(Read the exciting conclusion in next week’s Guide!)

The soldier did not move. Quietly, slowly, Rosanna rose from the floor and crept toward her enemy. By now he just watched her with his eyes, the gun slipping onto the floor. Rosanna knelt beside the man and placed Mama’s black Bible on his knee. She was no longer angry with him.

“God loves you, and He will forgive you,” Rosanna told the wounded man.

With one painful motion the soldier grasped the Bible and raised it to his lips and kissed its worn cover.

By now Paulo had fled to the neighbors, and many stood in their kitchen, ready to fight the lone soldier. After witnessing his kiss on the Bible, they silently turned away. One woman brought forward bandages for his wound, and another brought clean water to bathe his shoulder. Food that could be found was shared.

Forgiveness was everywhere. The wounded soldier spent many hours listening as Rosanna read to him from Mama’s black Bible.

After the villagers had nursed him back to health, they remained silent as he returned to his army. When he left, the Bible was sent with him as a gift.

Time passed, and the village once again began to hum with life. Along with the story of the wolves a new story was added. It was a story of a brave girl who trusted God so much that she had the courage to approach an enemy and forgive him.

A short time later a knock was heard at the Petrozzis’ door. On the other side stood Papa! He was thin and dirty, but his eyes flashed with happiness.

“Papa!” Rosanna cried out, rushing into his arms. Papa had finally come home!

“What happened, Papa? How did you get home?” his family asked him.

Papa took a deep breath and began his story.

“The Army captured me and put me in a cell. It was dark and cold, and at night I could hear insects running across the floor.

“One night two soldiers came to me and started shouting in their language. I didn’t understand what they said. The officer told the other soldier something and then left. The remaining soldier pulled me from my cell and walked me outside. He tied my hands behind my back. His eyes were wet. He placed a blindfold around my eyes. I knew then that he had been told to execute me.”

Papa went on. “I could hear his breathing. The soldier stood back from me, and I waited for death. But after a long time the man walked back to me, fumbled with my blindfold, and untied my hands. He then took from his bag a worn black Bible. The soldier began to point to it, and read something in his language to me. Then he led me out of a hidden door to freedom.”

“Before we parted, from inside his jacket he pulled out another dark book. He told me something in his language, then shoved the book under my arm and walked away.” Papa now looked deep into his wife’s eyes. “It was the Bible you gave me before I left.”

That night many prayers of thanksgiving ascended from a little village home in Canta Lupa. The village name may have meant “Song of the Wolves,” but that evening many hearts were filled with songs of praise.

(Series concluded.)

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