Chapter 22

“Hurry, pass it down,” the officer instructed, and Ira complied as fast as she could.

Dounia’s eyes were wide and questioning, although obviously she couldn’t say anything in case someone overheard her speaking Russian.

Ira’s arm throbbed in reminder that she couldn’t use it, and she lifted the buckets with only one arm while pretending she was actually lifting with two. She bit her lip at the strain, and her good arm started burning in protest. Her muscles started shaking, and lancing pain began shooting up her broken arm with all the movement.

Just when she thought she would drop the next bucket, the officer brought their operation to a halt.

“Good work, boys,” he said before dismissing them all.

Just as Ira thought that maybe they could finally sneak away, he turned to them. “I noticed that your arm was injured. I must insist you go to the medical tent. I will escort you.”