Dog Soldiers (62 page)

Riding toward the hills, Antheil
’
s uneasiness about Angel began to dissipate. He slapped him on the back and Angel smiled in gratitude.

Angel, Antheil thought, was the sort of officer who was bent out of principle, so as not to be thought of as a fool. It was not venality that made him a crook, merely tradition. Antheil reflected that his service had brought him in contact with many peoples and cultures other than his own.

An anecdote occurred to him, and he thought it was one that Angel might particularly appreciate.

“
Someone told me once,
”
he said,
“
something that I
’
ve always remembered. This fellow said to me — if you think someone
’
s doing you wrong, it
’
s not for you to judge. Kill them first and then God can do the judging.
”

He began to translate for Angel, but then thought better of it.