Chapter 47
Jacob and Embry stared out after the train until it was completely gone from their site. By then, most of the families had left the terminal and were returning home or going directly to church to pray for their sons. Neither of them could believe this was really happening. They couldn't believe they hadn't been able to stop them. The thought had occurred to Jacob that he and Embry should have taken the boys back by force, but he realized, the way those trigger happy beasts were aiming, all of them would have been shot at. Jacob and Embry may have been alright, but Embry Jr. and Kevin? No. The two of them finally left the terminal and started walking through the city with their heads held down. Several people stared at them, surprised and, in some cases, disgusted, by their traditional dress. They finally started running when they were out of the city.
Back home, Renesmee had woken up to Jacob making a lot of noise. She was so tired that she barely got out her question, but when Jacob told her the boys had run away, she was suddenly wide awake. She tried to follow after him, but when she got outside, Jacob and Embry were already running at top speed. She went back inside to the letter that was tossed on the kitchen table and fell to her knees when she read it. This couldn't be, she thought to herself. Her son couldn't have enlisted. He was just a boy! She realized Kevin mentioned Embry was joining him so Renesmee went outside and ran up the hill to Embry's and Caevia's house. She let herself into the house, found the other letter Embry Jr. had written and grabbed it, and went upstairs where she heard Bayaq, Taraq and Gaeli all crying and found Caevia in the nursery trying to calm them.
"Caevia," Renesmee said and Caevia looked around at Renesmee not appearing any more than frustrated.
"Renesmee, what's going on? Embry came barging into our room for clothes and ran out without a word. The noise scared the children."
Renesmee held out the letter she'd found. "The boys," Renesmee was barely able to get out. "They enlisted in the army and ran away."
"What?!" Caevia grabbed the letter Renesmee offered and read it. It was far more brief than Kevin's letter had been. Embry's only read:
Mom and Dad,
Kevin and I are going to war. We love you and we'll be home before you know it.
Embry
Caevia started shaking. Whether it was from pure fear, unbridled rage, or both, she wasn't entirely sure. "What do we do?" Caevia finally managed to say.
"I think Jacob and Embry are running to the city to get them. If they can convince the army that the boys are too young, I think we'll be able to get them back home." That's what Renesmee said out loud. All though, she knew more than anyone, that probably wasn't going to happen.
"Oh, God, Renesmee," Caevia finally started crying when the rage and sorrow finally welled up just a little too much. All the children, hearing the commotion, came to the nursery to check on Caevia.
"Mom, what's the matter?" Aidie asked.
"Your brother," Caevia started, "he's run away," she was able to choke out.
"Ran away?!" Aidie yelled.
"But why?" Jae asked. "Why?" Rae stepped forward and grabbed the paper Caevia was holding and read it. Then she looked at her siblings.
"He's going to Europe. He's fighting just like Seth," she said.
"But how?" Aidie asked. Then she went to her mother and started patting her head reassuringly. "Don't worry, mommy, when they know they're just 14, they'll get sent right back!" she answered confidently.
"I hope so," Caevia managed.
Jae left the group and found his bike while everyone stayed with Caevia. Eventually, everyone came outside and, noticing their distress, asked what the matter was. Upon hearing the news, they all made the same pleas. 'There's no way they'll go. The army will send them back'. 'The boys are far too young, they'll be sent back'. Soon after, Jacob and Embry returned to the village, but they returned without the boys. And when Renesmee saw Jacob's face, she knew. It was that look that had no business marring his face: defeat. Seeing it now was like rubbing salt in her wounds. When Jacob finally reached Renesmee, what little composure he had left was gone and he took Renesmee in his arms so the two could cry. Caevia and Embry did the same.
"I'm so sorry," Jacob forced through his raspy voice. "I couldn't stop them." Renesmee ran her fingers through Jacob's short hair, trying to comfort him while she pushed thoughts of 'I love you' into his mind. Suddenly, Jacob pulled away and looked like he was angry.
"Jacob?" Renesmee asked.
"The Meat Monger," he practically hissed.
