by Dan Decker
It was difficult to say what had come over me. I couldn’t fully explain why I’d sat down nor why I was leaving.
Ironic, I thought, now that I have the size to win.
Something sticky hit the back of my head.
Mashed potatoes.
“Are we in high school?”
I didn’t look back as I wiped off the food and smeared it on my tray, figuring I’d just draw Jeffords’ wrath if I tossed it on the floor.
I positioned myself to see their table. While I was not close enough to hear their conversation, I watched Logan’s mannerisms and behavior. He was in a body that placed him in his mid-thirties, but he acted like a prepubescent child. Certainly, the mashed potatoes he had thrown supported that conclusion.
And why couldn’t that be the case?
If they intercepted us at death, putting us all in bodies of the same age, wasn’t it likely some were younger and others were older?
I had been pushing forty-five when I had been gunned down. Shaking my head, I snorted.
I almost threw down with a kid.
I wasn’t going to waste more time on Logan whose behavior was that of immature juvenile, thinking he could elbow me to impress his peers. I would ignore him unless doing so put me in danger.
I finished my meal in silence, eating as quick as I dared after almost draining the red liquid. I’d expected juice or punch, but it was flavorless, leaving the barest hint of a lemon-lime aftertaste, making me wonder if a cleaning solution had contaminated the water.
In the movies, recruits were not given much time to eat. Contrary to what I expected, after we’d eaten, it was still another half hour before Jeffords appeared in the mess tent. By that time, everybody had long since finished.
A look of mock surprise crossed his face. “What are you still doing here? You have the night off. The next phase won’t start till tomorrow.”
Perhaps the others had been shown where their quarters were or knew where to go next, but I had no idea. I waited for them to make the first move. Judging by the way they looked nervously at one another, none of them knew.
I didn’t want to run any more laps, so I sat in silence with the others.
When nobody spoke, Jeffords frowned and took several steps down the aisle, looking at me as he did.
I was the only one in the room as far as he was concerned.
“I am disappointed by your lack of initiative. Why am I not surprised you don’t want to know the location of your barracks?” He shook his head. “Here we are, trying to give you a break and you sit here insolent, as if you don’t have a brain in your head, like the true fried-maggot-gut-sandwiches you are.”
He stopped a step away and looked at me with taunting eyes. He wanted me to ask.
I refrained from frowning. I knew what was coming. More laps. I wasn’t going to provoke him. Everybody already hated me enough as it was, there was nothing I could do to fix that, but I didn’t need to make it any worse.
Especially if some are just kids.
The room was quiet. Nobody dared move.
Jeffords did not take his gaze from me.
If one of the other recruits said something, would he hear them?
I stood.
I could take pressure off the others, though I wouldn’t receive much gratitude.
“How many laps should I run, sir?”
Jeffords had not expected this.
He sneered. “Better make it twenty. Your insolent attitude is going to get you killed. The only thing I can do is make sure you know how to run away from danger.”
“Yes, sir.”
Without another word I jogged out of the mess hall.
19
My watch beeped when I was on my second lap so I took a moment to appreciate Aldreda as I lathered on block. It was also more comfortable now the sun was finally setting—the temperature was also more survivable—causing a kaleidoscope of light to fill the purple sky. The place was harsh but had a natural beauty.
The sunset was fantastic, unlike anything I’d ever seen at home.
More proof I’m no longer on earth.
I took more time than necessary to put on the block, in part to catch my breath, but also to let my surroundings wash over me in a quiet moment of meditation. I had experienced too much anger during my first day of training. I had to be in a better place tomorrow.
It helped to appreciate what little I could even while the fear of what had happened to my family was never far from my mind.
I studied the horizon as I resumed laps, hoping to see some sign of civilization in the distance as the light dwindled, something I could escape to, or some way out of this impossible predicament, but there was nothing.
If there was anything out there it was a long way off.
Nobody had asked any questions about the creature that had attacked me earlier in the day. The body had disappeared and I couldn’t help wonder if it had fully decomposed, though it was more likely that it had been tossed into the ravine or scavenged by an animal.
It was approaching dusk by the time I finished the last lap. My throat was raw. My tongue was thick and dry. I was about to fall over from exhaustion and feared my muscles might cramp and refuse to move if I did.
I was glad I had not been attacked by anything else. I’d made a point of staying as far back from the ravine as I could, even though the guard stations were now fully manned.
I had no idea where to go or what to do but was near the infirmary. I hoped Dolores would help me find my group or at least get me something to drink since the mess tent was probably closed for the night.
There was no activity other than the perimeter guards.
It also seemed strange that during all my time running laps around camp I had not seen a vehicle.
No jeeps. No trucks. No helicopters.
I’d seen aircraft on my first day, but nothing today. We really were in the middle of nowhere. It was safe to assume this camp was only for training.
As I approached the infirmary it felt like I was walking through a ghost town.
