CH 119
The next morning they all got their full backpacks and got into the back of the trucks then they were heading to their next destination. When they got there an hour later they all got out and were given their map, instruction and compass Then all read what it saw and look at the map.
"Ok now I'm asking you all to put a blind fold on and pick out a stick with a number on it. When I take your blind fold off you start to run before I take the next person blind fold off, ok"
They put their blinds on and pick a number. Sam was fifteen. When the colonel saw who was number one he took that person blind off and he ran with his backpack in one hand and the map, instructions and compass in the other.
When Sam blind was removed she put her backpack on and then she ran around the back of the trucks and headed down to where the others went. She ran for two hours, by that time she caught up with four of them and passed them since they were walking.
Then she walked for two hours then she ran for an hour passing the next three till she came to where the river is and a large white rag hanging from the branch. Then she remembered the next instructions and looked at her compass then she started to run again for half an hour, by that time she passed one of the cadets.
When Sam stops to relieve herself and refill her canteen up again with water from the river before carrying on. She ate her lunch while walking. When she reached the first checkpoint there was a bag with her name on it so she grabbed it and opened it up and counted to see where she was in line.
When she saw that she was seventh out of fifteen, she was pleased. After reading the instructions she put her touch in her pocket then got her compass out and started running for an hour.
When it was night, there was a full moon so Sam walked for a while then when she saw one of the cadets settling down under a tree for the night she walked quickly and quietly around whoever it was and walked away, knowing she was sixth.
Sam walked till eleven o'clock then she decided to get some rest. She found a good spot and since it was a warm night she decided to sleep under a tree herself. She set her watch for five o'clock and then she lay back and got some sleep.
When her watch beeps, she turns it off and gets up and goes. She relieved herself and took a couple of mouthfuls of water before starting to walk. She walk till it was starting to become light, when she saw the next cadets sleeping in his sleeping bag.
She walked past him quietly till it was all clear, then she ran for a couple of hours then walked till she came to the next sign and turned Direction again and started walking again. By the time she rests the next cheek point she was in third place.
After she got her pack, she opened it and read where she got to go next. So she started heading that direction. Three hours later she came to a creek where she had got to go across. She stopped and took her boots and socks off then she rolled up her pants and walked across it.
When she got to the other side, she dried her legs and put her boots and socks back on then she filled both her canteens up and drank a bit from the stream before carrying on walking. That afternoon it was starting to cloud over and Sam could smell the rain coming so she walked for an hour till she found a great spot for the night.
She got her tent out and got everything set up just as it was starting to rain. So she got a small bar of soap out and she took off all her clothes and walked out into the rain, lucky it was night and she washed herself-the best she could.
Sam stood out in the rain washing herself for over half an hour. Before she got back into the tent. She dried down and got dressed then she got into her sleeping back and had something to eat and drink before getting some sleep.
The next morning Sam packs everything up before starting off again. By the time she reached the next checkpoint she was in second place.
Sam spent the whole day walking and sometimes even running. That night she walked since she wasn't tired and it was a full moon. When she saw the lead cadet sleeping, she walked around it and carries on walking till she came to a river where she drank some of the water and decided to get a few hours sleep.
The next morning she fills her canteens up before walking again. She works out that the leader is over three hours behind her although she doesn't know what time he gets up. Sam walked for three hours when she arrived at the next checkpoint.
After she got her bag and found out which way to go, she started walking again. When it came to going down hill, or up hills, Sam ran fast as she could. That night it was just after ten when she reached the last checkpoint. She got her torch out to find out which way to go and how many miles to go.
When she found out she started walking she could see the clouds in the distance so she knew she would have a couple of hours walking before she had to stop and set up camp for the night if it rains again. Sam walked for three hours when it clouded over her so she found a spot and set up her tent for the night. Not long after she got into her tent, it started raining. So she decided to get some sleep for a few hours.
When her watch beep and she woke up it was still raining outside so she looked outside to see it was going to stop. So she knew she didn't have much time so she got her rain jacket out and pack up her sleeping back and put her boots on.
When it did stop, she got out and packed up the tent then she relieved herself then got her back pack on then her rain jacket on then she started walking again. Ten minutes later it started raining again but she kept on walking.
When she reaches her destination. It was an old air force base that was closed down. Sam walked over to the building and looked around till she heard voices from one of the buildings. So she walked around the corner and saw the two trucks just outside. She walk over and into the old hanger to see colonel peters and the two drivers eating their lunch
"I hope what you are eating is better than the ration packs guys"
They all turn around in shock and Sam walk in dripping wet as she took the hood off
"Sam you're early?"
