Max felt his heart beat fast and then faster.
He began to think that the road he traveled led to death.
But when his thoughts were the most gloomy, the atmosphere seemed to change.
He could breathe freely.
There was still the same oppressive silence, but it did not seem so much like that of the grave.
“Halt!”
The command was given in English, and all understood it.
Without a word of apology, and with an entire absence of ceremony, Max and his father were dragged from their donkeys and thrown with unnecessary violence on the ground.
Then again all was still.
Were they alone?