I turned when I saw movement from the corner of an eye, preparing to fight off another creature like the one I’d killed earlier; or to run, if a grenling was crawling out of a newly opened ravine.
It was a robot though it might have been more accurate to describe it as a tank with legs. Its skin could have been made to generate solar power, though I couldn’t say for sure in the evening light.
It had four appendages and on the bottom of each were tracks like a tank. It did not have a discernible front, back, head, or eyes. Several antennas came from the top and there were cameras all over, including one at the top that was a fisheye on a swiveling base.
I was curious, but not enough to approach.
Jeffords is probably using that to watch me.
I was faced with a dilemma when I reached the canvas door of the infirmary. Was it customary to knock?
There wasn’t a doorbell.
Was this considered a communal area? Could I just walk in?
I hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside, the light springing on as I did.
All the cots were empty.
I had hoped somebody from my group might have taken sick, saving me from having to ask Dolores where to go. Despite Jeffords’ claim he’d lied to them about the condition of their bodies, the others had handled the afternoon run with little problem, especially when compared to the morning walk.
They must have done something to make our bodies acclimate quickly, even beyond the fully formed muscles. If I found Dolores, I intended to ask her about it.
I went to the Regenerator but nobody was there either.
What to do now?
I could wander through the camp, hoping to run into somebody who would tell me where to go but I wouldn’t be so brazen as to enter another tent. I couldn’t say how long I paced but it wasn’t more than a minute or two.
I just wish I was asleep, I yawned, and could wake up from this nightmare
.
I had been up close and personal with this new world and doubted any place on earth could be made to look like this. And even if it could, how could I explain the strange creatures? Or the purple sky?
I was at the edge of a spiral. If I was not careful I would end up at the bottom. I could not let this world beat me down. I paced for another minute, thinking back through the day, making mental notes about things I’d seen and heard and was just about to head outside when a thought occurred to me. It was a mark of my fatigue I had not considered it before.
If Jeffords finds me here I am going to be in a heap of trouble.
With two quick steps I was at the front of the tent, opening the door. There was barely any light as I stepped outside. Perhaps I had taken longer than I thought.
Not knowing what else to do I headed toward the mess hall, hoping I’d find somebody that would tell me where to go.
It happened fast.
I saw almost nothing.
Pain shot through my leg as something latched on. Stifling a yell, I looked down while trying to see what was going on but saw nothing other than blood dripping down my leg. The pain got worse and I could feel the weight of it on my calf and shin, staying firmly in place as I tried to shake it off.
I slammed down a fist on the unseen foe, contacting an invisible force. I hit it again, wishing I had a weapon. I left a trail of blood as I shuffled backward to the tent but still couldn’t see what was attacking me. An outline of light came from underneath the infirmary tent door as I grabbed the canvas and whipped it open, spilling light into the night.
The animal let go, its tail disappearing in the dark.
The creature was transparent, almost entirely invisible.
Things moved everywhere.
I’m glad I wasn’t swarmed.
My instincts told me crocodiles crawled out there in the dark. That was what they looked like, judging by their faint outlines, how close they were to the ground, and their squat legs and long tails. I ignored the pain as I pulled open the canvas flap so more light spilled out. Another creature scurried into the shadows.
Should I sound the alarm?
What if these creatures came out at night and everyone already knew about them?
Betcha this was covered in orientation.
I had no way of knowing, and it wouldn’t matter if I did. Jeffords might punish me if I sounded the alarm. He might punish me if I didn’t.
I shut the flap and yanked it back open, hoping to catch a better look. A translucent tail disappeared into the shadows where it became less visible the further it went.
There was a reason camp had been empty and the only thing moving was a strange robot. The guard towers were well lit, apparently to ward off the silent killer crocodiles.
It was no longer a mystery why they had a mini-fortress underneath, it was a place to retreat when the lights went out. They all knew something I didn’t.
Is this why Jeffords refused to go over orientation with me? I thought, remembering his smile when he ordered me to run more laps after dinner. At least in part.
I didn’t care if I got into trouble for staying in the infirmary, I wasn’t going to venture into the dark. I would take whatever lumps they gave me in the morning. I was doubly sure when I thought of how angry the other men in my group had been with me.
I stepped inside and closed the flap. I was glad to be in the infirmary after I examined my leg.
20
What kind of infirmary doesn’t have a sink? I wondered as I wandered through every room and didn’t find anything resembling a washbasin or even a bottle of antiseptic. The injury wasn’t severe, but it was big and bloody.
After scrounging around in some cabinets I managed to find gauze and tape in a personal emergency kit. It also had a toothbrush and toothpaste. I surmised it was meant to be carried in the field by individual soldiers.
I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to use the Regenerator. It wasn’t obvious. A person could get inside, but when I remembered the enormous weight that had pressed down on me, I wondered if it worked in other ways. I gave into impulse and flipped a large switch in the back.
