[ WP ] At the end of your life , the Grim Reaper sends the necessary equivalent force needed to claim your soul , the more dangerous you are , the more force they send . As you look out your house , you see the German 6th Army staring back at you .

I never thought of myself as dangerous. At least not until the German 6^^th showed up. 
 
 I'd never killed anyone, I'd never lead an army. I've never gotten anything more than a parking ticket. I lead a quiet life, and had retired to a nice homestead in TX. I always head dying was different for everyone, but never really expected this. 
 
 On the 23^^rd of August at 7.42 pm my phone range. In a thick German accent with heavy static there came a voice: 
 
 > This is Generalfeldmarschall Fridrich Paulus. Your time has come. You can not stand against us. Lay down your arms and come peacefully. There is no need for escalation or wanton destruction. As a show of good faith I will stay my troops for 48 hours while you deliberate. 
 
 Lay down my arms? What did he mean? I do n't own any guns. The closest thing I have to arms is my planting stick I once used to save my dog Pasha from a wild boar, and now use as a cane. 
 
 I did n't think she would have survived that attack, in fact i thought she died during it. But after a little prodding and many tears her eyes fluttered awake and she licked my hand. Come to think of it that was many years ago & she has been by my side ever since. 
 
 Oh well, I'm sure she will get along well with my neighbors who would take good care of her. If it was my time it was my time. I grabbed my coat, my hat, and my walking stick to help me get out the door. 
 
 Upon leaving my home for what I thought would be the last time, I saw greeted by Paulus on the loud speaker, and an 88mm round through my garage. 
 
 > DROP. YOUR. WEAPON. There will be no further warnings! 
 
 What? This?!? I gestured to my planting stick? I drive it into the ground in frustration. `` I am a frail old man, will you not permit me the use of my...'' 
 
 I could n't quite finish my sentence. I realized there was a singing. But not from the German lines. It came from my gardens. They had grown so verdant over the years, small though they were. 
 
 It was nothing I have ever heard before, but it started low and grew into a force almost as a wave. 
 
 > Soiuz nerushimyj respublik svobodnykh 
 
 Paulus gave his troops the order to charge. 
 
 > Splotila naveki Velikaia Rus. 
 
 I closed my eyes. 
 
 > Da zdravstvuet sozdannyj volej narodov 
 
 I remembered. 
 
 > Edinyj, moguchij Sovetskij Soiuz! 
 
 I fought. 
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 The battle raged on for what seemed like months. With Soviets dying and what seemed like a never ending supply replacing them. 
 
 Paulus and his troops had taken most of my home, but were never able to push into the gardens. 
 
 And finally we were able to push back. It was grueling work, but we found a way. Horrible casualties mounted on each side, but we had a never ending supply of Soviets to reinforce us. 
 
 Eventually we had the 6^^th army encircled. And now it was time for me to demand the surrender of Paulus. But it was never truly Paulus.... 
 
 As he approached me the death head emblem on his cap morphed, encapsulating and becoming his own face. The Hugo Boss uniform extending, and darkening into a robe. His officers sabre transforming back into a scythe. 
 
 He sat down at the table I had prepared. 
 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 Hello Death. 
 
 > I suppose you want an unconditional surrender? 
 
 No... There can be no surrender. I have the upper hand now, but I have no doubt you will regain it once more in the future. 
 
 > You could end it, here and now. 
 
 Such is not my way. You know this. 
 
 > I thought I had you this time. 
 
 I know you did. And there were many times you came close & there shall be many more. But not this day. 
 
 Death tossed his scythe at my feet. 
 
 > A token of your victory. 
 
 Oh now let's not try that again. Your scythe is the pure essence of you. You know I can not handle it myself. 
 
 I used my planting stick to push it back to him. 
 
 > Ca n't blame me for trying. 
 
 Nor can you blame me for winning. 
 
 > Life finds a way.... 
 
 I always do. 

