title: Hidden Wounds: A Soldier's Burden
author:  Nate Brookshire 
description: &#34;Because their first book sprawls across continents and generations, some readers might assume Captains Nathan Brookshire and Marius Tecoanta have written popular fiction. But their words really speak to men fresh from combat and returning for more. Rather than trying to understand 'Hidden Wounds: A Soldier's Burden' as a timeless study of pain, loss and regret, readers should think of it as a testament to an American military suffering through nearly a decade at war. There's an abiding decency to this novel, which I suspect was animated by the authors' shared strength of character and commitment to help others.&#34;--Carl Prine --Pittsburgh Tribune-Review<br /><br />&#34;The soldier often serves long after his tour of duty is over. This book reminds us all that even the strongest and most courageous can break. We need to remember to look beyond the uniform and help our service members recover from the most difficult challenges...the challenges inside.&#34; --Kevin Hogan, Psy.D., Author of The Gift --KevinHogan.com
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  ![Cover](images/burden.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Burden of Sisyphus
  
  
    
  
  
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  _( Brink of Distinction - 1 )_
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Jon Messenger
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Jon Messenger
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Burden of Sisyphus
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## CHAPTER ONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Private Hicks’ heartbeat pounded like a hammer as he glanced around the corner
  of the crumbled concrete wall. Seeing nothing across the open field of
  powdered red clay, he felt the first relief flooding through his system in the
  past twenty minutes.
  
  
  Allowing himself a moment to unwind taut muscles, Hicks ejected the magazine
  from his rifle and counted his ammunition. Realizing there were only ten
  bullets left, he cringed. It wasn’t enough to stop any of the enemies pursuing
  him. Taking another glance around the broken wall and seeing nothing behind
  him, he quickly surveyed the rest of the area.
  
  
  All around stood the bombed-out remains of a once-prosperous town, reduced to
  the destroyed o