Love in crossfire

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elt distant, like echoes from another world. She sat down, hands on her knees, and tried to control her chest tremor. Despite th

er than a red armband with the Abere sun and a call to liberation. His organization, KAMATA-Kinsmen for Autonomy, Memory, and Traditional Authority-started out as a small group of scholars and idealists. Displaced, disillusioned, and desperate people were now scattered across forests and borders. William was different for more than just his cause. He carried it the way he did. He refused to set villages ablaze. Refused to hire children as soldiers. His camps had clinics, schools, and a stricter code of conduct than most armies. William tried the man in the camp when a lieutenant of his shot an unarmed prisoner, and justice was seen to have been done. He was dubbed "The People's Mouthpiece" by some. Others, he betrayed his class. In the meantime, the government maintained a difficult relationship with him. Out of habit, some departments still referred to him as "Minister Brown." He was labeled a terrorist by others. He remained a channel, a backdoor into peace negotiations, and a safety net when everything else failed. Journalists, clergy, military generals, and lawmakers were among his contacts in the capital. He used them even though he didn't trust them. Just as much as the people did, they also needed him. Maria had observed this contradiction close up. Before being reassigned to intelligence coordination, she had been working under William for eighteen months. He spoke with a quiet intensity that caused people to lean forward. He talked less than he listened. Additionally, he spoke without pausing. She recalled nights in the field when he would sit by the fire with the younger recruits and recite lines from banned poets after long marches through mosqu

to personally see him." Koro drew nearer. "Do you believe that we are unaware of this? Maria, you are compromised. You might not even be aware of it yet. However, something is off. "That's why I have to speak with him." He didn't even blink. "Maybe you have already." Her blood became ice. "What's yo

lso doing it very well. Koro stated, "You only have one chance to fix this." We are m

the brush. With the recorder still hi