The Janissary

Chapter 25: The Battle of the Kayal River. Konchak had his orders to retake Ember from the Zemans. He had worked out a plan to drive these enemy troops not only out of Ember, but to force them even further southward, all the way to the Kayal River, the current border which separated Retza Zema from Vloratia. Djegas was excited about being involved in an actual battle. “I want to be right on the front lines, with the soldiers," he insisted to Konchak. "I''ll tell you what, Commissar, why don''t you ride out with me? I won''t be on the front lines, I''ll be a little further back, but together we''ll be able to view everything that happens." Djegas was thrilled. It was getting on towards evening now. The battle had been going on, in spurts, followed by slack periods, for about ten hours now. Both sides were getting tired. Djegas fidgeted next to Konchak while the latter stood on a hill, observing the engagement through his binoculars. Konchak had planned a textbook-perfect battle, complete with cavalry charges and artillery bombardments. From time to time the janissary chuckled softly to himself, pleased with the result. There was only one bridge left intact over the Kayal River. Konchak could see a Zeman general, his counterpart, standing on the hill opposite him on the Zeman side of the river, also observing through binoculars. Binoculars were a recent invention: some bright person had thought of gluing two telescopes together. Konchak loved it: he could see his enemy''s face clearly, as if from just a few meters away. For a moment the two enemy generals trained their binoculars on each other. The Zeman raised his hand mockingly in a half-salute. Konchak smirked in reply. When the enemy troops began to back off towards the bridge, Djegas turned to Konchak with happily glowing eyes. "They''re retreating!" the Commissar gloated. "Hmm, possibly.” Djegas pounded his fist into his other hand. "We can send a cavalry unit to cut off their retreat; destroy the bridge with dynamite; surround and destroy their troops!" "We could," Konchak demurred. "But we won''t." "What do you mean? Why ever not?" Konchak explained patiently, as if speaking to a child: "I don''t want to cut off their retreat, Commissar. I want them to retreat. After the Zeman forces have retreated, we will control the bridge; then we will make sure they stay on their side of the river from now on. That means we win." "But we have an unprecedented opportunity to destroy their army. Don''t you see it, man? They have gotten themselves into a trap here! They have no boats, no pontoon bridges. With their backs against the river, we can hack them to pieces!” Konchak was still watching through his binoculars. He could not hear the trumpet signals from below -- the wind was blowing the other way -- but it was obvious to him now that the Zeman commanders had called for a withdrawal. The Zeman troops were not panicking, however, they were falling