"I know is that coffee, I could do with some right now" she took the rain jacket and backpack off before sitting down. The colonel got her the drink
"Thanks" she took a sip of it and relaxes
"That feeling good, so I hope the water is hot"
"Yes it is"
"Good after this I'll go and have a hot shower"
"How far away is the next cadet?"
"My best guest some time tonight or tomorrow morning in the morning"
"Ok" They all talked for ten minutes before Sam left to have her hot shower.
When she returned in clean clothes and dry boots, she had something to eat and another cup of coffee. After she finished her lunch, she unpack her backpack and set up her tent so it would dry out and the same with the rain jacket. Once she finished there, she sat down and spoke to the guys again for the rest of the afternoon.
Later that evening the stars were out and Sam was sitting outside with a cup of coffee in hand leaning against the wall looking up at the stars. She turn her head see the colonel walking over to her
"Hey is everything ok?"
"Yeah just think"
"About what?" He sat next to her
"The air force, jack our upcoming wedding my goals and dreams"
"Ok, when is the wedding?"
"It is this time next year"
"Ah are you having a small or a big wedding?"
"Big and going to be bigger that Charles and Dianne wedding"
"Your joking, they had over what fourteen hundred guests at their wedding"
"I know, Jack and I talk about the size and we don't care but we both decided to have it out doors cause of the size of it and we going to have in at the academy since they got plenty of room for one and security for another"
"Good idea, who is going to walk you down the aisle, your dad?"
"Nope he gave up his rights few year ago, when he sign his and mum guardianship papers over to Mark"
"I'm sorry to hear that"
"It ok, at least I got family and friends who still love me for who I am and supporting me with what I'm doing with my life even though most of them don't know everything."
"I wonder if you dad saw the news about what you did?"
"Most properly but it still won't change his mind and it will take a miracle for him to change his mind on any thing"
"Ok, so mark going to walk you down the aisle?"
"No, my uncle is"
"Ok, well I'm off to bed" he got up from the ground as he let out a groan
"What wrong?"
"It just me knee, I'll be ok"
"The one you had operated on last year?"
"Yeah"
"Sit down… please"
"why?"
"You got full clearance about Jack and me"
"Yes"
"You know what I'm capable of doing," he thought about what he was told after signing the classified papers
"Yes" he sat down again and Sam put her hand onto his knee and closed her eyes.
His eyes widened when he saw her starting to glow for a few seconds then she was back to normal. When she open her eyes, she removed her hand and look at him
"What"
"When you were healing me, you were glowing"
"Really, cool" he smile then stood up
"Hey this feels great, thanks Sam"
"No worries, I better get to bed my self, every time I heal someone it tires me out" Sam stood up and wiping the dust off her pants
"Ok lets get some sleep, the rest should be here by tomorrow"
"Good idea" they walk back into the building and they walk over to where their portable cots are.
The other two officers were already in there. Once they were in bed, they said their good nights before turning off the lamp.
The next morning after breakfast Sam got her bionicles and went for a walk up the hill, she looked around to see if she could see any of the cadets. It was lunchtime and she saw three of them walking together, so she ran down the hill and over to where the colonel was. When she ran in side, she stops when the colonel looked up
"Sam what is it?"
"Three cadets will see the base in twenty minutes"
"Ok, would you like to do the honours?" Sam smile
"Love to" then she walked over and picked up an apple and put her bionicles on her cot then turned around and walked out again. When she walked over to the building where she knew they would see her when they walked around the corner. When they did Sam was sitting down eating an apple. She stood up as they walk over to her
"Hi guys what took you so long?"
"When did you get here Sam?"
"Twenty six hours ago, come on this way, there is clean clothes and a hot shower waiting for you"
"Good food?"
"Yep and coffee"
"Oh yeah I could do with some coffee right now"
"I bet, how far away is the next cadet?"
"About half an hour"
"Ok" they walk around a corner and walk into a building to see the colonel waiting for them
"I see you three finally made it well done"
"Thanks sir" they all said as they took off their backpacks.
Sam got them all cup of coffee each that they all enjoy
"I'll leave you guys to it"
"Thanks Sam" then she walked back out to the building again and waited for the next ones to show up. By that night, all by two showed up. Sam and the colonel were waiting for them to show up. It was after eight and still no sign of them.
"Colonel I'll go out and back track and take a radio with me just in case"
"Ok Sam"
They walk back to the building so Sam got get what she needed, when the others saw them they walk over to them
"Sir what going on?"
"I'm going back out and find the two missing cadets, if one is injured the other would stay if they are found together" Sam packs everything she needs to take with her, including pack of a cot. Once she got everything including a torch
"I'll call in soon as I find them"
"Good luck"
"Thanks" then she walked out again and started walking back the way she came the day before.
They all decided to take shifts on the radio till they have heard from Sam.
