"We were just beginning the afternoon patrol. The morning had been quiet, just a couple of domestic cases, which we handled with the local constables. We were heading back to check the center of the city when we got a report of a gang of thugs terrorizing a store owner with knives. We sped there, immediately. When we arrived the thugs scattered in all directions. We took up pursuit. Fighting Person Shenra and I got separated from the rest. We both downed the men we were pursuing. Suddenly a confederate dashed from the crowd, came up behind Fighting Person Shenra, and attacked her with a knife, wounding her. The man backed off, obviously pleased with his efforts.
Suddenly somebody in the crowd shouted 'He's cut the Little Mother! He stabbed her from behind!' They were on him in an instant. I tried to get through and rescue him, but the crowd was too thick. They cut him open with his own knife, disemboweled him, then ripped out the rest of his organs. By the time I was able to restore order it was too late. There wasn't much left.
An ambulance arrived, and we whisked the fighting person here. She seems to be in rather a daze, I believe blaming herself for the man's death."
"Nonsense!" Samuel snapped, "Nonsense! Return to your duties Damon. As soon as she is able I will have words with her. Have those in the crowd been detained?"
"Yes sir!" the Damon answered.
"Make SURE they are identified," Samuel instructed, "then if they will give their word they will not attempt to leave the vicinity they may be released."
"Understood!" the Damon snapped. Samuel waited until the doctor appeared. "Your soldier will be fine," he remarked. "The wound was superficial. It required a bit of stitches, but nothing too serious." The doctor hesitated a moment. "Sir," he finally managed, "don't your people have an age limit for soldiers?"
"Yes," Samuel answered, "but that woman is well above the limit. She has two children."
"I find that hard to believe," the doctor commented, "considering the woman I just treated is a virgin. I would say she is no more than sixteen, perhaps seventeen."
Samuel stared at him in bewilderment. "Are you SURE of that?" he asked.
The doctor nodded. "Hmmm!" Samuel muttered. "THIS certainly raises questions! Thank you doctor! I appreciate the information you have given me."
The doctor nodded and hurried off. Samuel went in. The young woman was lying on her stomach, tears in her eyes. "There's no need for those," Samuel assured. "You did ALL that was in your power."
"But they KILLED him!" the girl moaned.
"Criminals sometimes meet their fate in most unpleasant ways!" Samuel comforted. "We do our best to see that they are treated humanely and justly, but sometimes things just DON'T happen the way we want them to. Those in the crowd will have to be punished but I'm sure even the local authorities will agree that punishment should be light. If I had been there I would have probably been sorely tempted, myself. They want to keep you for a little while to make sure there is no infection, then we will be permitted to take you to your quarters, and you will be tended there."
"Could someone bring me my mail?" the young woman asked. "I'm expecting letters from my children."
"Of course," Samuel answered. "I'll see that it's brought over to you. Now, I must return to my ever pressing duties. A dozen reports on this will have to be written."
"Thank you, sir," the young woman remarked.
Samuel hurried out. He found Major Joseph in the hall. "Is the Little Mother all right?" he asked.
"Yes," Samuel assured, "a little shaken, but all right. Thank you for coming by."
"I meant to see you anyway," the Somali began. "There's something I need to discuss with you. My people can't tolorate this situation with the Little Mothers any more! It is not right!"
Samuel looked at him in dismay. "What's wrong?" he asked. "I thought everyone was quite pleased with the service the Indian women have been giving."

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