The Bird Painter in Time of War

Short Story by Carol Emshwiller

A burned-out, stuttering war photographer wanders enemy territory painting flowers and birds. Fast paced, heartwarming, and devastatingly tragic all at once, with thoughts on collateral damage and the unthinking, pointless violence of a certain type of soldier (on both sides). The final line could either be the one fantasy element of the story, or a metaphor implying a much sadder ending. I choose the sad, but it is open to interpretation. 5 out of 5.