"What?" Renesmee asked again.
"They go over there all the time," Jacob said and looked in the direction of town. "If anyone would have known about this, it's that bastard."
"Jacob, calm down," Renesmee attempted, but it was in vain.
"Quil!" Jacob yelled and Quil stepped forward. "I need you to become a wolf one more time and run to Alaska to tell the Cullens what happened. I need to deal with the Meat Monger."
"Yes, Jacob," Quil answered. Before leaving, he went to Claire, gave her a kiss, gave their son Henry a kiss on the head, and shifted into a wolf and made a mad dash for Alaska based on Jacob's memory of how to get there. In the meantime, Jacob looked right at Embry.
"I'm going to the General Store," he said.
"Jacob, if Hailey knew, he would have told us," Renesmee grabbed Jacob's arm and pleaded. "Why would he lie to us about something like this?"
"He'll have three minutes to answer me before my hand crushes his throat," Jacob barked and pulled away from Renesmee with Embry following.
Leah was on her way to the tribe for the morning riding her bike. As she went along, she saw Jae going past her. She tried to get his attention, but he completely ignored her and went past her. So Leah turned around to follow. Jae went to Hailey's house first, but when he wasn't there, Jae went straight to the General Store. When he reached it, he practically tossed his bike to the side as he hopped off and ran up the stairs into the store. He burst through the doors and saw Hailey was in the back. Mitch was up front.
"Jae, what brings you here so early?" Mitch asked. Jae didn't answer and was about to go to the back, but Hailey came up front having seen Jae.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Hailey asked,
"Embry and Kevin," Jae panted, still catching his breath from the desperate bike ride to the shop. "They ran away. They joined the army."
"What?!" Hailey and Mitch yelled.
"That's impossible," Hailey continued. "They're too young."
"Jae," Leah said, running into the shop behind him. "Jae, why didn't you answer me when I called you?"
"Kevin and Embry ran away!" Jae repeated.
"Ran away? What are you talking about?" Leah asked.
"They ran away to join the army! They're going to Europe!" Jae said.
"Is that possible?" Leah asked. "Why didn't anyone tell us?" Suddenly, the doors flew open again, causing the right door to break and the bell above it to fly off. Screaming came from outside as Jacob and Embry came inside and went straight for Hailey. Then Jacob grabbed Hailey's shirt, lifted him 3 feet above the ground and slammed him against the wall, which did form a crack in the wood. A number of people came running in screaming and telling someone to get the sheriff claiming, 'the Indians have gone mad'.
"Hailey!" Leah screamed and Jae ran over and started hitting Jacob's hip with his clenched fists.
"Uncle Jacob, stop!" Jae yelled, but Jacob ignored both of them. Jae went around to his father begging he make Uncle Jacob stop, but Embry grabbed Jae's arm and held him firm.
"How long did you know about this?" Jacob asked pointedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hailey managed even with Jacob's clenched, gripping his shirt, fists were being shoved into his neck.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Jacob yelled in Hailey's face. "Embry and I just saw our sons get on a train to go to war! The bastards had the nerve to tell me my son was born 1896!"
"Someone stop him!" a bystander screamed.
"Jacob, that's not possible," Hailey forced out.
"You're damn straight it's not fucking possible, yet I saw it happen with my own eyes!" Jacob screamed. Finally, the sheriff barged into the store, gun ready and aimed at Jacob.
"Step away from Mr. Dauer!" the Sheriff yelled.
"Jacob, please, put him down! We didn't know about this!" Leah screamed.
"Well, someone had to!" Jacob yelled back and finally dropped Hailey on the floor. Hailey took a moment to catch his breath while Leah and Jae went to him to make sure he was okay.
"What is all this about?" the sheriff asked.
"Our sons just got on a train for war!" Jacob yelled back at the sheriff. The woman up front, the mayor's wife, Mrs. Pierce, shook her head.
"That's ridiculous! We would have never permitted it! Those boys aren't of age."
"Well, tell that to the fucking officer! He said the boy's papers claimed they were born 1896!"
