Braco by Lesleyanne Ryan Page A

anyone here or in the camp is really safe?”
    â€œOf course they are,” Jac said. “What did they say to you?”
    Amir swallowed hard and he stepped close to Jac.
    â€œI overheard a Chetnik officer speaking to one of his men,” he whispered. “The officer grabbed the soldier by the belt and said that no man or boy taller than his belt could get on the buses.”
    â€œBuses?” Jac asked.
    â€œYes, buses,” Amir said. “The Chetniks are going to transport everyone to our territory. The buses are coming now.” He glanced back at the soldiers then. “Don’t you see? They can do whatever they want with us on the road. If I get on one of those buses, they will kill me.”
    â€œNo, Amir,” Jac said. “You’re safe with us. You work for us.”
    â€œYeah? What about the rest of them? There are hundreds of men in the crowd. My two little brothers are in the camp with our mother. Do you think you can save them all?”
    â€œThey wouldn’t dare try,” Jac said. “They know we’re watching.”
    â€œSomehow, I don’t think that will be enough,” Amir said. He looked back at the Serbs and then walked towards the camp entrance.
    Jac moved to follow him, but Maarten held him back.
    â€œLet him go. He’s just scared and I can’t say I blame him.”
    Jac and Maarten walked to the edge of the tape, passing a fire truck distributing water. From the back of another truck, two Serb civilians were throwing bread at the outstretched hands of hungry refugees. A Serb officer was giving an interview with the bread truck as a backdrop. Serb soldiers loitered among the refugees.
    â€œJac.” Janssen laid a hand on his shoulder. “Get your five hours?”
    â€œYes, Sergeant. Thanks.”
    â€œGood. I need at least one corporal out here who has a clear head.”
    â€œDid you know the Serbs are inside the line?”
    â€œYes. Orders say we’re not to cooperate with them, but we can’t do anything to provoke them either.”
    â€œDon’t cooperate with them, but don’t provoke them. Seriously?”
    â€œDon’t shoot the piano player, Jac,” Janssen replied, absently playing with the gold band on his finger.
    â€œDo you think the refugees are safe?”
    â€œI don’t know. I really don’t. All I know is that I have a few dozen exhausted guys and more than twenty thousand refugees to care for. I’m trying to get guys out here to keep an eye on the Serbs in the crowd, but we’re spread too thin.” He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his face. “Let’s just focus on getting as many of the refugees out of here as we can. Alive.”
    â€œWhat do you want us to do?”
    â€œGo into the crowd. Do what you can. There’s a medical tent out by the bus depot if anyone needs medical attention. Some of the guys have been passing out wet towels, but I think we’re pretty well out of them now. Other than that, they seem to be getting enough water from the houses and the rivers. I think they’ve pretty well looted every house in the area as well, but that’s the least of our problems. Don’t bother with looters. Maarten can stay with you. Karel and Erik are already out there. Arie is with the doctors.”
    â€œErik’s out there?”
    â€œYeah, why?”
    â€œNo reason, Sergeant. Just thought he might be better off in the camp on sentry duty.”
    â€œI know, Jac.” The sergeant stifled a yawn. “But I need every warm body I can get. Check back with me at supper time.”
    â€œNo problem, Sergeant.”
    Janssen walked away, his head and shoulders lower than usual.
    â€œDid he get any sleep last night?” Maarten asked.
    â€œI don’t think he’s going to sleep until he gets home,” Jac replied.
    â€œDid he say anything about the blood on the carrier?”
    Jac hooked his