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A beautiful place to die

After a while, a thatch-roofed shack cae of the fields That’s where they’ll do it, I thought That’s where they’ll kill us

As we got closer, a door opened and a soldier stepped out of the shack He was dressed differently than the ones around us: instead of a helmet he wore a black-brimmed officer’s hat, and instead of a rifle he carried a holstered revolver

This one was in charge

He stood in the lane as we approached, rocking on his heels and flashing a pearly grin "We o-round, but I knee’d catch you in the end Only a y, boyish features, thin hair that was so blond it was aly, like an overcaffeinated Cub Scout leader But all I could think when I looked at him was: Animal Monster Murderer

"Co open the shack’s door "Friends of yours are waiting inside"

As his soldiers shoved us past hilimpse of the name stitched on his shirt: WHITE Like the color

Mister White A joke, enuine; that least of all

We were pushed inside, shouted into a corner The shack’s one room was bare of furniture and croith people Bekhir and his men sat on the floor with their backs to the walls They’d been treated badly; they were bruised, bleeding, and slouched in attitudes of defeat A feere uard were twoMr White and our escorts

Bekhir caught ravely His cheeks were purpled with bruises I’e and skipped over to Bekhir "Aha! You recognize these children?"

"No," Bekhir said, looking down

"No?" Mr White feigned shock "But you apologized to that one Youto strangers?"

"They aren’t the ones you’re looking for," Bekhir said

"I think they are," said Mr White "I think these are the very children we’ve been looking for And furtherht in your camp"

"I told you, I’ve never seen the schoolmarm