The colonel had spoken only the truth, Silence discovered all too soon.

The colonel spoke slowly, as if afraid that speaking more than one word at a time would cause him to explode.

He is downhearted because the colonel will not speak to him.

The story appeared on Friday, and the army said the colonel in charge of the area had spoken to his men about the charges.

Before he could form any words, the colonel spoke again.

The colonel, himself standing now, spoke in a voice that shook with rage.

The colonel spoke into his radio and then waved the battalion down; now was the time to wait.

He stirred at last, very deliberately, and the colonel spoke.

"Listen to me," Roland continued, before the colonel or anyone else could speak.

The colonel still did not speak, but his wife was whispering again.