Shades of Grey: Book Two of the Alexis Stanton Chronicles

by Phelps, J. C.

  “I’m fine. Why are you asking me?”

  “Because you are the lightest here besides Alex and if she’s affected you could be too. If you’re fine then everyone else should be too.” He reached over and removed the thermometer. He shook his head as he read it.

  “Get me another thermometer out of my bag in my room and take your temperature, Green.”

  The men had dispersed but they were all still hovering in the distance.

  “Drink this water.” Blue handed me the cup of hot water and started to cover me with blankets.

  I was feeling pretty conspicuous and uncomfortable. “I’m fine. Just tired. It wasn’t easy packing that scuba tank is all.”

  “You’re borderline hypothermic. Your temp is 96.4º and the cutoff is 95º. We just have to keep you warm and make sure your temp is rising, not falling. Now, if you would please drink that water.”

  Green walked into view with the thermometer poking out of his mouth. Blue stood and took it from him and read it.

  “Well, you’re below normal too. Come to think of it, you could have been borderline hypothermic yesterday. That could explain why you were more tired than the rest of us. Drink some hot water and sit on the couch next to Ms. Grey.” He looked around and said, “Someone get Green some blankets too. Red, you’re next.” After that everyone got their temperature taken, including Blue, but Green and I were the only ones with low temperatures. I started to fall asleep on the couch but Blue came back over and took my temperature again.

  “It’s going up slowly.” He refilled Green’s cup and mine and told Black to sit under the blankets between us. I assumed it was because he was the largest warm body around, probably for a hundred miles or more.

  “Next time we go in wet suits and we’re bringing some of those chemical heating pads. We may need to store some dry clothes down there too.” I heard Blue telling someone off in the distance before I fell asleep.

  I don’t know how long I had slept on the couch before Blue woke me to take my temperature again. Black was asleep next to me and Green was gone. I sat forward and woke Black as I did. I put the thermometer in my mouth and looked around. Brown and White were at the kitchen table talking with Red and Green.

  “Back to normal,” Blue informed me and everyone else.

  “Thank you. Can I go to bed now?”

  “Sure, but it’s morning,” Black said.

  “Wow. Well, did anyone make the coffee this morning?”

  *****

  Chapter Thirteen

  We all sat around the kitchen table drinking coffee and making new rules about our spelunking trips into the cave. From now on, when leaving from the cabin we would have to either wear or carry our wet suits, and various first aid items.

  I was feeling foolish because it was my fault that all of these precautions had to be taken and it must have shown.

  “It’s not your fault Alex. It’s mine. I should have thought of this before,” Blue admonished himself. “You weren’t the only one affected either. Green’s temperature was below normal and if we had taken any longer it could have easily turned out badly.”

  After the new rules had been laid down, everyone dispersed to do their own thing. I made my way to the library to do some studying.

  Eventually Red came to the library to tell me the progress of the “Grey contract”, as they now called it. The middleman had been discovered and led them to another man that they were having some trouble catching up with. Again it was assumed he was just another middleman himself.

  “This is taking far too long. I think if we were back there it would be done by now.” I protested.

  “Not necessarily. We are doing this in a manner that, hopefully, won’t alert the financier. Sometimes you just have to have patience.”

  The next few days were subdued and I spent most of my time in the library after my morning run where I did a combination of studying and researching Victor Strom. That was until one morning Blue was bragging to Red about my marksmanship. Even though he seemed to come to terms with me being part of the company I was sure that Red resented the fact that my deer was bigger and wanted to outdo me in any way he could. I had a sneaking suspicion that the only man that didn’t feel threatened by me in some way was Mr. Black.

  I had first heard Blue and Red commenting about my marksmanship as I came in from my morning run and by the time I exited the shower they had set up a shooting competition to be held that morning, as soon as they could round everyone up.

  Great, I thought sarcastically. I did not enjoy firing guns, but again, I didn’t want to be outdone by these men either. Blue told me and the other men that I was an exceptional shot, but I had never been involved in any kind of shooting competition and I was nervous.

  All the men were excited to hear Blue and Red’s idea and soon we were all standing at the firing range.

  Red and Blue had set up the targets. Some of them were bull’s eye type; some were of a black silhouette. On these they had designated a point scale.

  “Okay, the competition will consist of three rounds with four challenges per round. The challenges will be worth a maximum of twenty-five points making a total of a hundred points available for each round,” Red explained.

  To determine the order of the first round we went alphabetically. Then after the points had been tallied the worst shooter would begin the next round and so on.

  The automatic rifle would be the first firearm we would use. The first two challenges were to fire one round into one of each target, preferably in a high point area of the target such as the bulls’ eye or head of the silhouette. We were then assigned different areas of each target, such as two rings out from the bulls’ eye or in the heart of the silhouette. The closer we got to the assigned spot the higher our points would be. Each of us completed the same requirements and I came out dead last. I had forgotten to make sure I had switched to semi automatic instead of burst so my first shot was disqualified. I had made all three bullets in the twenty-five-point range, but the rules were to only shoot one bullet. Blue was in first and Red was close on his heels. Everyone’s points were close but I ended up being twenty-five behind Blue because of my first mistake. So much for showing them, I thought.

