The Soldier glanced up briefly when his handler spoke then quickly ducked his head. He was speaking English and the Soldier knew he should respond, but his brain couldn't process it. He said, "I don't understand... I'm sorry, I don't..." He knew, logically, that he should be able to speak and understand English, but it was like the language was gone.

He closed his mouth and his eyes, bracing for his handler to move, to punish him for not obeying whatever he had said.