Chapter 16

In the middle of that area desert, army trucks passed through the night cutting it. Until the truck that was transporting Arthur's platoon ends up puncturing one of the tires. The noise and the sliding truck ends up waking up the soldiers.

-What was that noise? (Thomas)

-Hey Mike, that sound was you? (Arthur)

-Maybe. Let me check. (Mike)

Mike starts sniffing the place.

-I don't think this time. (Mike)

-Guys we have problems, everybody out. (captain)

All the other trucks stopped too and the soldiers got out to check on the situation.

-Looks like it's stuck. (Soldier)

-So that's where the noise came from. But like is this really a problem, isn't it just a tire change? (Mike)

Thomas approaches the captain to speak with him alone.

-Captain, these tires are highly resistant. I find it hard to believe that something along the way caused him to be punctured. (Thomas)

-Captain more problems! (nurse)

-Give me the situation. (captain)

-The tank is leaky too, we lost a lot of gas. We have already placed a bucket under it, when we finish emptying we will weld the hole to prevent future leaks. (nurse)

-How much fuel do we have left? (captain)

-Being optimistic, we still have about 25 kilometers. (nurse)

-What will we do? (soldier 1)

-Do you want us to share the fuels of the other trucks? (captain of another platoon)

-Not. We cannot risk mission success for a truck. The rest will continue to move forward while we wait for tire and fuel maintenance. We'll wait for a helicopter with more gas. (captain)

-Captain, this is too risky. (Thomas)

-I know, but it's the safest alternative for the mission's success. (captain)

-Understood, then we will continue without you. Please be careful. (captain of another platoon)

The trucks start moving again and abandon Arthur's team.

-What will we do now? We are standing in the middle of the desert. It's almost dawn, we're easy targets here! (Thomas)

-We're going to die! (Mike)

-Shut up, you idiot! Don't lower team morale. (Thomas)

-My bad. (Mike)

The captain was totally thoughtful, trying to find a solution, when he saw Arthur drawing in the sand with a stick.

-What are you doing Arthur? (captain)

-Just give me a second. (Arthur)

Arthur draws a large circle inside a square border.

-Where's the driver? (Arthur)

-Here! (driver)

-Do you have an idea how far we've walked since we left the enemy base? (Arthur)

-About 250 kilometers. (driver)

-And more or less which direction do we go? (Arthur)

-Since we left we followed the north direction. (driver)

Arthur draws a line from the circle to the middle of the square. He closes his eyes and starts to think, it looked like he was trying to remember something.

-We still have gas to go 25 kilometers, right? (Arthur)

-Yes. (driver)

-Could we walk towards the northeast then? (Arthur)

-What are you thinking? (captain)

-It's just a hypothesis, but I'd like to try. (Arthur)

-I think anything is better than standing here. (Thomas)

-Very well, let's put it into practice. (captain)

The preparations are over, following the northeast direction they advance. Everyone was tense, not knowing what Arthur was up to, but they would soon find out. Gasoline was almost at its limit, there was only another 4 kilometers to run out, when about sunrise, they spot a civilization.

-Hey! Hey! Hey! Is this a mirage?! (Mike)

-If it is, we're all seeing the same thing. (Thomas)

-Um, get ready guys! We will stay in this village in hiding until help arrives. (captain)

Coming closer to that village, they noticed that the population that lived there became quite apprehensive. The captain gets out first and watches the inhabitants as the rest get out of the truck.

-What are we going to do, captain? Don't they look like they'll gladly take us in? (nurse)

-Don't care too much about it. All we have to do is wait for help, whether or not they're comfortable with us doesn't matter to me. (captain)

In the midst of that crowd that faced them came an extremely old man, who walked with the help of a staff in his right hand, he followed towards the soldiers.

-Can I help you? (captain)

-I would like to ask you something. Would you be able to withdraw from this village, please? My people are extremely uncomfortable with your presence. (elderly)

-Worse it won't happen, old man. If we could, we would be far from here for a long time. (Thomas)

-I see... what will happen to us? (elderly)

-Nothing special. Why do you think we would do something with you? (captain)

-Excuse me, could it be that terrorists often come to this village? (Arthur)

The old man was silent.

-Then that's it. Don't worry, we won't do anything bad for you like the terrorists. (Arthur)

-WHO ARE YOU CALLING TERRORISTS YOU BLOWER!! (kid)

The soldiers are surprised by what they heard, they all look at the boy who said that.

-Junior what are you doing?! (mom)

-You don't need to be scared kid. We didn't come here to steal their organs or anything like them. (Arthur)

-Looks like you got something wrong, your soldier. They didn't steal anyone's organs here we gladly donate them to them! (boy)

Everyone was shocked by what they heard. They believed that the terrorists got the organs by attacking the villages and stealing them from the citizens, but it seems they were wrong.

-Stop talking Junior! Aren't you afraid to die? (mom)

-Wait a minute, you bastards. In a few years I will join the army and fight evil people like you just like my father fought! (boy)

-Hehehe, we are very unlucky. We were trying to hide from enemies and ended up in a village full of them. (Mike)

-Captain, it looks like they're on the side of the terrorists. You know what we have to do. (Thomas)

Arthur hears what Thomas said and quickly steps in front of the old man protecting him with his body.

-Captain what do you plan to do? (Arthur)

The captain remains silent, just looking at Arthur with a neutral expression. The atmosphere is heating up between them when shots are fired from behind them.