"That's impossible!" Mrs. Pierce repeated. "We all know those boys! I promise you that my husband's employees would have never allowed those boys to sign up."
"Well, they did!" Embry yelled.
"Please," Mrs. Pierce took a deep breath to calm down and held her hands up defensively. "I'm sure there must be some mistake. Come with me to City Hall and we'll find out what happened. I'm sure it's simply a mix up."
"It had better be," Jacob said coldly and it made Mrs. Pierce take a nervous step back, but she made sure it didn't last. If what Jacob and Embry were saying were true, then she could fully understand their anger. Right now, she needed to 1) get them to calm down and 2) find out what caused this, frankly, nonsensical error and have it corrected right away.
Mrs. Pierce led Jacob and Embry to City Hall. Hailey and Leah followed as did Jae. When they arrived, there was a young man at the desk and he smiled when he saw Mrs. Pierce, but went cold when he saw Jacob and Embry.
"Joseph, dearest," Mrs. Pierce said when they reached the man's desk. "There appears to have been a misunderstanding. Jacob and Embry here are claiming their sons were accepted into the military and are being sent to Europe."
"Of course not," Joseph sent. "They're underage."
"That's what we kept saying," Jacob said, "and yet the fucking officer kept holding a gun on us!"
"Jacob, please," Mrs. Pierce requested, and then looked at Joseph. "As I said, there's obviously been a terrible mistake. Are you sure those two weren't here recently?"
"No ma'am, I never saw them," Joseph said. "I've been here all day every day and I've not seen them once. The only time I see them is when they're at the General Store."
"The officer called them Kevin Black and Embry Call," Jacob said.
"Please check," Mrs. Pierce requested. So Joseph started rummaging through all his papers. They had only a handful of men that had actually come to sign up. All the others had been drafted. He looked at the paperwork for the dozen men that had volunteered of their own accord, their age be damned. No Kevin Black or Embry Call.
"I'm sorry, but they're not here," Joseph said.
"Then how did they sign up?" Jacob asked cruelly.
"Did they go to the city to do it?" Embry suggested.
"How would they even do that?" Hailey spoke up. "The city's 56 miles away. Even with a horse, it would take them three hours to get there, sign up, and another three hours to get back."
"Check," Jacob demanded. Mrs. Pierce looked at Joseph.
"Can we call City Hall in Port Angeles? Ask for Kevin Black and Embry Call."
"Yes, ma'am," Joseph answered and rolled over to the phone they had. It was a brand new phone too. Joseph looked through their papers for the correct contact number for City Hall and dialed it once he found it. He held the incoming speaker to his ear remaining close to the portion he spoke into and waited a moment for someone to answer. "Hello?" he said when someone answered. "Yes, my name is Joseph Lampert. I'm with the City Hall in Forks Washington-," there was a momentary silence, "it's a town south west of you on the coast," Joseph answered. "The reason I'm calling is there appears to have been a big misunderstanding and we have two men here claiming their sons were accepted into the Army wrongfully. They gave you guys the names Kevin Black and Embry Call, we're being told."
There was another long moment of silence as the man Joseph spoke to asked him to hold on while he searched through the paperwork. After about 10 minutes of waiting in silence and Jacob and Embry becoming more and more impatient as the minutes slugged along, the man finally returned to the phone and confirmed that, indeed, they did have a Kevin Black and Embry Call come in just two days or so ago that had signed up to join the military and were being shipped to their assigned military base for basic training as they spoke. Joseph was speechless.
"No," he finally began, "no, sir, you don't understand, those two are 13 and 14. You need to have them sent back."
"Our papers show they're both 19 and 20,"the man answered. "We were told July and October 1896. Those boys are old enough to fight. Black claimed said he'd not received his draft card and came in personally to sign up and correct the oversight. Good young man. The other one, Call, he's a different matter. Frankly, we don't usually take redskins, but we made an exception."
"No, sir, you're not listening to me," Joseph pleaded. "The two of them lied about their ages. You need to send them back."
