Chapter Eleven

Several days later the company was still attempting to recover from the loss of their comrades.  A somber silence shrouded the bunkers as two more of their injured died in their beds.  Ifri was pacing through the grounds contemplating their next move. She knew that the council would have worse planned.  She was also considering ways to get the company whipped into shape.

 

Lost in her musings, she almost didn't notice the muted congregation marching slowly to the canyon.  Ström was leading as they gathered at the edge.  She drew closer, several simple coffins draped in their homemade company standard crowded in the middle of the group.

 

Ström's voice rumbled through the hushed crowd.  Ifri couldn't hear what was said.  It was a short service, entirely without pomp.  After a few minutes, Diz walked over with a small handful of scrap metal fashioned in the same design as the standard and drove one into each coffin.  Then, one by one, the coffins were tilted over the edge of the chasm.  The until only fifteen flags remained.  As one, every soldier put their fist to their heart in a quiet salute for their fallen brethren.

 

The flags were carefully folded and the group slowly marched back to the barracks.  Overcome by curiosity, Ifri followed behind.  As she entered the room behind the crowd, she got her first look at the barracks.  Simple beds and tables had been pushed to the edges to make room.  Heavy shelves lined the walls.  It was around one of these that the group and encircled.  A few of the flags were given to a few soldiers.  As she watched, they handed the rest to Ström one by one and they were placed on a shelf with reverence.  She noticed the shelved all around were packed with what had to be hundreds of folded flags.

 

After every flag was placed, the crowd saluted again.  They slowly dispersed.  As they walked back through the door, they passed Ifri.  She tried to stop to ask what they were doing, but to a man, they ignored her.  Soon the only people left were Ifri and Ström.

 

He stood silently, staring at the flags.  She walked to stand next to him.  They stood silently for a time until she asked, "What is this about?"  Ström was silent for so long, she thought he wasn't going to answer.  Finally, he spoke quieter than was his norm as he said, "Many of us do not have a family waiting for us.  This is our family.  We send the flag to those who do have family, but for the rest," he gestured to the shelves.  "This is our final home.  This is where we will be remembered."