  The next class was the pistol. I did considerably better, a perfect score of one hundred. The 9mm didn’t fire a burst round so I didn’t have to remember to push any buttons or switch any switches. However, I remained in last place. I had narrowed the point spread considerably though.

  The final class was the sniper rifle that I was especially fond of. I didn’t hold out much hope for taking first in this little competition because I knew that Blue was an excellent shot, but I was going to give it everything I had.

  We were informed that this round would be different. We would continue as we had, except we would begin at one hundred yards. The two with the lowest points would be done at the end of this round while the rest moved back a hundred yards at a time from the target area until the point spread became fifty or more from the leader. So far Blue had a perfect score, White was right behind him, Red and Black were tied and Green, Brown and I were tied for last with twenty-five points to gain to catch Blue, but I had four chances in this round to either keep up or pass the other guys.

  Since last place was tied we went alphabetically again. Brown missed his mark and got zero points. The air was tense when Green took his spot. He hit the mark, twenty-five points.

  Okay, I told myself, I need to make this to tie with Green. I took a breath and let it out as I pulled the trigger. I hit the target almost exactly where Green had hit because I knew I had to get the same points and was concentrating on his entrance hole.

  Everyone else took their shots and received their points. Blue of course got a perfect twenty-five.

  The next shot for the round started off with Brown, who was in last. Black, Green and I had tied scores, so once again we went alphabetically. All of them got scores below the perfect twenty-five. I might actually have a chance to
move on. I took my shot and claimed my twenty-five points. If I could keep this up I would beat out not just Brown but Black and Green as well, insuring myself a spot in the final round.

  My confidence started to build and the last two shots came easier. At the end of the round it was Brown and Green who were out of the running. Blue was in first place and I was still twenty-five points behind him, but I had moved to second place.

  Those of us who qualified moved back the specified one hundred yards and Brown and Green became spectators.

  Black started us off at two hundred yards. He hit the target but didn’t get enough points to keep him within fifty points of Blue.

  Next came Red. He made his twenty-five and that kept him in the running. White’s elbow slipped as he took his shot and he received zero points, pulling him out of it. My turn came and went with me still hanging in at twenty-five points behind. Blue got a perfect twenty-five again.

  Blue, Red and I moved back to the three hundred yard mark and Red took his shot. He hit the target but didn’t stay within the fifty-point range from Blue’s perfect score. It was between Blue and me now. Again, we both got our twenty-five and moved back to the four hundred yard mark. This continued until we reached six hundred yards from the target area. I made the required twenty-five but Blue missed and got zero.

  “Well, there you have it. Congratulations,” he held out his hand for me to shake.

  “No, that’s not it. We’re tied.”

  “Well, in that case, I concede. I’ve made my point anyway.”

  “I guess I don’t mind quitting at a tie,” I said.

  “No, you’ve won. I’ve conceded.” He started to walk back toward the targets.

  “Why did you quit?” It was Brown. “You do know it’s a tie now?”

  “Actually, she’s twenty-five points ahead of me, so I conceded.”

  “No, she’s not. Here’s the score sheet.” Red took out the written score he had been keeping and thrust it at Blue.

  “Red, I know you’ve been keeping good score, but I’m actually counting her first shot. If she hadn’t been disqualified with that first mistake, she would have a perfect score. Now, I think my point has been made. And before you ask, no, I didn’t miss at six hundred on purpose. I was fully prepared to go a hundred miles to prove my point that she’s a damn good shot and a natural at this.”

  I didn’t fully believe Blue when he said he didn’t miss on purpose and I felt deprived of a fair chance to beat him. Not only that, maybe I had a point to prove also.

  “Wait a minute Blue.” I said as he started to walk away. “I don’t like this. I’m not satisfied that you didn’t miss on purpose. Six hundred yards is an easy shot and you really should have made that. According to the rules we should be tied. I lost the first twenty-five because I didn’t check my weapon but if you want to count my first twenty-five points, that’s fine. That means that I am only twenty-five points ahead of you and not the recommended fifty.” I handed him the rifle. “It’s your turn because I’m in the lead.”

  “She’s right,” Black interrupted before Blue could disagree. “Let’s make this interesting though. One shot each; we live with the outcome, tie or no tie. I suggest the thousand yard challenge.”

  Yeah, right, I thought. A thousand yards, that’s over half a mile away. These guys have to be pulling my leg.

  It was quiet for a moment then Blue said, “What’s the target?”

  “The usual blank CD over the heart of the silhouette of course. We better do this one like all the rest.”

  “You’re on. I’ll get the binoculars and CD’s, you get it set up.” Blue left to retrieve the needed items while the other men readied up two targets side by side.

  When Blue returned he handed out several pairs of binoculars and handed Black the two blank compact disks for him to attach to the targets.

  While we counted off the distance I said, “You’re kidding right? Neither of us can make that shot. Are we even going to be able to see the target? The round might go that far, but it’s not going to be accurate.”

