Chapitre 60: Silenced Voices [60]
The distant sound of rhythmic marching echoed across the horizon as the English army approached the ruins of the castle. The metallic clinking of armor and weapons mixed with the steady steps of the soldiers advancing through the wreckage. Diana observed the troops' approach, a brief smile appearing on her lips.
"They're coming to congratulate us, Clark. For ending the war, for what we did here today," Diana said, her voice filled with hope and relief.
Clark, however, wore a more serious expression. He knew the sight of the soldiers did not mean celebration but an imminent threat. He looked at Diana, and without a word, picked her up in his arms, holding her firmly.
"Clark, what are you doing?" Diana asked, surprised as she felt her body being lifted off the ground. "Why are we running? The war is over!"
Clark flew silently for a few moments, his eyes scanning the terrain below while the sound of the wind whistled around them. The desolate landscape faded behind them, and he knew he needed to explain to Diana what was really happening. He looked at her, his expression grave, deciding it was time to reveal the truth.
"Diana, to them, it wasn't Ares who died today. They don't know what really happened. To the soldiers, the man who lived here was someone important to the army, someone they knew and respected."
"But that doesn't make sense, Clark. Ares was here. He was responsible for this whole war!" Diana protested, her eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and confusion.
Clark nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
"Ares may have ignited the spark for this war, Diana, but the fuel—the hatred, the ambition, the fear—was already here long before him. Ares fed off these emotions, yes, but human nature is full of these contradictions. Even without him, the war would have continued. I'm taking you to another place where you'll see for yourself that this conflict is far from over."
Diana fell silent, still processing Clark's words. The idea that Ares was not the sole force responsible for the destruction they had witnessed was hard to accept. In her heart, she had always believed the God of War was the root of all this violence. And now, Clark was showing her a far more complex and challenging reality.
Clark continued flying with Diana, cutting through the dark clouds as night fell. He knew the truths he was revealing were not easy to digest. Diana, always the brave warrior, needed to understand that not all battles could be won through physical strength and that some of the greatest struggles lay within the human heart itself.
Diana decided to wait. She would wait until they arrived at the place Clark mentioned to draw her own conclusions. Still, something within her began to shift, to question the simplicity with which she had viewed the conflict. The words of her mother, Hippolyta, echoed in her mind. She clearly remembered her mother's grave tone as she warned her, "The world of men is a cruel place, Diana. They don't deserve you."
The words had always seemed harsh, perhaps even unfair. But now, in light of what she had witnessed, she began to understand what her mother meant.
The cruelty of men, their ability to destroy one another without hesitation, disturbed her deeply.
Clark glanced at her, noticing the distant, contemplative expression on her face. He knew Diana was in inner turmoil, struggling to reconcile what she believed to be true with the reality now unfolding before her. He held her a little tighter, offering silent support as they continued their journey into the unknown, seeking a deeper understanding of what it truly meant to fight for peace.
---
German War Council
The members of the German High Command were gathered around a large oak table cluttered with maps, documents, and reports. The atmosphere was tense, their faces marked with exhaustion and frustration from a prolonged war. The silence was broken when one of the senior generals, General von Schiller, rose and began to speak.
"Gentlemen, I believe we all agree that the war is unsustainable. We must consider an armistice. Continuing to fight at this rate is simply condemning more men to death and destroying what remains of our country."
The officers around the table nodded, murmuring among themselves. Acceptance seemed to spread through the council like a breath of relief in the face of the devastation they had witnessed over the past months. The war had exacted a heavy toll, and the idea of peace was beginning to seem like the only logical and humane option.
"We must accept that we cannot win," said General Müller, his voice laden with resignation. "It's better to negotiate now before it's too late."
The murmurs grew louder in agreement, and consensus seemed imminent. However, the sound of the council doors abruptly opening interrupted the moment. General Ludendorff entered, his steps firm, his expression filled with disapproval. His gaze was fierce, and he wasted no time speaking.
"You are all cowards!" Ludendorff bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall, dripping with contempt. "You talk of armistice, of surrender? We cannot give up now! We must fight to the last man, to the last breath! Defeat is not an option!"
The hall fell silent for a moment, all eyes on Ludendorff. General von Schiller rose again, his face maintaining a controlled calm.
"General Ludendorff, with all due respect, the war is already lost. We cannot sacrifice more lives for a cause that has proven impossible to win. The people are exhausted, and the army is no longer capable of fighting. We must be realistic. The war is over."
Ludendorff glared at von Schiller, his eyes sparking with fury. "Realistic? You're willing to kneel before the enemy and accept humiliation? I will not stand for it! The war never ends as long as there is the will to fight!"
Another officer, Colonel Weiss, intervened, his voice firm but conciliatory. "General Ludendorff, we all know your dedication and courage. But we must think of the future of our country. Continuing this fight guarantees total destruction. We've lost enough. Now it's time to save what remains."
Ludendorff scoffed, the disdain evident in his expression. He looked around the room, meeting the gaze of each council member as if daring someone to support him. But no one spoke. The silence was absolute, and Ludendorff realized he was alone in his obstinacy.
"I see the war is over, especially for all of you," he muttered with contempt before abruptly turning and leaving the hall.
Outside, Dr. Maru waited anxiously. Her slender figure was draped in a dark overcoat, and her restless eyes were fixed on the council door. When the door burst open, Ludendorff emerged, his expression radiating contained rage. His eyes met Dr. Maru's, and without a word, he made a subtle gesture with his hand.
Dr. Maru understood the message. With cold determination, she withdrew a small vial of gas from her pocket and moved toward the council door. In one swift motion, she tossed the vial inside, and before anyone could react, Ludendorff slammed the heavy doors shut with a metallic clang.
Inside the hall, the generals stared in shock at the vial spinning through the air before hitting the ground. Within seconds, the green gas began to spread, filling the room with a dense, toxic cloud. General von Schiller stepped back, his eyes wide as panic began to grip the council.
"What is happening?!" shouted one of the officers, coughing violently, his eyes watering from the noxious substance.
General Müller fell to his knees, his hand pressed against his mouth and nose, but it was futile. The gas infiltrated every corner of the hall, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Colonel Weiss attempted to reach one of the windows, but his movements were already sluggish, his muscles no longer obeying him.
General von Schiller, struggling against the ever-thinning air, looked around, seeing his colleagues collapse one by one. The deadly silence that followed was broken only by desperate coughs and the muffled sounds of bodies hitting the floor.
The gas filled the room until no one was left standing. The war council was finished, sealed by the poison Ludendorff had chosen to eliminate any trace of opposition. The doors remained closed, and the deadly silence was the only evidence of the abrupt end of resistance.
Ludendorff, seeing no further movement inside the hall, finally turned away. He cast a cold glance at Dr. Maru and nodded. "Now there are no more voices of weakness. Only those with the true will to fight remain."
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