Nancy reached down and picked up a reddish leaf that must have been blown to the spot by the wind, “Why has Steven agreed to go to that dangerous planet? I personally thought that the best thing for him was an instructor.”
Henry stopped in front of the Headquarters building. “Do you remember Mark Holman?”
Nancy was spinning the little red leaf in her hand, then threw it and watched the leaf being carried by the wind. “How could I not? He was that blond guy, the one who messed with Colburn. They even got into a fight during training.”
“Mark became commanding officer of the training camp a year ago. He probably never forgot the beatings he got in that hangar. I heard from some other friends that Mark still taunts Colburn hard, so I decided to call the Sergeant. His experience is relevant to this mission. Mark didn’t want to let him go at any price, and he only gave up when I showed him the presidential order.” Henry stopped for a moment and then, saluted few soldiers in return who passed by. “You know that he refused the position of Cruiser Commander and took the place of Commanding Officer just so that he could continue to torment Colburn?”
Nancy was ho surprised. “I have heard weird things but never knew that a person could hate someone so much so as to sacrifice his career!”
“Oh, yes, it’s possible. Before I left the camp, Mark told me that he wouldn’t forgive me for taking Colburn.”
They moved away from the Headquarters door because two soldiers were approaching the door carrying an antigravity stretcher loaded with equipment. The entrance hall was full of trunks filled with special equipment for the expedition. The soldiers who were sitting there jumped to their feet and saluted as Henry and Nancy they entered. Henry saluted back and ordered, “That equipment won’t set up itself! Corporal, make sure it goes faster!”
The young corporal stood like a stone statue, hiding his cigarette behind himself. “Yes, Sir!”
Then he started yelling orders, and everybody began to run around. They then navigated trough numerous trunks and boxes, to reach Henry’s office and found in the same state of disorder as always.
“I think you’ll have enough time to tidy it all up,” said Nancy.
“I can leave it for later. Now I only want to know where…”
“What are you looking for?”
Henry produced a bottle of cognac and two glasses victoriously and put them on a free corner of the desk. “This! I need to clear my throat. Are you in?”
“Yes, why not? I haven’t had any alcohol since we parted at the end of training.”
“After the incident at Morad I got drunk once, but I realized that I couldn’t escape the dead, no matter how much I drink… This cognac has arrived directly from the President’s cellars, and this is a good occasion to have it.”
The cognac was perfect, and they started reminiscing their training and some other stories around that time; they hadn’t seen each other for such a long time. They didn’t notice how quickly time passed until their conversation was interrupted abruptly by a knock at the door.
“Come in!” Henry shouted.
A young soldier entered and took his position by the door. “Commander, right now we have information that the cruiser with the prisoners would be arriving in ten minutes.”
“All right, back to your post.”
“Yes, Sir.” The soldier turned around and left.
“Now you’re acting like a true commander; like the one you were before,” said Nancy.
“It’s easy with these fresh recruits. They’re terrified of their own shadows.”
“As a recruit, you were stubborn and obstinate. I’m surprised that the Sergeant didn’t plague you like he did with Mark.”
“He did, but we didn’t fight, in public, anyway.”
“You fought with him? You never told me that!”
“I didn’t tell anyone until now.”
Nancy’s curiosity got piqued. She wanted to know more while spinning the glass of cognac in her hand, “And how did it end?”
“Do you remember when we were both absent from training for three days?”
“I remember, Colburn had the flu, and you had a death in your family. At least that’s what you said.”
“Well, it was a perfect performance! But I can tell you the truth now. That night I intended to run away from the camp, but Colburn caught me before I could to jump over the fence. After that, he took me to his apartment in town, right above the fighting school. That same night we got in a fight, and neither of us was able to stay on our feet. If I hadn’t gone absent for three days, I would certainly have been locked up in prison! Colburn saved me, and I’m thankful for that forever. And that’s the main reason I took him as my assistant.”
“You wanted to run away? I can’t believe it.” Nancy took a sip of cognac. “I thought you were the toughest of them all at military training.”
Henry spread his hands and said, “I was, but I didn’t know it. I needed a little support to realize it.”
She smiled and concluded, “You should have had it beaten into your head.”
“Talking helps much more, but I must admit that the beatings brought me to my senses a bit faster.” At that moment they heard the strong motors of the cruiser howling as it landed on the runway, “Shall we go? I’d like to be there when they disembark.”
Nancy rose to her feet, looked around the room and asked, “Does this office have a toilet? I hope that cognac doesn’t make me stagger to the runway.”
Henry pointed her to the opposite side of the room. “Look behind those boxes. I think it’s there.” Nancy laughed.
“You think?” She walked towards the bathroom, washed her face, fixed her hair and came out. “Now we can go.”
*
The prisoners were already leaving the transporter when they heard Colburn’s strong baritone voice. “Don’t make me drag you out of there ‘cause you won’t like it! Form yourselves into two rows!”
Colburn has placed his hands on his belt and he carefully watched the prisoners as they came down the ramp, slowly because of their shackles.
Henry asked him, “Sergeant; you couldn’t take off their shackles?”
