Across the Sands – Ruco Serfontein

A5, 106p.

“A South African soldier. A distant war. A search for meaning beyond the uniform. In Across the Sands, a former naval EOD specialist leaves the ocean behind for humanitarian work in northern Syria during the 2019 conflict. From the scarred streets of Kobani to the shadows of Raqqa, and through the tense evacuation toward Amuda, he and his team move under constant pressure — carrying civilians to safety while confronting the battles they thought they had already survived. Far from home, in cities shaped by war and deserts that offer no refuge, he faces a deeper question: When the mission ends, who are you? Raw, reflective, and deeply human, Across the Sands is a story of resilience, brotherhood, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when everything familiar falls away.”