Annihilation Prequel - Psychic Beginnings (13 page)

The platoon turned eleven miles and many were starting to stumble. They heard AG in front yelling, “You can do this. You must believe in yourself and your team. Don’t give in.”

Don Stuart’s ribs were causing him agony. He yelled, “Gardner, my ribs are killing me.”

AG ran back and said, “When you have a Vietcong bullet through your shoulder, you’re going to have to forget the pain to save yourself. Can you run for your life if you had no other choice? Could you? I know you have it in you.”

The rest of the platoon stared chanting, ‘Stuart, Stuart, Stuart…”

Don heard them and forgot his pain, “I’m back with you. Let’s do this thing together.”

The other runners heard Don and grew strength from his courage. They turned the thirteen mile marker and no one had dropped out. Frank watched his men run and saw the difference Gardner was making. He was humbled by what he was witnessing. He looked across the parade ground and saw hundreds of boots running out. Word had spread that a platoon was into the last mile and had not lost a man. They came running up and started cheering them on. The roar grew and soon all the boots were there not believing what they were witnessing. The platoon’s time was four minutes faster than any other platoon’s and they were down to the last eight hundred yards.

Suddenly, Angel Avielle passed out and started to fall. Clarke reached over and grabbed him by his shoulder. Rory grabbed his other shoulder with his good arm and they pulled him toward the finish line. The platoon crossed the finish line and every one of them collapsed to the ground unable to move. AG sat on the ground smiling and said, “I knew you could do it. I’m so proud of you.”

Major Hamlin was there watching the unbelievable happen and saw the platoon’s pride at what the private had said. This private was someone that needed to be watched. He was something different. He turned to Frank and said, “Congratulations, Sergeant. I’m impressed with the private that led them.”

Frank smiled and said, “Sir, we have all been impressed by Private Gardner.”

The platoon was lifted by the other boots and carried to the water barrels. They all knew that this platoon’s accomplishment would be remembered by other classes and they were a part of that success. Weber’s platoon would no longer be last but were given the first place ranking until another platoon beat their accomplishment. Weber knew that would never happen.

• • •

The next morning, Frank went out and found his platoon waiting in ranks for their morning run. He was shocked. They had been given the day off in recognition of their accomplishment. He went over and said, “What are you doing out here. You’ve been given the day off for free time.”

Clarke yelled out from the ranks, “You don’t get better by being lazy, Sir.”

Frank smiled and said, “Gardner, I’ll take them out.”

“Sir, yes Sir.” AG moved into the ranks and promptly disappeared from Frank’s view. “How in the heck does he do that?”

The other platoons watched them pass and heard them singing out their songs to keep cadence. They could see the pride the group felt and they knew something special had happened in Sgt. Weber’s Platoon. Everyone knew they had been given the day off but chose to run instead. A legend began that day of a private that was more than just a soldier. The code of a warrior started circulating among the other platoons. Gardner was a name they all vowed to watch.

• • •

“Congratulations, Gardner.”

“Thank you, Sergeant. You’ve been a great help.”

“Now we both know better than that. However, there is the one remaining detail.”

AG stared at Frank, “And that would be…”

“I have a nephew here in training. He’s assigned to Sergeant Dolan’s platoon. His name is Charles Weston and I just want one thing from you.”

“I know him.”

“You do?”

“I met him on the bus ride here. Boy can he talk.”

Frank smiled, “Charlie has never met a stranger. Gardner, I am pulling strings to get the two of you assigned to the same platoon. I want your promise to see that he comes home alive.”

AG slowly shook his head, “That is not something I can control, Sergeant.”

“Gardner, I think you control more things than I know but I want your promise you’ll take care of him.”

AG slowly shook his head and said, “I’ll do what I can but I don’t control destiny.”

“That’s not good enough. I want your promise.”

AG stared Frank in the eyes and finally said, “I promise to do all I can to make sure he comes home. I can’t do more than that.”

