The morning sky above Axum broke red.
Not with sunlight, but fire.
Italian Caproni bombers, flying from the freshly patched airfield in Axum roared over the highland edges and released their loads in a precisely timed wave.
Their targets were the hamlets and gardens around the ancient city.
Explosions tore through the terraces where families had taken shelter.
Civilians ran in every direction some carrying icons, others carrying the wounded.
A child's body layed beside an ox-cart, unmoving.
The bells of the Maryam Tsion Church rang once, then fell silent.
By noon, the Italian 19th Infantry Division marched in through the northern gate.
There was no battle.
Resistance had faded overnight, retreating to higher ground or dispersing among the civilians.
General De Bono stood at the head of a column as it entered the square.
His boots left clear prints in the ash.
"Axum," he said to his aide. "Rome's first revenge is written in dust."
