Scene the first
The vehicle came to a halt in front of the fortress. Abu Raed and the fighters stepped out, carrying the fallen Israeli soldiers. Their steps were careful and steady, the darkness enveloping them on all sides, as if the night itself were watching their every move. They dragged the bodies into the fortress, as though bearing the weight of the entire battle on their shoulders.
They dropped the dead in front of Abu Al-Baraa, who stood observing them, seven soldiers in total. Surprise and admiration flickered across his face.
> Abu Al-Baraa: "Well done, Abu Raed… well done, men. But why bring the dead?"
Abu Raed answered firmly, his voice calm yet resolute:
> Abu Raed: "They are all captives, Abu Al-Baraa… do you think they wouldn’t care if they found the bodies of