"Do you have proof they're underage?" That was enough to send Jacob into a rage when he heard that and he screamed from across the room.
"How about their fathers' word!" Jacob yelled. "I made that boy and God Damn it I was there when he was born! And he was born 1903! So was Embry! Now send them back you shit!" Joseph jumped and the man on the other line seemed to sigh.
"You'll forgive me, but I need a little more than a grown man throwing a temper tantrum,"the man said condescendingly and that was the last straw. Jacob leaped over the desk and grabbed the phone from Joseph and pushed him aside, slamming him against the wall. Everyone came around to attend to him and to try to get Jacob under control, but it was like trying to calm an angry bull.
"If you want a 'temper tantrum' I'll give you a temper tantrum," Jacob yelled in Quileute.
"Sir, I don't understand your redskin moon speak. I'm going to need you to form proper words."
"How's this for 'proper words', you shit eating cunt! You will send our sons home or mark my words by the all might God you pray to that I'll see you scalped and hang your rotting skin on my wall!" There was suddenly silence on the other end, indicating the man had hung up the phone. "Answer me!" Jacob yelled, not realizing the man wasn't there anymore. Mrs. Pierce took the phone and listed a moment.
"Jacob, he hung up," she answered. Finally, her husband came downstairs, having her the ruckus.
"What in the hell is going on down here?!"
"Darling," Mrs. Pierce stepped forward. "Darling, there's been a dreadful mistake. Somehow, Embry Jr. and Kevin got to Port Angeles and they signed up for the Army."
"Darling, don't be ridiculous," the Mayor said. "How would they even get to Port Angeles? I'm sure we would have noticed. And besides, they're far too young for that."
"That's what we thought, but we just called City Hall there and they confirmed Kevin and Embry signed up under the names Kevin Black and Embry Call. They're saying they claimed they're 19 and 20 and that we needed proof they aren't the right age."
"Birth certificates," the Mayor suddenly suggested. "Kevin has a birth certificate at least, does he not?"
"That's right," Jacob said, finally feeling a glimmer of hope. "Of course, Kevin's birth certificate!"
"I'll get you to Port Angeles myself," Hailey said. "If we hurry, they can wire the Base they're being sent to and they'll have the boys sent right back."
"What about Embry?" Embry Sr. asked. "That helps Kevin, but Embry doesn't have a birth certificate."
"Fuck," Jacob muttered to himself. Then he looked at the Mayor. "Is there any way you can all help us?"
"I'm sorry, but no," the Mayor said. "We weren't even living here in 1903. For Embry, our best bet is enough witnesses."
"We'll bring Mitch," Hailey spoke up. "He used to visit the village frequently. He'll be able to attest when Caevia was pregnant and when she'd had Embry."
"I need to find Kevin's birth certificate," Jacob said and he ran out the door and started running, with little regard for those around him, back to the village.
"We'll meet you at the store," Embry said before following after Jacob. Hailey looked after them, then looked at Jae, who was pulling on his arm.
"I'm sorry about that, Uncle Hailey," Jae said. "I know you would've told us if you knew."
"Don't worry about it," Hailey said, petting Jae's head. "Don't worry about it," he repeated. Back at the tribe, Jacob ran right up to Renesmee who was in the midst of being comforted by Sara, William and Sokajili as well as a number of other people also surrounding Caevia.
"Renesmee," Jacob said when he reached Renesmee and came to a halt. "Renesmee, where's Kevin's birth certificate? The mayor said we might be able to get Kevin sent back if we can prove he's 13."
"It's in the safe in the study," Renesmee answered, realizing that was definitely a possibility. She and Jacob went to their house to the study and Renesmee looked for the safe they kept all the legal documents in, including the children's birth certificates, and pulled out Kevin's. "Here," Renesmee handed over the birth certificate and Jacob ran out of the house with it.