  “White and I came up with the 1000-yard challenge to keep the rest of the men from wanting their own .50 caliber rifles. The deal has always been, if you can make the shot, the company will buy you one of these puppies and they aren’t cheap. About two grand.”

  “It has to be luck then.”

  “No, these rifles are accurate up to a mile and a half. To hit a large target at a thousand yards is highly possible, but to hit the CD at a thousand yards, that’s the challenge.” Blue explained.

  “But that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ll beat you. If we both hit the target we’ll still be at only a twenty-five point difference.”

  “No one has ever beaten me at this one. It was slightly unfair of Black to suggest it, I suppose. However, if it ends up being a tie at least you’ll have had your first attempt at earning your own rifle.”

  “Assuming we both miss, then what?” I asked.

  “We will make our way back a hundred yards at a time until one of us loses. Is that acceptable to you?”

  I nodded then asked, “Did you miss on purpose at six?”

  “Not entirely on purpose. I got in a hurry. I knew I hadn’t taken enough time before I pulled the trigger, so I wasn’t surprised that I missed it but I don’t intend to miss this one.”

  We reached our distance shortly after the conversation ended. The rest of the men had followed a short ways behind us and now began to gather for the show.

  “Take your time with this shot and don’t forget to take into account for the drop in elevation and remember that the bullet will drop more than it did at six hundred.” We turned and Blue got ready to take his shot.

  I put the binoculars to my eyes and scanned for the targets. The CD’s flashed in the sunlight and I wondered if that was the reason they had chosen to add them. I waited to hear the sharp noise of the rifle but Blue was following his own advice and taking his time. When he finally pulled the trigger it caught me off guard. I jumped noticeably, but he was still peering through the scope so he didn’t see me. Hopefully the rest of the men were glued to their binoculars and didn’t notice either.

  It took a few seconds but soon I saw the CD disintegrate and it began to rain hay.

  “It’s that easy,” Blue said as he traded me the rifle for the binoculars.

  My stomach flipped with the transaction. I took a deep breath, then took my position and scanned the area for the target. When I finally saw the glint in the scope I realized how small of a target it really was. As of today, the farthest from any target I had ever been was six hundred yards and now I was almost twice as far and aiming for an even smaller target.

  “Remember, take your time, breathe evenly, and when you’re sure, fire. Don’t fire until you are sure. Don’t forget the motto, ‘One shot, one kill.’ You get sloppy when you get in a hurry. I’ve proven that once already today. I know you can do this. Just remember this rifle is the weapon you’re best at and it can easily be accurate at twice this distance.” After his pep talk I calmed down a bit and took his advice. I lay in the prone position just staring at the center of the CD for what seemed like forever. Finally I was confident enough to believe that if I pulled the trigger where the rifle was pointed I would hit my target. There were no more minute adjustments to be made in any direction. I was aimed, as far as I could tell, in the direct center of the CD. I steadied my breathing and took the shot. I felt the kick of the rifle and waited to see the reflective material disperse. Soon I saw the rain of hay, but a flash of light caught my eye, the CD was still intact. A wave of disappointment washed over me and I began to get up.

  “Let’s get back so we can see where you hit the target.” Black had come up next to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

  I just nodded my agreement and started back to the targets. The rest of the men were quiet as we walked.

  When we reached the area I could clearly see where Blue’s bullet had hit and torn the pap
er target but I didn’t see any holes in my target.

  “That’s funny.” Red had walked over to my side. “I swear I saw hay fly from the back of this target, but I don’t see an entrance.” He turned and looked at the rest of the men and they began to gather around.

  They all took a turn running their hands over the silhouette, feeling for the elusive hole.

  “You must have missed it,” Green said.

  “Just a second!” Blue was now inspecting the target and had removed the shiny CD. “Holy shit, check this out. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Again, they all gathered around and I heard them making all kinds of exclamations.

  “What?” I piped up when I could stand it no longer. I had been standing on my tiptoes trying to see over the huddled men. They all quieted down and turned to look at me.

  “You are so lucky,” Green spoke up and pointed at the hole right in the heart area. “You must have shot through the hole in the CD!” he began to laugh.

  I was awe struck. I am lucky! All the men clustered around me excitedly giving out praise and congratulations.

  “Good work, Alex.” I was rather surprised to hear such sincerity in Red’s voice with the way he had acted all day. I think it was a major turning point for him because it was the first time he had called me Alex. “That’s a hell of a story we’ve got to tell now.”

  The tone in the cabin that night was fun and light and everyone had a good time. I was beginning to feel more as if I belonged here with this bunch of men. Not one of them looked at me like I was anything but a partner in the company, White included.

  I heard stories that were hard to believe, almost as hard to believe as my shooting accomplishments earlier that day. The last time the men got into the reminiscing mood I had taken my leave of them, but the tone was different this time around. The stories were tailored to bring me into the group, filling me in on their lives within and without the company. Throughout the course of the evening I learned large amounts of each man’s past.