Not Much Vocabulary . . . other than Abatises

Sadly there just aint that much compelling vocabulary in Lee Childs' Die Trying. Thankfully there is a very compelling plot and story line. That being said there were several great analogies and one word I had no idea existed.

Abatis - a line of defense consisting of a barrier of felled or live trees with branches (sharpened or with barbed wire entwined) pointed toward the enemy.

I've seen these, hell, I've even improvised one of these. Never knew that's what it was called.

These two I read, and then re-read cause I liked them so much. Just as much as I liked the train analogy from several days ago (here), I liked this one too.

"There was nothing happening. The whole place was deserted and silent. Quieter than silent. It had that total absence of sound that gets left behind when a busy place is abandoned. The natural sounds were long gone. The swaying trees cleared, the rushing streams diverted, the rustling vegetation burned off, replaced by clattering machines and shouting men. Then when the men and the machines leave, there is nothing left behind to replace their noise. Reacher strained his ears, but heard nothing at all. Silent as the moon."

Child, Lee - Die Trying

Then there was this one. I could just about see the prison door swinging shut in my mind's eye.

"He had learned a long time ago that to smoke while in hiding was not a smart thing to do. The smell drifts, and a keen nose can detect it. So he leaned on the tree and stared down in frustration. Stared at his shoes. They were ruined from the scramble up the north face of the ravine. He had jabbed them hard into the rocky slope and they were scratched to pieces. He stared at the ruined toe caps and instantly knew he had been betrayed. Panic rose in his throat. His chest seized hard. It hit him like a prison door swinging gently shut. It swung soundlessly inward on greased hinges and clanged shut right in his face.

Child, Lee - Die Trying

If you've never tried one of his books, they are worth a read. Remind me of a modern day western. I felt like I was fourteen again reading a Louis L'Amour novel.