Unit 7 on duty The young soldier, stationed on guard at a foreign city street corner, sheltered himself from the biting, late evening wind by standing back against the lee side of a small, one story building, occasionally peering around it to view the large crowd that had gathered out front along the main street.
He didn’t know why the people were there, nor did he care, after all, it wasn’t his country, and none of his concern. He had been in the Army for only six months, enlisting on the same day that he had turned eighteen, and he didn’t understand, nor did he speak the local language, only a few words and phrases, just enough for him to occasionally sample some of the local food and beverages.
The guard mount commander had instructed him to watch the crowd, and if they began to get rowdy and appear to get out of hand, he should immediately send his buddy, now stationed across the street, for reinforcements, garrisoned just two blocks away. Looking over the restive crowd, he thought, ‘It must be some kinda protest for some radical cause or other.’
He also thought about home, half a world away, and of a girl named Lisa, whom he planned to marry during his next leave. Six more months and he would be a married man. The thought made him smile.
Suddenly, about a block up the street, the crowd sent up a loud roar, snatching the young soldier away from his marital daydream. Back into reality, he quickly scanned the area, noticing that many of the people were pointing towards a woman in the middle of the street, coming from out of the darkness, and appearing to float head and shoulders above the crowd. He saw a bearded man ahead of the woman, looking as if he was pulling her along. Perhaps the woman sat upon a cart or some other wheeled device, but the soldier couldn’t tell because too many people blocked his view. Occasionally, through small gaps between the many bodies in front of him, he could see as far down as the woman’s waist, and she appeared to be pregnant.
When the shouting became louder the young soldier kept a watchful eye on the couple as they drew nearer, and at the same time he tried to assess the crowd’s mood, but he couldn’t determine if it was good or bad. He quickly checked his weapons, just in case he might have to defend himself. Then he turned his attention to a group of five rowdy young men standing nearby, ones that he had seen earlier in the evening drinking alcoholic beverages, watching them carefully to make sure they didn’t throw anything that might cause harm to the passing couple. Soon, the man and woman came directly in front of the young soldier and the five men, but instead of causing trouble, the drunken five began to wave their arms over their heads and cheer.
Noticing the cheers, the woman turned her head and looked directly at the five men for an instant, then her gaze quickly shifted to the young soldier. Although she smiled when she nodded her head at him, the soldier could sense a deep pain in the woman’s eyes. Fascinated by what he saw, he continued to stare at the woman, his eyes locked onto hers. He couldn’t tear his gaze away. Suddenly, a feeling of inner tranquillity swept over him like a wave of warm water, something that he had never experienced before. A moment later the woman broke eye contact, then she and her male companion disappeared, melting into the crowd while proceeding down the street towards one of the local inns.
After a short while, the crowd became quiet and began to disperse.
Within fifteen minutes the young soldier stood his vigilance alone, looking up and down an empty street. A moment later, he noticed three well-dressed men coming out of the darkness, traveling from the same direction as the bearded man and pregnant woman, heading directly towards him. At that same instant he heard his commander’s voice behind him, “Soldier, you’re relieved of your duty here. Fall in.”
Marching back to the barracks in formation with the rest of the sentinels assigned to his detail, the young soldier looked up at the clear night sky, wondering if the traveling woman with the mournful eyes and peaceful smile had noticed the extremely bright star overhead.
