the great war had begun.
when the tank battalion turned off the highway, suddenly the desert was filled with grasshoppers.
saladin, the battalion commander ,was at a loss.
he had been given command of the battalion only because his great-granfdfather had been the greatest hero of the third war.
he turned to his batman, lord rowley.
rowley had ben a general in the fourth empire’s army, defeated in the previous war but one.
what should i do, rowley? he pleaded.
do what all great captains do - press on!
disaster followed.
their mechanisms hopelessly compromised by the swarming insects, the tanks ground to a halt.
the opposing army seemed to have no such problems.
armaggedon ensued, foretelling tne inevitable surrender,
what have i done, saladin wailed.
i have brought disgrace upon my house, and disaster on my tribe.
cheer up , old fellow, rowley assured him, , it is not so bad as all that.
you will live to see another day.
and fight more battles,for somebody or something.
saladin staggered into the desert.
a wandering private soldier, with a bandaged head, approached him.
set up a tent, saaldin ordered him, that i may properly surrender.
the private obeyed with an ill grace, and went on his way.
a deputation from the victors appeared.
to saladin’s astonishment, it was led by none other than the great khan in person.
i have come here, the khan announced, in respect to the memory of your great-grandfather.
one if the greatest warriors the world has ever known.
i am the most wretched of men, saladin replied, disgraced as no man has ever been before.
it is not so bad as all that, the great khan replied, echoing rowley.
there are always winners and losers.
give this fellow a drink, he instructed his batman, a deposed emperor.
pour it down his throat if you have to.
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