Frank put out his hand and said, “That’s good enough for me. Good luck. My sister would never forgive me or herself if something happened to Charlie. I’m getting you out of here tonight, the Major wants to discuss Officer Candidate School with you and I think I know what your answer will be.”

“I’m not ready for that.”

“I thought you’d say that. You and Charlie will be out at eight this evening. I have you on a cargo plane headed to Nam. Look for Sergeant Major Omaha when you arrive.”

“I don’t get time to go home before I ship out?”

“You can go home if you want but you’ll end up in O.C.S. if you stick around.”

AG missed Cynthia but she was in her first week at Harvard and he knew she wouldn’t really have much time for him. “Where’s the bus?”

Frank smiled, “You can’t miss it. C-124 parked next to the service hangar.”

AG nodded and stuck out his hand. Frank shook it and said, “Keep me in the loop on what’s happening.”

“I’ll do what I can Sergeant. Would you do me a favor?”

“What is that?”

“I have a package being shipped here; can you make sure I get it?”

“I will. I know how to make that happen. What’s in it?”

AG smiled, “My knives.”

Frank slowly shook his head and said, “Good-luck, keep your head down.”

AG smiled and headed toward the runway.

• • •

Cynthia was on her bed studying her assignments from the first day of class. She had spoken to AG for an hour and she missed him so much. She felt her tears and wiped them away; first chemistry. She heard the screams from other freshmen women outside her door that were being selected by sororities for membership. No one had approached her and truth be told, most of them actively avoided her. None of them wanted a plain Jane in their ranks. She thought about it and wondered if she had made a good decision about her appearance. She got up after an hour and walked over to the student center and ordered a salad and lemonade. The two girls in front of her in the line were approached by several fraternity members and pressured to come to their frat house on the weekend. They wouldn’t take no for an answer and the two freshmen finally relented and agreed to go. The two girls were quite pretty and she noticed that one of them glanced at her and turned his head quickly. Cynthia decided that it was the large black rim glasses that did the trick. Now she was certain she had made a good decision. She went back to her books and the next day impressed her professors with her knowledge if not her appearance. She was off and running at Harvard.

Four weeks into her first quarter, Cynthia had made a friend of another girl who was also a plain Jane but was brilliant in the arts. It was a match made in heaven in that each of them complimented each other. Cynthia helped her with chemistry and Emily helped her with art and language classes.

They sat in the student center between classes as students rushed by. Emily observed that they were ignored by almost every male that walked by. She smiled and said, “How many dates have you been asked out on?”

Cynthia concentrating on a quiz said, “None; I have a boyfriend.”

Emily moved her gaze way from the passing students and said, “Oh you do?”

Cynthia heard her tone and looked up. “Yes, I do.”

“Got a picture?” Cynthia knew that if she showed Emily her picture of AG, she would be in it in her normal appearance. “Well, do you?”

Cynthia took a deep breath and said, “Emily, can I trust you with something very important?”

Emily sat back in her chair and said, “Now you’re worrying me.”

“Do you have a roommate?”

“Uhhh…not right now but the list begging to join me is too long to really get through it before I graduate.”

“In other words, you don’t.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Would you like to move in with me?”

“Well heck yeah; but why all the drama?”

“You know that when the second quarter starts we will be assigned roommates. I want mine to be someone I trust.”

“Well, you know you can trust me. You’ve been the only real friend I’ve found here.”

“Do you promise to keep a secret if I share it with you?”

“As long as you’re not going to break a law, sure.”

Cynthia opened her purse and took out a picture and handed it to Emily. “That’s my boyfriend.”

“Wow, he’s a looker. Who’s that with him?”

Cynthia watched her face closely and said, “That is me.”

Emily’s mouth fell open. She looked at the picture and then at Cynthia. Cynthia took off the huge black rimmed glasses and looked at her. “Oh my God! What are you doing?”

Cynthia put her glasses back on and looked over at the serving line in the cafeteria. “There’s Tara Grey. Watch what happens.”

Emily watched as four fraternity boys ran up to carry her tray. Cynthia said, “Five of the frats are vying to get her to declare herself as their freshman sweetheart.”

