Recruit

Chapter 6

Jack sat on his bunk and treated his many cuts. A small package of medical supplies had been thrown on each bunk. Jack picked through the small collection of bandages to find the best fit for the largest of his cuts. He readied the bandage and then splashed on some of the antiseptic wash.

“You were really good out there today.”

Jack looked over to Bill Harts, who was lying on the bunk next to Jack.

Jack nodded. “Thanks,” he replied.

“I can’t believe Cripps made him squad leader.”

Jack peeled the back off a bandage and placed it over one of his cuts. Torent was sitting on the other side of the bunkhouse, showing off his new badge and enjoying the attention from the recruits who were trying to ally themselves to the new squad leader.

Jack looked at Torent. It was not as though Jack had wanted the position of squad leader, but it seemed unfair of Crippin, stupid and shortsighted even, to select Torent. She had based her decision on the results of the day’s exercise. Torent had beaten Jack to the finish, but unfairly. He had scored higher in target practice, but again, only because he had caused Jack to miss.

And Jack had helped Bill Harts on the shooting range. Crippin had said he should help the others in the team; it had been her first lesson to him. Torrent had cheated his way to the head of the group. Jack watched him preening and showing off his little badge, enjoying the attention.

Torent caught Jack’s eye. He smirked at Jack, a familiar expression now, and one that sent Jack into thoughts of violence and revenge. He imagined how he would hurt that damn thief. He was undeserving of the position. Jack knew he was a better choice. He was fitter, faster, and he had an education. He was a more suitable choice and he knew it. Crippin must be an idiot if she couldn’t see it too.

“Did he trip you right in front of Cripps?”

Jack grunted and gave the slightest nod.

“She should have had Hacker taze him, not give him that badge.”

“He can keep it,” Jack said. He gathered up the medical supplies and put them back into the small package. He guessed he would need to use this again. He was going to put it out of sight. His footlocker was the obvious place for it, but it was also the most obvious place for thieves to look. He could hide the medical kit with his watch.

Jack glanced around as casually as he could, making sure no one was watching him. He slipped his hand under the threadbare sheet and his fingers searched for the small opening. He pressed his fingers inside and felt for his watch.

Panic suddenly swelled inside him. Jack felt the hot, prickly heat of fear. The watch was gone. He forgot furtive action and looked at the small hole in his mattress. He tore at it with both hands, the bandages peeling away as he searched inside for his watch. His watch. He reached deeper inside feeling for the familiar metal casing. He couldn’t lose his watch.

Jack climbed off his bunk and looked at the small tear. He looked inside.

“What you doing?” Harts asked casually.

Jack felt all over the top of his mattress, pressing his fingers into the thin padding, feeling for his watch.

His watch. He had to find his watch. How could it be gone? Had Crippin come and searched the bunkhouse while they were out training? She had not been present for the whole day. It had been Sergeant Hacker who had kept the recruits on course with only his tazer and the threat of its sting to motivate them all.

His watch. It was gone. Taken. Stolen. Jack looked around the bunkhouse at all the unfamiliar faces, people he had been thrown in with, people he had only just met, people he could not trust. People he did not like.

“Is something missing?” Harts asked. “I saw Torent looking at your mattress. Right there. That corner.”

Jack fixed Harts with a fierce look. “When?” Jack asked.

Harts backed up slightly under Jack’s harsh stare. “When you were in the bathroom, just after we got back.”

Jack looked over at Torent. He was sitting back on his bunk, picking at a small wound on his hand.

“Then I saw him doing something with the corner of his mattress. I thought he was checking to see who had the most comfortable bunk. He checked them all.”

Jack walked across the bunkhouse and straight over to Torent. The thief barely looked up.

“What do you want?” Torent said, his voice as cold as the bunkhouse floor.

Jack grabbed the corner of Torent’s mattress and felt for his watch or a tear in the stitching.

“Hey, get the krav out of here.” Torent stood up and squared off against Jack.

Jack stepped back. There was no watch or any cut in the mattress. He looked back toward Harts, who was watching with a worried expression. Harts made the slightest gesture and indicated that Jack should check the other side.

Torent’s allies were getting off their bunks and moving slowly toward Torent and Jack, drawn by the noise and the distraction.

Jack moved quickly to the other side of the bunk and grabbed the corner, feeling again for a hole.

“Get your kraving little claws off my bunk, Forge.” Torent followed Jack and grabbed him by the collar.

Jack felt his watch. He felt the cold silver on his fingertips. He wasn’t going to let Torent take it from him. Jack jerked away from Torent’s grip. He dug his fingers into the mattress and pulled the watch free. He turned and faced up to Torent, the watch held up accusingly.

“You touch anything of mine again...” Jack said.

“I didn’t put that there,” Torent replied, his familiar smirk plastered over his face.

“You are a thief, a kraving thief.” Jack held up the watch again.

Torent laughed a cold, humorless laugh. “I didn’t take that crappy piece of junk.”

“You stole my rations. You stole my watch. You stole the lead today.”

Torent’s face turned dark and hard. He stepped forward and closed in on Jack. “If I want your damn watch, I will take it. If I want your food, I will take it. If I want your blood, I will take it.” Torent shoved Jack.

“You keep out of my stuff,” Jack said with as much venom as he could muster.

“Get the krav out of my face, Forge.” Torent sat on his bunk.

Jack walked back to his bunk. He knew he needed to find somewhere else for his watch. He would have to keep it on him and just take care not to bash it. He picked up the small medical supply pack and started to work it into a protective case for his watch. He felt the adrenaline in his body, the sweat on his face, and his heavy breathing. His hands were shaking as he tried to secure his watch in a protective packet. He glanced over at Torent. The thief was resting easy on his bunk, his hands behind his head. He seemed totally unaffected by the accusation and the altercation.

Only a thief could be so calm, Jack though.

Jack tucked the wrapped watch into the pocket of his pants. Then the double-door at the end of the bunkhouse burst open. Sergeant Hacker came walking down the aisle between the bunks. He pushed the few recruits who were standing toward their bunks with one hand while the tazer burned in the other. They got the message. It was time for lights out.