Chapter 127: The Fall Of Carles
Primo Lenard, though pale and clammy after enduring the pain of being stitched up without anesthesia, was grinning from ear to ear as he read his wife’s letter. The pain faded into the background, overshadowed by the warmth blossoming in his chest with every word he read. How he missed his wife and his children.
Delia wrote about Kane’s kindness — how the doctor had cared for her during her illness — and mentioned that their son, Cyrus, had fallen sick. The lack of details gnawed at him, but knowing they were safe for now brought him some comfort.
The soldiers who returned from the mangrove forest split into two groups. Bener and fifty soldiers escorted the soldiers who surrendered to the camp at Gwamuros while the remaining soldiers, including the soldier supporting Primo earlier, headed back to the eastside camp to continue guarding it against the enemies.
"Brother-in-law, how is your leg?" the soldier was panting as he hurried over. Sweat glistened on his brow, and his chest was heaving, a sign that he must have run a long distance.
"I am fine. The wound was stitched beautifully and has stopped bleeding."
"Brother-in-law, is that a letter?" The younger soldier’s eyes flickered to the letter in Primo’s hand. "From Delia?"
"Yes, Delia sent a letter through Doctor Kane."
Lara returned from her visit to a temporary outhouse. The young soldier’s hopeful gaze caught her attention, and she instantly guessed that he must be Lina’s husband. Silently, she handed him another letter. His hands trembled as he reached for it, nearly tripping over his own feet in his eagerness.
"This rucksack was sewn by Lina." She paused, watching the flicker of emotion cross his face. Lara realized that in that era, people were not familiar with backpacks, but they used to call them rucksacks. "And your little boy is so well-behaved. He looks a little bit like you but got his skin color from his mother."