\u201cGet out \u2014 woman! There\u2019s no place for you here!\u201d the captain snapped at the young soldier, never knowing who stood before him.
\nThe barracks reeked of damp, sweat and old smoke. Dust carpeted the floor, rusty bunks groaned, and the men hunched in the corners like shadows. Their uniforms were in tatters, boots barely held together, and their faces showed only fatigue and resignation.<\/p>\n
From the moment Anna stepped inside, a hot anger rose in her. She had predicted to find proud defenders of the nation \u2014 instead she found people worn down by poverty and hopelessness.<\/p>\n
She marched up to the captain without hesitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can you let your men live like this?\u201d she requested. \u201cWhere are their uniforms, proper rations? Why does this place look like a pigsty?\u201d<\/p>\n
The captain\u2019s brow tightened, then, mistaking her for an ordinary, helpless girl, he smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd who are you to question me? Don\u2019t you worry about your job?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not scared,\u201d Anna said, steady. \u201cI\u2019m shamefaced. I won\u2019t stand to wear torn boots or eat food fit only for animals. We came to serve, not to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n
He lunged forward, grabbed her collar and barked again, \u201cGet out! There\u2019s no room in my company for the likes of you!\u201d<\/p>\n
What he didn\u2019t know was that she wasn\u2019t ordinary.<\/p>\n
Anna met his gaze and said coolly, \u201cYou\u2019re mistaken. I came for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The captain blinked, thrown off. \u201cWhat\u2014who do you think you are, speaking to an officer like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
She produced an ID and shoved it under his nose.
\n\u201cLieutenant of Internal Affairs. There are multiple complaints against you. Your men are starving and in rags because the funds meant for this unit end up in your pocket. You\u2019re a thief and a traitor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got no proof,\u201d the captain snarled, voice wavering.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, I do,\u201d Anna replied, icy. \u201cDocuments, witness statements, transfer records. You\u2019re finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
She ripped the shoulder boards from his uniform. At that moment two military police officers stepped in. The captain struggled, but they subdued him and slipped the cuffs on.<\/p>\n
The soldiers, who had sat listless for so long, suddenly straightened \u2014 a flicker of hope in their eyes.<\/p>\n
Anna turned to them and declared, \u201cFrom now on this unit will have a new life. This place won\u2019t belong to traitors any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cGet out \u2014 woman! There\u2019s no place for you here!\u201d the captain snapped at the young soldier, never knowing who stood before him. The barracks reeked of damp, sweat and old smoke. Dust carpeted the floor, rusty bunks groaned, and the men hunched in the corners like shadows. Their uniforms were in tatters, boots barely…<\/p>\n