He saluted and responded with a large smile, “No, commander!”
As Henry got closer to him, he said, “Well, where had you been, you rotten old carcass?”
He grabbed his hand. Henry had the feeling that all his bones would crack but then Colburn dragged him closer, tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, “Thank you for pulling out of Mark’s idiosyncrasies.”
“You’ve forgotten that I’m in your debt.”
He moved away from him and slapped his shoulder with his palm and then he looked at Nancy, who was diligently watching them with a contented smile on her face. She was definitely watching him, as she had on the first day they met at the polygon. Colburn remembered that moment. He had thought that he could crack her easily, but she had proven to be stronger and more durable than most of the group members. He was ecstatic to see her after such a long time. “This tiny girl seems familiar to me.”
“I can see that you haven’t forgotten me. You called me that when we were training.”
Colburn bowed slightly toward Nancy and with a broad smile on his face said, “Nancy Bauer, how could I forget one of my best recruits? Major, you have changed significantly since our last meeting.”
She approached, offered her hand and measured him up. In truth, he had hardly changed. She could feel his gaze assessing her contours much like before. His six-foot structure made him look like a giant against her. His impeccably maintained uniform appeared to be tearing over his muscles. She had to admit that there was a sense of tingle in her spine just from his appearance.
“Only the gray hair, show the passage of time since we last met.”
He ran his big hand through his hair and proudly raised his forehead. “It is said that it attracts women.”
“Well, then where are all
those women? I see none.” Nancy was witty.
“Hmm… Must admit, you are quick on the humor side,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
Nancy let it pass, approached him, and whispered in his ear, “Steven, take care of yourself and Henry. I have reasons to worry; I know exactly where you’re going.”
“Don’t worry; I’ll do my best.”
Henry spoke. “I think it’s time for the Sergeant to do something about the prisoners. The commander of the cruiser is arriving now.”
“Where must I take them?”
“Take him to the front of Headquarters. Make sure you get those shackles off of them. They won’t be able to escape from this island.”
“Yes, Sir.” Colburn moved over to the prisoners and commanded the military policemen, “Who’s got the keys to the shackles?”
One of them stepped forward. “I’ve got the keys, Sergeant!”
“Unlock the shackles!”
With incredulity, the policeman looked at the Sergeant and stammered, “We’ve got a strict comm…”
He didn’t finish his sentence before Colburn roared, “If I order you to unlock the shackles then that’s what you do. Is that clear? Don’t make me repeat the order otherwise you will be doing it crawling!”
The military policeman didn’t even look in the direction of Colburn after that and took a big bundle of keys from his belt. He went over to the prisoner Flan Kerr, who was already laughing at the encounter he had witnessed.
The Sergeant walked up to Flan and with all the meanness he could gather said, “Why are you grinning?!” He looked at all the prisoners. “Anyone who tries to be funny or act smart shall be taken to the military doctor in the infirmary! Is that clear?”
Endy van de Mort, who was standing next to Kerr, cynically said, “So you think you can control us without the shackles? Come on. Go to…” But before he could finish his sentence he was lying on the floor.
The Sergeant stepped back after the blow and looked at the other prisoners, “Has anybody else got any more problems?” Complete silence reigned, and he added in an icy voice, looking straight at all of them, “I’m in charge here and I won’t tolerate shit! Is that clear?”
“Clear!” they all shouted in unison.
“Flan, you and Randy carry that dog.”
In the meantime, the commander of the cruiser approached Henry and saluted. “Are you Brigadier Henry Broncon?”
“Yes, I am.”
He handed him a large black briefcase. “Here are all the information on the previous treatment of the prisoners, and Supreme Headquarters’ command for further course of action.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. If all fine, I will take permission to leave, Sir. There is an epidemic of ‘Black Tears’ spreading on the planet Kroll III. I have to transport vaccines there, so we have to start now.”
Henry nodded and stood back, “Important operations need to be carried out on time.” He saluted him. Commander of the cruiser responded with a salute and hurried back to the cruiser.
Nancy and Henry stepped back further from the cruiser to avoid the jet motors. When it had disappeared from sight, Nancy said, “It has started.”
Henry replied, “It’s about time anyways… I lost the entire past month to paperwork.”
“Red Tape is the same everywhere, even in the army. There’s nothing that can be done.”
“I dislike this bureaucracy. They always succeed at complicating even the simplest of things.”
*
The prisoners were standing in front of Headquarters while Sergeant Colburn was calling out orders, just short of expletives. When Henry arrived, he approached him and spoke, keeping it low. “Brigadier, it won’t be an easy job with these ones.”
“You have to tame them and hold them by the reins. I’m sure you can do it!”
“They aren’t too inclined towards discipline. I can teach them for sure.”
“Gather them; I have something to announce. Send all the soldiers to unload the equipment and clean up the environs of the camp. Didn’t you notice how overgrown they are?”
Colburn looked at Henry with a touch of surprise. “And who will watch the prisoners ensure that there is no craziness?”
“Leave that to me. I think you’ll like what I have to tell them.”
He looked at Nancy with a worried expression on his face. “Is he often like this?”
