Carl Reader

Leyla and the Sandmen Carl Reader

During the Iraq War, a squad of soldiers comes upon some collateral damage, a little girl dressed in a white burqa at the bottom of a blast crater. When they discover she speaks English and Arabic, they decide to take her with them on a rogue combat mission, despite the danger that presents to her and others. As soon as they find her, one soldier is maimed suddenly and horribly, but despite that the reputation for survival of their mad Captain, who decided to entrust the squad to the little girl, is not questioned. She becomes an object of luck and their hope of survival. While kicking down doors in search of terrorists, while fighting and dying and killing, two of the soldiers who are lovers take the little girl to their hearts and plan on saving her after the war. Fate has another plan. The violence and untrustworthy nature of war take over, and while thinking they've found a way to end the conflict that day, a very different result ensues. Still, that does not shake the belief and trust and love one soldier develops for the lucky little girl. This book contains extreme violence and very strong language.