing another human. After the war, The Rifle and FC, its owner, go on a South West African adventure and hunting safari through the desert and savanna regions. They also sleep on the river bank under the stars while hiking the 100-mile-long Fish River Canyon. The description of game tracking and following antelope spoor in the bush is fascinating. They hunt big antelope, lion, and rock-rabbits called dassies. When on the safari, the rifle owner meets a bushman, and the two humans become lifetime mutually respecting friends and have to learn each other's native languages. Finally, a lifetime later, by extreme serendipity, the 2-men's baby grandchildren meet at a Christmas dinner while playing together on a rug in front of the aging rusting rifle resting on a mantelpiece above an aging pioneer farmhouse fireplace. No one knows anymore that this is the military rifle, mounted on a wall, of the deceased grandfather FC, who fought in WW1. The Rifle describes that happy scene. The book explores the meaning of death to discover a meaning for life. The first owner, FC, develops PTSD, which he conceals. Tragic consequences affect his descendants. The book is educational and a poignant commentator on the nature of humanity. The complex story is very entertaining. It is rare to have a mechanical device, a rifle, be the story protagonist and narrator. It gives special aspects to the story. The story is about people and the meaning of life. The book is a fascinating historical adventure. In the end, The Rifle rusts and has a momentous experience.
(This is the second edition of the original book, following a rewrite and a title change. The author cried for the book characters during the rewrite in late 2024. He cried for the sad events, the thrilling events, and the characters in the happy events.)