-What's happening?! (soldier 1)

They took cover behind the truck, the shots coming from the opposite side the population was on. After a second they settled down. Thomas picks up his gun and takes aim at the terrorist who was shooting at them.

-Now you're dead. (Thomas)

He was going to shoot when he's stopped by the captain.

-What are you doing? (Thomas)

-Look. (captain)

The soldier who was shooting was totally bloody and the reason he stopped shooting was because he couldn't support the weight of his own gun. It didn't take long for him to fall to the ground dead.

-Looks like he's the soldier who ran away from us at the enemy base. (captain)

-So it was this bastard who blew the truck tire and the gas tank. Looks like he ended up getting shot at the time he was fleeing into the forest. Huhm, what an idiot to think he would come back just to die like this. (Thomas)

-SONOOOOO! (mom)

Everyone looks scared to the woman who had screamed, in her arms was the small child who had argued with the soldiers, apparently a bullet had hit his chest. Arthur immediately runs to the child.

-Girl! Let me check it out. (Arthur)

Maas is pushed by some villagers who were close to her.

-WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING YOU BASTARD!? (citizen)

-THAT'S IT!! YOUR INSECT! (citizen 2)

-STAY AWAY FROM US YOUR DEMONS!! (citizen 3)

A demonstration of anger through words, all those people spit out their grievances screaming at Arthur who was trying to help save the boy who was hit. 

-SHUT UP!! (mom) 

Citizens are surprised and immediately stop screaming. The girl who had screamed was no longer taking it, tears began to come out of her face without stopping. 

-You keep saying that, since whoever left my son like that was a soldier of liberation that you cherish so much. Everyone says they're going to save us and look what happened to my son. You just want to know about war. I can't take it anymore...I've already lost my husband because of it...please I beg you, I couldn't take it if I lost my son. (mom) 

In the midst of that mother's heartfelt speech, no one could counter arguing with her. Everyone was sorry for the situation she was in and remained stopped letting Arthur manage to hold the boy. After holding the boy he saw that he was losing a lot of blood, whatever they were supposed to do, they need to do it fast or it would be too late. 

-Arthur, can I check the boy's situation? (nurse) 

-Please. (Arthur) 

After watching for a few seconds, the head nurse learned about the boy's general condition. 

-That's pretty worrisome. The shot went through his left lung, he needs a transplant right away. (nurse)

-But where would we get a healthy lung for him? (citizen)

-We have one. (Arthur)

-Huh? (citizen)

-Hi, Arthur. Do you really expect us to save this person? Let me remind you what she told us a few seconds ago. That when he grew up he would join the terrorists and kill us all. (Thomas)

-I don't have time to waste on this Thom. We need to act fast. Captain... (Arthur)

-NO TIME TO LOSE A ROE!! WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS AN ACT OF BETRAYAL TRYING TO SAVE SOMEONE WHO PLANS TO KILL EVERYONE!! (Thomas)

-HE'S JUST A CHILD!! (Arthur)

-THIS CHILD IS AN ENEMY!! (Thomas)

-THE ENEMY IS STILL A HUMAN!! (Arthur)

Arthur glares at the captain, who is watching the discussion. It was the first time the captain had seen Arthur make that face, which surprised him. It didn't take him long to make his decision.

-Squad, that's an order! Get things ready. The operation will begin. (captain)

Arthur is relieved to hear that, but it was too early to celebrate. The soldiers quickly erected a tent where the organ transplant operation was to take place. The preparations were completed and the boy was taken inside, all they could do was hope and pray that the operation was a success. Time passed slowly for whoever was outside, an eternity. Even after an hour of waiting, no one had said anything, everyone remained in complete silence, just like the boy's mother who had remained motionless, since the operation began, she continued with her head down and her eyes closed in silence, just praying for her son to come out alive. Although a short time ago they were treating each other as enemies, this rivalry no longer existed, at that moment citizens and soldiers were scattered in the crowd that awaited the result. After an eternity the head nurses left the operating room and went outside, everyone tensed at that moment.

-The operation was a success. (nurse)

At that moment, breaking all the silence that existed, an extremely loud noise was heard coming from that city. It was not the sound of a weapon or a bomb, the sound that was emitted came from all those present there.

-OOOHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWW!!! (people)

Shouting with joy they cheered as if their team had scored a goal in the final 45 minutes into the second half. In the midst of all that euphoria, the poor mother who did not stop praying for a second falls to the ground softly, crying without being able to control herself like a child.

-Uohhhhh...thank you God...thank you so much...huooohhhhh...thank you... (mother)

Looking at that exaltation of the people was the captain, he watched his men jumping for joy along with the citizens. Those who considered themselves enemies a few hours ago were celebrating together, it was as if the war had never existed. In the midst of all those people he sees Arthur's face. He is enchanted by her cheerful face, it was like an innocent child. Realizing that he was looking at him, Arthur looked at the captain and opened a huge smile on his face, demonstrating the immense joy he felt at that moment. The captain continues to look at that situation from afar, when he feels something grab his foot. Glancing quickly to see what it was, he sees the boy's mother kneeling with her head on top of his right foot crying.

-Thank you... you saved my son's life... thank you so much... I'm eternally grateful... thank you, thank you, thank you... (mother)

Seeing that situation he couldn't stay still, he crouches down and starts to comfort her.