In this archival entry, we present “The Deserter,” a short story that showcases Petr Oprsal’s talent for situational irony and existential grit.
Set against the unforgiving backdrop of the Sahara, the story follows a paratrooper, François Chatien, whose mission goes terribly wrong. What begins as a survival thriller – man against the elements – slowly morphs into a commentary on the absurdity of military bureaucracy.
Oprsal strips the narrative down to the essentials: heat, thirst, and the blinding sun. The protagonist’s struggle is physical and raw, yet the story’s true weight lands in its final sentence, where the reality of human suffering clashes with the cold, unyielding record of the state.
Posted by Petr Oprsal
