The Reluctant Soldier #44

It was surreal sitting as a victor on the quayside with two sons of the conquering Krauts and Manolis, the vanquished Greek.
Manolis and Carsten had trodden a fine line during the conflict - they both held a strong belief in humanity and the healing power of communication over agression. I fully accepted by the end of the evening that Thomas’ father had done his utmost to help the local population short of being court-martialled. Manolis meanwhile had aided the resistance without being a member as such, favouring the role of conciliator in countering the indiscriminate savagery of the times.