“Why aren’t you saluting me?” the lieutenant colonel barked at the young woman – completely unaware of who she really was.

75

– And I am a colonel from the Internal Investigation Division. I’m here under orders from the ministry to check your command. There have been far too many complaints… all describing the same thing – your ab:use of your own men.

The lieutenant colonel’s face drained of color. His mouth opened, but no words came out. The woman crossed her arms and, with a faint, icy smile, added,

– And what’s this?

You forgot to salute your superior officer? That’s a viola:tion too. The parade ground went d3ad silent.

Not a single soldier moved. For the first time, the feared lieutenant colonel stood motionless – stripped of his arrogance, speechless before the very people he had once horrified.