In the end it would prove to take 40 days to cross the desert. And in the beginning all was well. The army paraded for Neo.
He rode with them and talked with them, and saw that everything was good.
Neo was glad he had taken the decision to go on the road again. And from what he heard morale among the troops was high.
It only took one weak to change that. The heat and the bloody sand exhausted the men and the horses, and discipline was the first thing that disappeared.
The men no longer walked in straight lines and clothing deviated more and more from the classical uniform, just to be able to adapt to the heat.
Soldiers no longer marched but stumbled through the sand, looking at infinity.
In the second week horses gave up and had to be killed and left behind. But Neo was everywhere to encourage his men, to consolidate them, and give the example.
When soldiers could no longer put up with the tempo, he drove back on his horse and praised them for their perseverance.
But even that could not prevent the first men from giving up in the third week. And their comrades had no longer the courage to pick them up or wait for them.
Other soldiers that still had it in them, passed soldiers who didn't. Without a word. There was nothing left to say.
And the numbers increased from individuals to small groups.
Until in the end there was a trail of man who had given up or who had just plainly died.