Emily looked back at Cynthia and said, “The girl in this photo is a lot prettier than Tara.”

“And is totally in love with a man off fighting in Vietnam. Dressing this way saves a lot of feelings.”

Emily said, “A new roommate would know what you’re doing. They would see you when you changed clothes or went to bed.” Cynthia nodded. Emily looked down and said, “I’d give anything to be as pretty as you.”

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Em. Tara is in my history class and if she doesn’t start devoting time to study, she won’t be anybody’s sweetheart here for very long.”

“The Sorority will tutor her when things get really tough; but you’re right, her play time is limited.” Emily looked at Cynthia and said, “I’ll move my things in this weekend.”

“I’ll notify the Dorm Monitor of the change. I really appreciate it, Em.”

“Not to worry. We’ll march our way through Harvard and no one will notice.”

“You may not believe it, but that would be a blessing.”

T
he flight to Vietnam took five days. Frank didn’t tell AG that there would be a three day layover in Hawaii. He and Charlie were put up in a hotel and they spent two days lying on the beach. AG looked out at the waves breaking and smiled. Hawaii was just as beautiful as he had heard. Charlie sat next to him talking away. Finally, AG said, “Did your uncle tell you what he made me promise?”

Charlie stopped in mid-sentence and said, “He did.”

“And?”

“I think it was unfair to put that pressure on you.”

AG turned his chair and stared at Charlie, “The only way I’m going to make that happen is for you to agree to several things up front. If you don’t, I’m probably going to fail in my promise.”

Charlie said, “What things?”

“First, you have got to learn to shut up and observe what’s happening around you.” Charlie started to protest but AG continued, “You are thinking about what you’re saying when you’re talking and not paying attention to what’s around you.”

Charlie thought a moment and said, “Go on.”

AG smiled, “Good, that’s a start. You use a hundred words to say three. If it doesn’t need to be said, don’t say it.” Charlie nodded but AG could tell he was starting to get angry. “Next, you will train with me every day on skills that you’ll need to survive.”

“Every day?”

“Yes, every day. Some days that training will happen after a long tiring day of patrol or kitchen detail. However, there will be no avoiding our training time. You must participate in the training without me having to remind you.”

“What else?”

“You will not allow yourself to complain about that training but will do all in your power to embrace it and look forward to it.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“I’m going to make you a warrior, Charlie. You are going to become a very dangerous man and you are going to learn to use your talents wisely.”

Charlie stared at AG and AG continued, “Wisdom comes from learning; not educating everyone else about what you know. You do that by watching and paying attention.”

“Uncle Frank says you are the best soldier he has ever seen.”

“It kinda makes you want to know how I do it, doesn’t it?”

Charlie started to speak but nodded instead.

AG smiled, “You learn quickly.”

Charlie turned back to watching the waves roll in and thought about what AG said. Charlie looked to his left and saw a young woman sun bathing. She looked at him and smiled. AG said, “She’s interested in you, Charlie. You’ve been talking so much you didn’t see her trying to get your attention.” Charlie turned and looked at him with a furrowed brow. “She was twenty yards further up the beach but moved closer to see if you would notice her. Why don’t you go and offer to get her a drink from the bar?”

Charlie looked at AG and said, “I’m already seeing benefits from your advice.”

“You need to determine all you can about her before you tell her anything about you.”

Charlie smirked and said, “Keeping my mouth shut won’t be easy.”

“It will if you really want to learn about her. Give it a go.”

Charlie got up and walked over. AG saw him say something to her and she nodded, got up, and went with him to the bar. Two hours later, AG saw them walking back. She was holding Charlie’s hand.

• • •

Danang Air Base looked like controlled mayhem. AG looked out the window of the C-124 and saw a long line of aircraft waiting their turn to land. The line disappeared in the distance and the numbers on the ground were staggering. Helicopter gunships looked like a swarm of dragonflies taking off and landing without an end in sight. The cargo Sergeant said, “More than ten thousand landings will take place today.”