Nothing happened at first, then I heard a low hum.
It grew louder.
Finally, it was loud enough I became afraid of attracting attention, so I flipped it again and the sound stopped. I slipped away and didn’t mess with the Regenerator again.
I used the gauze to clean my wound and was about to wrap it when I remembered the block seemed to have healing capabilities.
What were the odds it could also act as an antiseptic?
Pulling out my tube, I squeezed some out and covered the wounded area.
I immediately regretted my decision as new pain tore through my leg. Belatedly, I remembered the block had also stung when I’d put it on my wounded hand. The sensation soon receded and the teeth marks were a little less raw as I wrapped the injury with gauze and taped it up, using all the tape to keep the bandage secure.
I couldn’t find a trash can, so I pushed the used gauze into a corner of the room and waited, figuring it wouldn’t be long before Jeffords showed up.
It appeared all Jeffords would need was a reliable light source to navigate the invisible crocodiles.
I was dead on my feet, the only thing keeping me from slipping into dreamland was the injury and dealing with the aftermath.
I laid on a cot and closed my eyes, trusting that there was something that would keep the crocodiles out when the lights went off. Sleep wouldn’t come even though I was so tired my eyes hurt.
My injured leg throbbed.
If the block had done anything for the pain, it hadn’t been much. I tried to avoid it, but eventually couldn’t help wonder how I’d come to be on this dangerous foreign world.
Fury flowed through me like a flood, blocking all reason.
21
I awoke with somebody screaming in my ear. As I opened my eyes I was dumped from the cot, my forehead smacking the sandpaper-like floor, leaving a smear of blood.
“You filthy bloodsucking maggot, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be back in the barracks with everybody else. Instead, I find you asleep in the infirmary. We’ve had half the camp looking for you. In the dark. At night. When the camp is flooded with crocks. You just made a lot of enemies. You are going to be so unpopular. Perhaps I should leave you alone with all the people you’ve infuriated tonight.”
I jumped to my feet, my hands forming fists. Jeffords stood in front of me, his face beet red as he continued his tirade. I was just a second or two from taking a swing, when I saw a glint of satisfaction in his eye.
It took considerable effort, but I released my fists and stood mute while he berated me, calling me so many different things that by the time he was done I had lost track.
“You’re going to pay for this soldier, you’re going to pay hard for all the time you’ve wasted tonight. Do you understand me?”
Jeffords paused, it was the first time in the last five minutes after going over everything from my lineage to my looks to my smell. He looked at me, hoping I would attack.
I stood with my back ramrod straight, wondering if I was somewhere close to attention—they still had not bothered to teach me that—and I said “Yes, sir,” as loud as I could.
I kept my face still, thinking if there were even a shred of something showing, Jeffords would latch onto it and use it to make me regret the day I was born.
“Are you daft or just stupid?”
“Probably both, sir.”
He shook his head, muttering. His mind was moving fast, trying to decide what to do next.
“You were supposed to clean the latrines. You had guard duty after that. Instead of doing either, I find you here, derelict of duty, lying on your back as if you have no care in the world.”
I had forgotten about both those things. He did have a valid point; finally, but I was wary of his eyes. Something was going on.
“I should se
nd you back where you came from, wipe your mind and put you on ice. You know what that would do to you? Do you know where you would be after that?” He looked at me as if he expected an answer even though they were rhetorical questions.
I remained silent.
“You just earned latrine duty for a week and guard duty for a month. You’re gonna be so tired by the end, that if you aren’t already dead, you’ll die from exhaustion. Do you understand me soldier?”
“I do, sir.”
“Latrine duty is taken care of for the night. You can however finish guard duty. See to it.”
“Yes, sir.” I didn’t move.
“Is something wrong soldier?”
“Where do I go, sir?”
A smile crept onto his face. He took great pleasure in doling out the answer.
“You don’t know, soldier? Didn’t we give you a tour of camp? Didn’t we tell you where everything was?”
That must have happened while I was in the Regenerator.
“I don’t know, sir.”
“That is the problem with you, soldier. You don’t pay attention. You think you already know everything. You think you’re better than everybody. You don’t know the first thing about this place. You make a mistake here and you’re dead.” He whipped open the canvas flap, pointing outside. “You probably don’t know how to get past the crocks, do you? How about you take a step outside and see if you can figure it out?”
My hands curled into fists. It took everything I had to not let him have it. He knew he was being disingenuous.
He was hazing me. Or this was a test.
Or more likely, he just wants to kill me.
I was glad I had hidden the bloody gauze so he didn’t know I’d already been attacked by a crock. He didn’t need a weak spot to exploit.
“Yes, sir,” I said looking him straight in the eye, “once you show me how.”
Jeffords’ eyes were evil.
I almost punched him.
After a deep breath I backed away from my anger. At least I was doing better this time. I’d nearly started something the last time I’d been dumped from a cot.