Jacob and Embry ran back to the General Store where Hailey and Mitch already had the horses set up. It would be much faster to go on horseback, so a few people provided their horses to assist. Jacob and Embry got on the horses and followed Hailey and Mitch to the city, leaving Jae with Leah. The run by horse took them two hours to reach the city and another 10 minutes to find city hall. Hailey tied the horses to available poles and they went inside with Jacob and Embry following behind Mitch and Hailey. There were some stares at the strange Indians, but since they were with Hailey and Mitch, no one said anything and ignored them. When they walked in, they went right to the front counter.
"Can I help you?" the man asked. Jacob recognized the voice instantly and slammed, not placed but slammed, Kevin's birth certificate on the man's desk.
"How's this for proof you rat-faced son of a bitch?" Jacob barked and made the man jump. Everyone started staring and the man calmed and rolled closer, realizing who the man was.
"John," he called over his shoulder. "This is the man I'd told you about that threatened to scalp me."
"I'll call security," John answered, but Jacob wouldn't tolerate being ignored.
"Look at the God Damned birth certificate!" Jacob yelled, scaring everyone in the building. "This, right here, proves Kevin's only 13, as we were telling you. And this man," he pointed at Mitch, "can attest that Embry was only born summer 1903. Now you call wherever they're being sent and you tell them to bring our boys back!" The man looked at Jacob a moment and took the birth certificate. He took one look at it and almost laughed.
"All this proves, sir, is that a young man named Kevin William isn't old enough to serve. This says nothing about a Kevin Black."
"Black isn't his real name!" Jacob yelled. "His name is Kevin William. He doesn't have a surname."
"According to this, the young man you're referring to is a Mr. Kevin William. William is his surname."
"No, it's his middle name!" Jacob yelled back.
"Sir, there can be no 'middle' name without a surname. That's why it's called a 'middle' name. Does that make sense, boy?"
"Don't you 'boy' me, you ignorant fuck! I happen to know that a surname comes from the father and since I don't have a surname, neither does Kevin! He gave you a false name!"
"Well, sir," the man continued rather rudely, "you can't prove he did and this birth certificate only proves your son, Kevin William, is too young to fight. And frankly, I don't care what that man behind you 'says' he knows. Unless you can prove those boys are underage, then they're going to fight, just like all the other brave young men. End of discussion and end of story."
"Don't dismiss me!" Jacob yelled. "Where are you fucks sending my son?!"
"That's classified information that you're not privy to."
"Like fuck I'm not 'privy' to it! You're sending my 13 year old to war!"
"John, get security," the man said and John ran from the office to get security.
"Jacob, we need to leave," Mitch said.
"No!" Embry yelled and stepped forward. "We are not leaving until you order our sons home!"
"Embry!" Mitch said, trying to step in before security arrived, but security did arrive and they grabbed all four men and began dragging them outside. Jacob forced the two men holding him back off him and grabbed his son's birth certificate. When the men tried to grab him again, he elbowed the one to his left in the nose and punched the man to his right in the nose. Both men fell to the ground screaming from the pain of broken noses and everyone was at attention. Jacob was about to step forward when he heard the clip of six guns get pulled from behind him.
"One more step and we blow your brains onto the floor, Squaw," one of the guards said. Jacob stared the man in front of him down a moment before he started stepping back.
"You mark my words," Jacob began. "If those boys don't come home alive, you'll have a nice swing from our 'hanging tree'." Jacob finally turned around and started walking out. Embry forced himself free of the guards holding him while Mitch and Hailey were dragged out of City Hall and not released until they were outside.
Jacob felt so defeated. He'd been sure that would work. But now he had to return home to Renesmee and explain he'd failed. He couldn't even go after them himself because he didn't know where they were being sent. By the time they had any hope of receiving a letter from Kevin or Embry, they would certainly have already been deployed. Jacob stared at the horse and just stood where he was like a statue. Finally, Hailey stepped forward.
"I'm sorry," Hailey said. "I swear, I didn't know about this."
"I know," Jacob said. "Why?" he asked after a moment.
"Why what?"
"Why would they do this?"
"I don't know," Hailey said.
"Kevin wrote that it would make things better for us all. How is that?"
"Make things better?" Hailey raised an eyebrow. "What would he need to make better?"
