Ben Smith

User:Johnm's mountain man in Hunting Napoleon

Background

Thirty years ago, when Ben was 10, soldiers came to his village in the mountains. They said the land was the property of the US Government. There was a big battle, and Ben's father, brothers, and most of the other men in the village were killed by American bullets.

Ben and his little sister were spared, he as an overgrown novelty, and she as a slave. They bunked together in a hovel, and after the first night the soldiers abused her, he hugged her until she stopped breathing.

For months, the American soldiers took turns trying to beat him, laughing all the time.

Years later, Ben was rescued from a traveling circus that continued to use him as a boxing giant novelty. His rescuer was an American military man who thought that Ben should serve his country. In fact, the military man gave Ben his name, Ben Smith, rather than Abukcheech, a name he has now forgotten.

Ben served his country, and the military man died of consumption some time later.

Recent Happenings

Because of his large stature, Ben was deployed in the War of 1812 variously as either heavy labor, or background intimidation. He stood silently through countless confrontations aside colonels and captains, just looking tough while the white men used their words.

Recently, Ben was deployed to Belgium where he accompanied a squad of expert mercenaries. They caused an entire town to acquiesce, through violence, compassion, and generosity, to Ben's great satisfaction.

One night, enemy soldiers raided, and Ben had to fight hard, and, despite being shot seven times, he survived and carried his sergeant to a staging camp in the forest. For this act of valor, Ben was awarded a medal.