Chapter Seven- Harassment Begins
The Physical Training place, was like a huge jungle gym. Tires lied by two in a long row. A long stretch of bars was over nine meters long. Then a climbing wall came after, on the top the boys would have to propel themselves down. After that three rifles lied still, off a few meters stood three targets. Each boy would have to hit one of them, and they would have to run ten miles. Five of the miles would be swimming.
Generals and soldiers gradually became to come. Once everyone was there, the instructions were given. Then the final words was said.
"Go!" a general cried.
The twenty five men ran through the obstacle course. Danny and Rafe led the group. Danny could feel his uncle's eyes on him. Which made him shake. Finally he came to running the miles.
Even though he was tired, Danny ran like his father was chasing him. Rafe wasn't to far behind. After the five miles, the lake came up. With out hesitating, Danny dived in the frigid water. As he looked up when he took a breath, he saw the sun dipping into the horizon. Soon, he saw the land, that would have their reward. Showers and dinner. Danny's stomach rumbled for the food.
He swam up to shore, drenched and cold. A general stood their with a wide smile on his face.
"Good job Walker. Go take a shower and eat."
"Thank you sir," Danny said out of breath.
Danny walked over to the showers as he draped off his clothes a ton of frigid water poured down on his bare back. Chills crawled up his spine. He turned around to turn the warm water. No warm water came out. He heard a second shower running, he looked over to see Rafe.
"Aw...a nice warm shower." Rafe ranted.
"Yours is warm?" Danny asked trying to ignore the coldness running down on his body.
"All of them are warm Danny." Rafe said.
"Oh." Danny said.
He decided to go to another shower stall. But they were all taken. Mumbling he crawled under the cold water. Finally after a minute of the water, he turned it off.
He slipped on his clothes. And headed for the dining hall, were the smell of hot foods simmered the air. Danny felt his mouth begin to fill with drool. He walked into the line. He reached over to table full of trays and grabbed one.
He went through a strip of café ladies. Each one was cranky and served him a pile of junk. Danny looked behind the ladies, and saw roast beef and mash potatoes. How his mouth yearned for them.
"Can I have that behind you Ma'am?" Danny asked.
"No! Those are for the generals." the lady snapped.
Danny shrugged and walked to a table. He hoped the food was warm, because his body was so cold. Rafe came up, with his tray. He had a wide smile on his face.
"Man, that shower was so nice." he said plopping down in the seat across Danny.
"Yeah right," Danny mumbled.
Danny felt a twinge of jealously, he wished his shower could of been warm and cozy. He stared at his pile of mush. For once he was afraid to eat something. Goose, Red, and Anthony came and sat with them.
"Hey Danny, you went pretty fast for just injuring your leg just a month ago." Anthony said with a smile.
Danny nodded as he stirred around a mound of red glob. As Rafe shoved a spoonful of food in his mouth he looked at Danny.
"What's wrong? You're hardly eating." he asked.
"I'm not very hungry." Danny said.
He stood up and put his tray in the garbage. Rafe shot him a strange look.
"You sure you feeling alright? You usually love eating."
"I don't tonight." Danny said sticking hands in his pockets and walking away.
He went out the back doors to the home quarters. Outside everything was dark. And the air was cold. Danny could see his breath. Before long he was in the warmth of the building.