"I was hoping you knew," Jacob said solemnly. He looked at the birth certificate in his hand. The stupid thing had one job: prove Kevin's age. Worthless thing hadn't even done that. "Let's just go back," he finally said.
They all got on their respective horses and rode back to Forks. Embry and Jacob were silent as the grave for the trip back. It was the most useless the two of them had felt in their whole lives. What was worse, at least in Jacob's mind, was the fact that he'd not even been able to really say goodbye. He remembered when he'd left that night to go on patrol, he'd told Kevin goodnight like he did all his kids, but that was it. There was no hug, no reassuring words, nothing. When they finally returned well into the afternoon, the looks on their faces was all the people needed to know the boys were gone and they weren't coming home unless in a body bag, or when the war was over. Jacob and Embry returned home with Jae and when they returned, Kyle ran up to Jacob.
"Dad," Kyle said. "I need to talk to you."
"What is it?" Jacob asked, his voice barely audible. Ever since Renesmee had seen the note Kevin wrote, the guilt had been eating away at him and Kyle couldn't take it anymore.
"I knew," Kyle finally said. Jacob didn't immediately realize what Kyle meant.
"You what?"
"I knew," Kyle repeated. "I knew what Kevin and Embry were doing. I heard it in Kevin's mind. He made me swear not to tell anyone." Jacob was silent. Kyle looked up at Jacob and the look he saw scared him more than any look he'd seen before. This wasn't a face he'd ever seen before. He'd known when he was in trouble. But this? This was beyond 'being in trouble'.
"You knew about this?" Jacob muttered.
"And you didn't tell us?" Embry added.
"He told me to keep it a secret," Kyle said and started stepping back. Jacob and Embry were both shaking. Renesmee came forward, having already been told about this.
"Jacob, calm down," she said.
"Calm down? Kyle knew Kevin and Embry were running away and you want me to calm down?" Jacob said a little calmer than would have been expected. Even Renesmee had never seen Jacob this angry and it was beginning to scare even her. "Embry and I ran into the city, were nearly shot by soldiers that wouldn't let us take our sons off the train, then go to Forks' City Hall to find out the boys signed up in the city, then we go to the city, show proof Kevin's underage to be turned away at gunpoint, and you expect me to remain calm!" Jacob was finally screaming now.
"Who else knew about this?" Embry demanded.
"It was just me," Kyle answered. "I swear, I was the only one that knew. No one else did."
"Do you realize what you've done?" Jacob asked, speaking in a voice that was, once again, chillingly calm. "Your brother and Embry are going into Trench Warfare. Have you been reading the paper? Do you understand what that means?" Kyle was beginning to cry, but he nodded.
"Yes, sir," he managed through a frog that seemed to be forming in his throat.
"Those two could be shot, they could be bombed, poisoned, you name it. It's bad enough Seth was sent," Jacob said.
"Why didn't you stop them?" Embry yelled.
"By the time I knew about it, it was too late," Kyle said. "I didn't find out about it until they'd already signed up. Even if I'd told you-"
"No, you didn't tell us!" Jacob screamed. "And now your brother's on a train to his death!"
"Jacob, stop!" Renesmee yelled right back and took a hold of Kyle and held him close, protectively. When Jacob realized what Renesmee was doing, Jacob stepped away without any further words. Embry looked at Kyle, just as angry.
"Shame on you, boy," Embry muttered and walked away. Renesmee glared at Embry while Kyle started crying more. Renesmee kneeled down so she could hug Kyle.
"I'm sorry, mommy, I'm so sorry," Kyle began to hiccup.
"It's alright, Kyle," Renesmee cooed and patted Kyle's head. "You stay out here. I'm going to check on your father. You just let me deal with him."
"Okay," Kyle sniffled and Renesmee started running to the house where she saw Jacob start to retreat.
