“The smoke of the morning fires spread across the meadow like sheepskin. The unsaddled horses dozed, huddled in herds, the wind twisted their matted manes and trimmed tails to the side. The soldiers, drenched in sleep, snored around the fires, raved about the battles, muttered and anxiously shouted half-words of command. Others, chattering their teeth, jumped up, did gymnastics, then heated the pots, chewed the lard rolled in sumac and, out of habit of doing everything hastily, getting burned, sipped from crumpled mugs infused, even tar, strong tea...”