They walked for hours, the sun climbing higher, the grass giving way to a narrow dirt road. Lieutenant Jack O’Reilly led his squad through the countryside, their boots dusty, their eyes scanning for any sign of civilization. The world was quiet—no planes, no gunfire, no voices.
Then they saw the village.
It was small, maybe a dozen houses, clustered around a stone church. Smoke rose from the chimneys, but there were no people in the streets. No children playing. No old men sitting on benches.
“Something’s wrong,” Private Miller said.
Jack nodded. “Spread out. Check the houses. Sta