to pieces, but they did what they could for me
and brought me here.
63 Sir, will you write to that village- tell the people I'm sorry and beg their forgiveness? I shouldn't have done it. I
tried not to. I tried to release the bombs too soon, or, late, but it's
how we're trained. No matter what the order is you obey it, you do it.
It's not your place to question, you just follow orders. That's no
excuse, I know. I'll pay the price for what I did, soon.
64 Their children died quickly. I am dying a little bit, an hour at a
time. I'm being punished and I know that punishment is deserved. But if
they can forgive me, if they can understand, I'd do anything to bring
their children back! " The man fell silent.
65 "Tell me where the village is," requested Gray Boar, "I'll do what I
can."
66 He found out the name of the village and wrote a letter to its
Speaker explaining all the man had said, explaining to them that the
man truly repented his act, and deserved their understanding. He prayed
the reply was right, and would come in time.
67 The answer came by special messenger. After he had opened and read
it, he was very proud of his people. He sat down beside the young man;
he was too weak to be moved.
68 "Can you hear me?" he asked. The man nodded. "I have your reply.
It's from The Speaker of the village. It says, 'I called my people
together and read your letter. At first they were angry, but then
understanding came into their hearts.
69 One of them rose and spoke. 'How can we judge this man and call him
evil? He is trained from childhood to hate us, and to obey orders. That
he even questions the wrong of what he did, shows a heart greater than
our own.