What Is The What

Julian finally admits Deng to the examination room and then takes him to get an MRI. Julian tells Deng that he himself was mugged not long ago, but was able to fight his attackers, since he had been an Iraq war veteran prior to his position at the hospital. After the MRI, Julian takes Deng to a bed, and goes back to the waiting room to tell the other Lost Boys that they can go home. Before he leaves, Julian asks if Deng fought in the civil war in Sudan. He says no, to which Julian replies, “Oh. Well, good then. I’m glad” (317).

Deng was, in fact, almost a soldier, but a massacre saved him. John Garang, leader of the SPLA rebel forces, visits the camp at Pinyudo. The boys make the camp beautiful and welcoming, hailing Garang as a hero. Valentino realizes, after hearing Garang speak, that the purpose of the camp is starting to become to prepare the boys for military service under the SPLA leadership. They are careful to hide this from the UN and aid workers, but the evidence is clear that they are being trained as child soldiers.