"The warrior's intention should be simply to grasp his sword and to die."
-Kiyomasa Kato

He was an old man. All his friends were gone. He was alone. At ninety years old, he was as healthy as a fifty year old man. He walked erect and without a stoop, though he was slower than he used to be. He had been a soldier, a warrior. Somehow he had survived all wars he had been to.

He was alone because his family had migrated to Australia leaving him here to fend for himself. He had refused to go with them, as he loved his country very much. He was looked after by a part time maid, whom he paid very well. The old warrior had only one past time: he liked to sit in the park and watch children playing. He sat there usually all by himself smiling softly at the children until it was too dark to see and he would then go home. He spoke to one. Deep within him, he had one wish: he wanted to die fighting, like most of his friends had done. Peace bored him.

Then one day it happened. He was sitting in the park late afternoon when he heard a muffled cry for help. Taking his hefty walking stick in his hand, he went towards the noise. A robbery was in progress. Two men had a young woman by her hair and were removing her jewels. The warrior in him awoke and he charged at them. Taken by surprise, the robbers took some time to recover. Then seeing that he was an old man, they pushed him aside and went on their deed, laughing all the while. The old woman staggered to his feet and struck one robber on the head with as much force as he could. The robber let the girl go and turned on him with a snarl.

Like a mad man, he struck out at them. Meanwhile, the girl's screams attracted other passers by who ran to the scene. When they arrived, they saw the two robbers in a daze. The passers by pounced on them ad restrained them while one man called the police. The girl went on her rescuer. He lay still. Then she burst out screaming.

The old warrior lay still, lifeless, and no more. He had got his wish and gone like a warrior- fighting.