“What, am I the only real man around here?” he wondered in an irritated, unhinged tone. I think Yanai knew that wasn’t the reason. The simple truth was that no one could stand him. He fixed his eyes on the uneven floor tiles.

“Did you do it?” A voice emerged from the corner of the room. It was Korczak, sitting in a crouching position. “Did you eat the grilled cheese?”

“No, they just want to teach me a lesson because I’m an asshole.”

“Then I’ll come.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Korczak replied.

Yanai bit his lip. “Thanks, bro. I appreciate it.”

Korczak stood up and started scanning the room.

“Has anyone seen Kenan?” he asked. At first I thought I misheard. But after a moment he asked again if anyone had seen me.

“He’s probably hiding somewhere stuffing his face with a pita,” some soldier sitting next to Yanai said. Yanai immediately slapped him on the head. “You moron, he’s here.”

Someone else yelled in my direction that they were just joking around, but I was more concerned with Korczak’s intentions.

“I want you to come with us.”

“I just got off guard duty, I’m beat,” I said, yawning, failing to understand how once again I was finding myself smack in the middle of everything. “Why me?”

“Because Sakal has a soft spot for you, that’s why.”

“He’s right. So Sakal might just go easier on me,” Yanai said.

“Can’t do any harm, that’s for sure. Don’t worry, he won’t do anything to you,” Korczak added.

I tried weighing the pros and cons as quickly as I could, but before I could reach a definitive conclusion, Korczak turned around, placed his hand on Yanai’s head, and moved it from side to side. “You cut your hair today?” he asked him. “Which number clipper did you use?”

“Three.”

Korczak mumbled that he had a few things to take care of before the trial and left the room.

It was the first time he irritated me, getting me in this mess without thinking twice.

“That Korczak’s an odd one,” Yanai said, standing beside me.

“Annoying one,” I replied.

“Yeah, right?” Yanai scratched his head. “You know, if this is too much for you, you don’t have to come, we’re cool.”

A note of helplessness crept into his voice, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help but feel some compassion toward him. “I’ll come. I just hope it’ll help.”

“You’re a real champ, bro,” he said, giving me a gentle pat on the back.

Half an hour later the two of us were standing outside the CO’s office. Korczak appeared only moments before the trial began, an inexplicable smile plastered on his face.

“Where were you?” I asked, already ticked off, but Korczak wouldn’t say.