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Post by PirateOTC on Jan 6, 2007 13:47:21 GMT
Max is still re-packing, checking his watch.
five minutes left
he looks around and sees the man has returned to his bed. He seems to take it all easy.. he swing his much more lighter bag over his shoulder
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Post by Jacky on Jan 6, 2007 13:55:32 GMT
Eventually a man walks into the tent, and he blows a sharp whistle. "EVERYBODY LINE UP!" He raises his voice to oversound anybody else. The only ones who are in the tent now are the newbies, all without the army clothing. He paces to the front and wait for them to stand in line.
I get up from my bed and walk with the others to the front of the tent, where we form a line. I stand somewhere a little in the background, not wanting to get anybody's attention at all.
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Post by PirateOTC on Jan 6, 2007 14:04:56 GMT
He stands up straight in the line aswell, getting pushed to somewhere in the middle
center...in this line..
he shivers slightly but keeps his eyes on the military man
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Post by Jacky on Jan 6, 2007 14:10:01 GMT
The guy does a quick headcount and checks the paper he is holding. The number matches, and he nods slightly in confirmation to himself. Then he looks up and faces the new recruits.
There's a long pause, before he suddenly speaks up.
"MEN!" He starts walking along the line. "...We are here at WAR. This is not a story. This is not a movie film. This is reality." He stops in front of a short guy and looks down at him momentarily. "The USA has over twenty troops in Vietnam today.. and why..?" He walks further down the line, and then stops again. He turns on his heels and faces Adam.
I look back at the guy, feeling a little intimidated.. but not showing it.
"WHY are you here, soldier!?" The lieutenant snaps.
I glance aside doubtfully, meeting the glances of all the others who are curiously awaitening my reply. And I can hardly let them down, now can I? I face lieutenant Sammual Ford, and give him a lopsided grin, "Because there was nothing better on tv?"
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Post by PirateOTC on Jan 6, 2007 14:13:13 GMT
Some tries really hard not to smirk at this mans reply, a slight grin creeps up the side of Max mouth but he quickly forces himself to stop and look serious again.
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Post by Jacky on Jan 6, 2007 14:19:10 GMT
The eyes of the lieutenant harden. "Do you think that's funny, private?"
"No, sir, I was rather disappointed myself."
I should really shut the hell up. But here I go again, pretending not to fear a thing. Pretending not to be intimidated. That's just what I do.
When people leave me alone, I'll be the loner.
When people try and get to me, I'll pretend to be interested.
When something scares me.. I laugh in the face of danger, while inside I crumble away with fear.
"Drop down and give me twenty!"
Classic. I shrug and crouch on the floor, then I get down and start doing pushups.
Fortunately lieutenant Ford walks on, and I feel one hell of a lot better doing push-ups than facing this big monkey.
"We're not here for joking around, men. We're here to fight communism to spread through our world! We fight for justice, and for freedom! Is that understood!?"
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Post by PirateOTC on Jan 6, 2007 14:23:43 GMT
"SIR, YES SIR" they all reply in unison, Max being a little too slow but catches up somewhere around the 'yes'-part and straightens up as the others does, looking straight ahead of him at the military man.
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Post by Jacky on Jan 6, 2007 14:30:53 GMT
Sixteen.. fifteen... I glance aside and see that Ford isn't looking. ..fourteen... Nine..! Eight!
"Tonight you will be learned the basics of being a soldier. You will get your clothing, a backpack, a rifle. You will learn to SHOOT this rifle, to aim, to defend yourself! You will learn how to follow orders and how to live your life in the army! Is that understood!?"
Again a chorus of 'sir yes sir'. Bite me. I think bitterly.
Ford looks back to Adam, "How are we holding up there soldier!?"
"Peachy... Sir!" I finish doing the pushups and I stand up, straightening my back.
"Do you think you're ready for the army?" He asks, narrowing his eyes.
"As much as anyone else here is, sir." I reply, wishing he would leave me alone already.
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Post by PirateOTC on Jan 6, 2007 14:37:10 GMT
His words lingers in Max's ears.
Shoot a rifle. Get a weapon in hand. Shoot. Defend. He had never held a weapon before.
Am I afraid? of a weapon or just the fact that I will be holding a weapon?
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Post by Jacky on Jan 6, 2007 14:40:02 GMT
Ford's eyes linger on Adam a little while longer, before he turns back to the whole group. "You are all expected in tent 03, where you will find your clothing, backpack, helmets and a list of what you must bring. You'll gather in front of this tent at twenty-two hundred sharp where your training to become a soldier will begin. Understood!?"
"SIR YES SIR!" This time I join the chorus.
"DISMISSED!"
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