Sergeant Catroux wipes his eyes and looks around him in total confusion. He imagines that he is suffering from hallucinations. But no, the cell is empty. At that moment, Catroux forgets all about his military dignity, swings around, and storms out. He approaches and halts right in front of the two guards, who are still standing to attention, and it looks as if his face might explode.
“The prisoner!” Catroux roars. “Where is the prisoner, you two drain rats? Do not stand there as if you have lost your tongues! Where is the prisoner?!”
“We know nothing about the prisoner, Sergeant,” the one guard stammers. He is a Belgian and has always been a reliable soldier. “We have come here to relieve the other men for the third watch and have been standing here the whole time. Nobody has left the ce
