"Trained as a human mine detector, My Luck, a boy soldier in West Africa, witnesses and takes part in unspeakable brutality. At twelve his vocal chords are cut to prevent him from screaming and giving away his platoon's presence should he be blown up. Awakening after an explosion to find that he has lost his platoon, he traces his steps back through abandoned villages and rotting corpses - and through his own memories - in search of his comrades"--Back of book.