If people lived in hell all their lives, it was hard for them to imagine a better life.
Sometimes people weren't defeated by hardship, but by other people's good lives. Seeing others live well could hurt more than being killed, especially when those people had simply been born into good circumstances.
Abdi looked toward the port. He saw his compatriots, their expressions varied, clearing away the ruins. Strong, able-bodied young men stood in a long line outside the recruitment office, bewildered, nervous, and excited.
They were bewildered because they didn't know why war had suddenly broken out. They were nervous because their lives were like dust in the wind, worth nothing.
The reason for their excitement was simple: the army occupying Galkayo would give its soldiers food and clothes, and promised that they would have houses to live in someday. They could see how happy their compatriots were after registering, wearing new clothes and eating canned meat.
At the registration office, a flag flew high-
It was slightly different from Somalia's original blue flag with a white star. Three stripes had been added: one gold stripe, and two red and white stripes set closer together.
Gold represented the Africa Union, while red and white represented Atlas.
It was a very obsequious thing to do.
He, too, had once imagined a flag flying over some port, but in the end, he had still chosen to do it this way.
"Good. What I need isn't an obedient dog, either. I need the situation in Somalia to stabilize quickly, and Galkayo Port to become an important bridgehead facing the Suez Canal."
Wasn't Lier about the same age as him?
"Uh..." Abdi scratched his head. "Then..."
In the process, impoverished Somalia could receive support from the Atlas Group and the Africa Union, and get