/lit/ - Literature

Reading pic related and boy is it depressing. Makes me realise that despite my youth the time ahead of me isn't long and will fly past before I can realise I've wasted it all. Really enjoying it though.

Not sure what I'll read next, probably a short novella.

Thoughts?

In the Tartar Steppe there is a situation in which one of the guards gets separated from the group in order to fetch a horse while moving from the New Redoubt to the Foet. He has no password to get back into the Fort, but he tries anyway.
The guard on the wall calls out "who is it?" And recognises the guard stranded outside because he tells him his name. But nonetheless, that guard on the wall yells twice more "who is it?", then shoots him after the third time, according to regulations. I think they're supposed to call out 3 times before shooting.
But what is the point of calling out if the reply is disregarded? Is it really wise to waste lives of your own soldiers like that? The guard on the wall obviously recognised him and the superior who was standing by also recognised him but said nothing. Can someone explain to me why they didn't let him into the Fort?