Set in a war not unlike the First World War, the tale is narrated by a lone soldier, who tells of his loneliness, deprivations, fears, irritations and, finally, his resolve to end his part in the war. In exploring his own emotions about a conflict seemingly without end or reason, he comes to suspect his enemy is not the inhuman barbarian he has been warned about, but may just be a frightened, tired victim of propaganda like himself.