Shadows of the Desert Attack

The attack came from the dunes. Afghan fighters had hidden beneath the sand for hours,

covered with cloth and dust, waiting for darkness. When the cavalry stopped,

the fighters rose up from the desert like shadows. They cut off the rear horses,

and blocked the front patrol with wooden spikes driven deep into the sand. The British fired

wildly— but the echo of gunshots made it impossible to tell where the enemy

actually was. One officer shouted into the broken radio, “Base!

We’re under attack! We need backup!” But the desert swallowed his voice. Within minutes,

the fighters seized rifles, ammunition, and even two horses. Then they melted