Colonel Jaber knelt by the roadside, hands on the ground, head hanging, as if praying or vomiting.
Akar walked over and stood in front of him. "Your men have retreated." Jaber didn't look up.
"Maher charged in. Alone, holding a gun, he stormed my position. My soldiers saw him and ran."
Akar said nothing, staring southward, towards Damascus, enveloped in darkness, where nothing was visible.
"Tell the 1st Brigade and the 2nd Brigade to retreat from the north. Head south to rendezvous with the 3rd Brigade. Forget Homs. We're going for Damascus."
Jaber lifted his head, his face wet with tears. "General, the brothers can't fight anymore."
Akar looked at him. "Even if they can't fight, they must. If they can't fight, they die. Once dead, they won't have to fight."
He turned and walked towards the command vehicle. The door closed, the engine started, the vehicle turned northwards.
