The next night, not yet dark, Petacci and Teuns Stegmann sit alone again in one of the corners of the sleeping quarters. They are in the Arab barracks in Dutra, the capital of the Dulacs. Petacci has managed to free Teuns from Helmuth’s influence. The other men are lying down already, some sleeping. Helmuth had another session with the men this afternoon after they had returned from the shooting range. They have been teaching many Arabs to use dangerous gas rifles.
Petacci pulls Teuns on the sleeve and asks softly. “Did you revisit the palace today, mon ami?”
mon ami“I was there,” says Teuns with pain in his voice. “El Karima told me a secret, and maybe she wanted to hurt me with it. She told me that the training was over. She feels that more than enough Arabs already know how to use gun
