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The disheveled man hit the ground hard, his hands still clasping tightly the little black book he'd arrived with. The soldier who'd tossed him stood above him, glaring down at him with a deep scowl.
"What's this all about?"
The lieutenant stepped forward taking in the scene before him. The soldier redirected his glare to his superior.
"I'm doing as we were ordered."
The man in the dirt was now mumbling in tongue and clutching his book to his chest now, eyes closed. The lieutenant watched him momentarily before returning the soldiers glare with his own.
"Harming civilians was not in our orders."
The younger man didn't back down, he stepped a pace closer to the lieutenant and they were about a shoulder lengths apart.
"But neutralizing threats was."
The lieutenant was usually pretty calm but he bristled at this.
"Threat? Look at the man, he's clearly unarmed!"
In an instant the soldier turned briskly, his hand shooting out, he ripped the bible from the shivering man's fingers and held it out in front of the lieutenant.
"This is the threat. This man and his delusional faith. He was trying to corrupt the minds of our men with his lies!"
Desperate hands reached up towards the book.
"P-Please.."
"SILENCE!"
With a kick the religious man was sent sprawling backwards into the dirt.
The lieutenant moved instantly, seizing the soldiers wrist in an iron vice grip and wrenching it behind him and forcing him to the ground.
"You're going too far. We may be at war, but I will not excuse this. You will stop this, or I will have you discharged."