Augustine Brunner 6/20/10 Residence Black Forest
Province Currently Assigned NorthWest Geological
Title Agricultural Technician Current Status *

Having thus filled the display box the lighted asterisk began to flash,
waiting for the signal to advance. Here Brunner hesitated, as his lips
tried to mumble some words.

"You have to be alive, I won't let you." Or was it, "Our father full
of grace if I mean anything to you dear God if my efforts mean
anything."

He pushed the continuity icon.

Detained Non-Essential Personnel Designated Prison
Planet Dracus IIa Late Change Retained Under Order
Gen. (Classified) Current Location (Classified)

And it was indeed his lucky day. For whether she lived or died, she
was not there.

"Lieutenant," came a voice through thick layers. "Lieutenant. I've
found a boy and he's unhurt. I don't know why but he's unhurt."

And turning, he saw there was in fact a boy, perhaps eleven years old,
physically unscathed but for a look of bitter hopelessness in his dark
eyes that went far beyond his years.

It seemed from the nurse's expression that he should say something so
he pronounced, What is your name?

"Elie." WIESEL, he thought. SEVEN TIMES CURSED AND SEVEN TIMES
SEALED.

Then Night fell completely in his soul, and he felt no more.

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ACT FOUR

Ardennes, Balthazar and Scimitar Sectors
Months I through IV
International Year: 2212

REVERSAL

I

The Chinese colonies, the fences of Dark, endured. Though pressed to
their last utmost need, many times beyond despair, the Chinese could
not be broken. Help arrived as all courage failed, and the Enemy was
driven back.

The assassination of Stone did not, if that had been its purpose,
intensify the Constitutional crisis under which the Commonwealth
labored. Its citizens, for the most part, knew Plant to be an
intelligent and experienced politician. And if anything, after the
disillusioning of recent events, and slow reawakening of the national
conscience (though still riddled with blind-spots), most felt that
their dilemma now rested in more competent hands.

But more than that, some intangible quality of the people themselves,
indefinable, led the Americans at such times of crisis to rall