When Samuel awoke he was nowhere near where he laid down, but in a tent. Lieutenant Rice lay by his left, Corporal Polley by her. Kalina was by his right and a young Somali soldier that had appointed himself her personal protector slept by her. He got up, trying not to disturb the others, but almost as soon as he moved they began to rise. As Samuel exited the tent he found the sun very low on the horizon.
"Is it sunset?" he asked a passing soldier.
"No sir," the young man answered, "sunrise!"
"SUNRISE?" Samuel gasped. "How long have we been sleeping?"
"Twenty-four hours," came another voice in answer.
Samuel turned to see an American doctor approaching him. "Hand!" the doctor ordered. Samuel held out his hand. The doctor took it, checked his pulse, looked in Samuel's eyes, and nodded. "Looks good!" he remarked. "Take some blood tests later to be sure, but I think we caught it in time. There will be no permanent damage."
"Caught what?" Samuel asked.
"You were nerve gassed, sir, short duration stuff, but just as deadly, if you're exposed to it and not treated nonetheless. The wet weather limited its effectiveness, but your people would've been pretty sick, nonetheless and some of them would have certainly died. If you're up to it that French captain would like to report."
"Certainly!" Samuel snapped. He looked down at his clean uniform.
"Nurses bathed and changed you," the doctor commented, "also gave you a shave."
"Express to them my gratitudes," Samuel snapped.
He found the captain who came to attention and saluted. "Sir!" he demanded, "American and native troops have joined us. The city is secure. All sectors report defenders surrendering. Order being maintained. As you directed the battle site is being turned into a cemetery. We found thousands of sections of ceremic sewer pipe. We are using them to turn the sewrage treatment building into a crypt for the native dead. We will not only be able to put rhose from the battlefield in it, but the casualties from the city. We will bury the crusaders along the walls outside . There should be ample space."
"Make every effort to identify the dead before they are buried," Samuel ordered.
"Yes sir!" the captain snapped. "All bodies that have no identification are being photographed, genetic samples taken, and fingerprints."
"My compliments!" Samuel answered, "Well done sir!"
Kalina came up. Samuel knew what she wanted, without her speaking. They had discussed it enough.
"Captain," he requested "I need a couple of vehicles, some troops as an escort. There are certain individuals in the city that need to be tracked down and securred for the sake of justice. A cooperative guide would also be helpful."
Lt. Rice and the corporal came up, their weapons were slung over their shoulders. "Why don't you and your people get some breakfast?" the captain suggested. "By the time you're done I should have your vehicles ready."
"EXCELLENT suggestion!" Samuel agreed. "A guide showed them to the field kitchen. They were soon consuming large bowls of steaming oatmeal filled with nuts and dehydrated fruit. The soldiers tended them constantly, refilling their glasses with reconstituted milk and orange juice. Samuel never enjoyed a meal so much in his life! When they finished they tended to other needs.
Finally they boarded a vehicle. Another truck followed. A cooperative prisoner that called himself Josh led them through the city to the district commander's house.
"Is this the place? Samuel asked Kalina.
"Yes," she answered.
Samuel ordered the troops to secure the building and to find its occupants. They waited in the yard. In a few minutes Lt. Rice returned.
"We've found them, sir," she remarked, "but I'm afraid they've taken their case to higher powers. You'd best come and see."
She led them through the house into a lavish bedroom, Three bodies lay on the bed, an older woman and two younger ones. Corporal Polley held out two notes. One read "Madame, I'm sorry to inform you our leader and your devoted husband is dead. He died assaulting the enemy." The other one read "I and my daughters will not be the whores of the ungodly. We will not be the mothers of demons!"
Samuel shook his head. "What a waste!" he commented. He saw Kalina looking under the bed then in the closet. "What's the matter?" he asked.
"Where's the other one?" she asked, "Sharaba, the youngest. I think she's seven or so."
"You know," one of the soldiers put in, "these people have been dead for a couple of days, but I saw some freshly eaten bread in the kitchen."
"Fan out!" Samuel ordered. "There's a little girl hiding out in this house somewhere or, on the grounds. Find her. Try not to frighten her."
The soldiers scattered. It was Corporal Polley that found the little girl cowering in the pump house.

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