Nancy shrugged. “I think he’s been like this ever since he got beaten up during martial training. And that was when he was still a fresh soldier.”
Colburn laughed instantaneously while making the most innocent of the face and said, “I had nothing to do with that.”
“Oh yes, he had the flu for three days, and of course, before that Hanry had never been on sick leave. Just those three days.” Nancy pitched in.
Surprised, he looked at Henry. “She knows?” Henry nodded and Colburn continued in a serious tone, “If anybody had told me that he would one day be my commander, I would have never beaten him like that.”
Nancy looked at him mischievously, “I heard that you didn’t look much better either.”
Colburn was a bit embarrassed and was seen struggling to adjust something in his dress which did not need adjustment, “That’s true.”
Nancy shook her head, looking him straight in the eye and continued to hold on up each other to the point, “What else is love? You beat up each other to the point of death and then you’re friends again. You two are a perfect pair for this operation.”
Nancy and Henry laughed while Colburn said, “Brigadier, I’m going to do what you’ve ordered me to. We’ll leave the stories for later.”
Nancy continued smiling as Colburn walked towards the prisoners. “I’m glad he’s with you on this mission.”
“Yes me too.” Henry appeared satisfied.
*
“Commander, the prisoners are ready!”
“All right, Sergeant. Command them to ease!”
“Yes, Sir.”
Henry paid attention and looked at each of them individually. Most of them didn’t like him, and that uneasiness could be felt. If their stare was potent enough to kill Henry, then he would have been long dead. Henry saw everything but was least interested in those trivial matters, and shouted out instructions. “I’m sure you must be getting creative about escaping from here, now that the shackles have been taken off, but let me tell you that are going to be disappointed. Nothing of the sort is possible. And the reason…”
Vandor Bult stopped him in the middle of his sentence. “I’m simply waiting for a chance to grab a weapon, and you’ll be dead! Escaping is nowhere close to what I am thinking,” he shouted. The memory of the beating he had received in Hades was still fresh. He wanted revenge.
“No problem. Sergeant Colburn! Take out your pistol and give it to the prisoner, Vandor!”
Colburn stared at him in disbelief. Did Henry serious? He wondered. “Sir, are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He continued to have the surprised look on his face. Colburn had never been separated from his favorite pet. Henry gestured that it was all right. So, Colburn took out his energy pistol and handed it to Vandor with the handle facing him. For only a moment the prisoner looked at the pistol, not believing his luck, and then he snatched it from the Sergeant’s hand and aimed it at Henry’s face. “That wasn’t a smart decision, Brigadier! I haven’t forgotten what happened at the prison.”
“And what will you do about that?” He asked him in an icy voice.
“I’ll kill you like a dog!”
“Well, what are you waiting for, Mr. Vandor?”
Henry’s reaction was not what Vandor expected, so he raised the gun and aimed at Henry. “As you wish shi…”
But when he tried to press the trigger he had a painful grimace, and the more he tried to kill him, the stronger and stronger was the pain. His face lost color and his eyes were filled with
tears. Despite that, he wasn’t giving up but no matter what he did, he fell to his knees, grabbed his head with his hands and dropped the pistol. Endy van de Mort, who had been watching it all and grinned delightedly, suddenly grabbed the pistol. Sergeant Colburn tried to stop him, but Henry called out, “Sergeant!”
He showed him with a hand that everything was all right. Endy was grinning, holding the pistol in his hand. “Vandor, you haven’t got the guts to shoot. I can see that you’ve got a terrible headache, so let me relieve you of your suffering.”
He pointed the pistol at Vendor’s temple and smiled. “Go to hell, you shit.”
Just about that time, Henry warned him, “That’s not smart!”
He spat on the ground visibly wanting to show dissent. Henry was getting on his nerves, and he wanted to end it. “What’s up with you, you stiff shit? You don’t have to worry – you’re next, right after him.”
Henry looked at him with a smirk on his face. Henry thought that it was certain that the presentation all had witnessed so far wit Vandor was good but it could be better if it happened with Endy as well; besides, Endy is perfect for this. Then he ordered, “Well, what are you waiting for? Kill him; you’re the boss!”
“This Brigadier bitch is getting on my nerves,” thought Endy, “But he will come to order after I kill Vandor.” Then Endy grinned and said, “I do it with pleasure.”
And then almost as if the scene was scripted, Andy was on his knees, holding his head between his legs.
Henry waved to Colburn and said, “Sergeant, take your pistol back. I don’t think these gentlemen need it anymore!”
Sergeant Colburn’s confusion was apparent as he picked up the pistol and checked it over.
“Everything is fine with it,” Henry said just to ease out Coburn’s confusion. “Let’s check straightaway for your benefit. See that tree to the right of the last barrack? Shoot that twig at the top of the tree!”
The Sergeant looked at the tree and fired without seeming to aim. An energy blast cuts the twig to pieces and charred remains fall to the ground. The prisoners are shell-shocked as the concrete runway is covered with the burnt twigs; more so the tree was more than forty-five yards away.
Godeena: SF Novel Page 6