the village. Seconds later they heard the "crump" of mortar bombs exploding in and around the village square.

In a matter of minutes, the Legion mortar crews found the range. Five teams fired round after round using the flagpole on the parade ground as a target indicator. It was not long before the houses in the immediate area were reduced to flaming ruins. A young girl lay on the dirt floor of their battered house clutching her wounded mother to her blood-soaked chest. Tran Phuong attempted to tie a tourniquet around her mother's shattered leg while the mortar shells rained down their death and destruction.

Through the smoke-filled interior of her shattered home emerged a black-clad figure. "Come with me comrade, if you want to seek revenge on those whoBastien-Thiry was about to follow orders, but then he thought about the promise he had made to himself. He would command, not be ordered around. Especially by a Legionnaire, who was clearly no officer and certainly no gentleman.

"I am in command here Legionnaires and what is the big deal?" His outburst had no effect on the two men laying hand grenades within easy reach while scanning left and right.

"It was a smoke grenade. That is all it jolly well was. You are both acting like frightened, raw recruits."

### Dust clouded his vision. Then another sandbag thrown by Voyeur landed inches from his face.

"You had better take cover behind the sandbags Mon Lieutenant. Don't like you lying out in the open."

### He was thrown the captured Russian pistol which