When Jacob went into the house, the letter from Kevin was the first thing he saw, and it made him start seeing red. He went to the table and just stared at it. He reread it, trying to think what Kevin could possibly have been thinking, but he couldn't wrap his mind around it. He was too angry. With no other way to release that anger, Jacob grabbed one of the chairs and threw it at the wall, causing the chair to shatter into chunks and wooden splints. That's what Renesmee saw when she came in through the front door of the house and at first it scared her. When Jacob didn't even notice she was there and grabbed another chair to throw at the already damaged wall, Renesmee ran forward and grabbed the chair from Jacob.
"Jacob, stop!" she screamed at him. "This isn't going to bring Kevin and Embry back!"
"Well do you have any fucking ideas, Renesmee?" Jacob yelled. "Because I've used up all of mine! That son of a bitch had the nerve to tell me that all this proved," Jacob held up the birth certificate, "was that a Kevin William was underage, but not a Kevin Black! This fucking thing had one purpose: confirm his fucking age!"
"Jacob, stop screaming at me!" Renesmee yelled back.
"And what would you rather, Renesmee? Me throwing things? If so, give me the chair and we'll have more shattered wood on the floor!"
"Don't you dare speak to me that way, Jacob!" Renesmee answered back.
"And how would you like me to speak to you? You don't seem to realize the seriousness of the situation, Renesmee! Our son ran away with his friend to fight for those ungrateful sacks of shit that refuse to acknowledge he's just a boy! You're son! That boy you complained was 'growing up too fast' and 'I can't believe he's turning ten', then 11, then 12, and then 13! Or do you not understand that our son might never come home?" Rather suddenly, Renesmee was right before Jacob and she slapped him right across the face, tears beginning to flow down her face.
"I understand more than you do," Renesmee muttered through her tears. "I've lived through war and I've seen what it does. I've seen the damage, and I've seen the lives it's touched and the way it touched them. I've seen men's arms and legs barely attached to their bodies, I've seen men with heads blown off their shoulders, I've seen men bayoneted to death, and I've seen men mangled in all forms and ways. So don't you DARE tell me that I don't 'understand the seriousness of the situation'! I know what Kevin and Embry are in for and it's tearing me apart. And you screaming at our son, breaking our furniture and screaming at me isn't doing a damn thing about it! Now you pull yourself together. Because I can't deal with this by myself."
"So that's it?" Jacob said, still rubbing the spot on his face where Renesmee had slapped him. "We just sit back and wait for our son to maybe come home."
"That's all we can do," Renesmee started crying. "I wish it weren't, Jacob, but that's all we can do. Frankly, Jacob, I would rather there be a chance our son will come home rather than he be a wanted man for desertion and doomed to hang at the gallows. At least if he goes, there's a chance he'll come home." Jacob and Renesmee looked at one another a moment. Jacob was finally able to calm down, but it was only a moment. It didn't last. As soon as he'd gotten calm, that look of defeat returned to his face and he fell to the floor and started to sob. Renesmee went right to his side and held him close to her to try and sooth him.
"Why?" he started asking. "Why would he run away?"
"I don't know," Renesmee said.
"Did I do something wrong?" Jacob asked. "Was I a bad father?"
"Absolutely not," Renesmee started crying. "You're a wonderful father Jacob. It was nothing we did. I know that much at least." Renesmee and Jacob sat in their dining room clutching one another as if afraid to let go. In their own home, Embry and Caevia were desperately trying to comfort one another and the children too young to fully understand what was happening. Outside, Kyle was sitting amongst the older kids, those being Nathan, Natalie, Aidie and the triplets. He was rocking back and forth on the ground on his butt holding his knees up near his chin.
"I shouldn't have kept this a secret," Kyle said.
"Why?" Jae asked. "Why would they run away?"
"Kevin said it was because he didn't want Seth to be alone and he said he wanted more."
"More what?" Nathan asked.
"Just more," Kyle said. "He said we're all 'stuck here' unless we do something to change that and he was 'doing something to change that'. I think he just didn't want to be stuck in the village the rest of his life with nothing brighter ahead of him."
"So, what?" Aidetzi said. "This place isn't 'good enough' for him? He doesn't want to be 'stuck on the reservation' so he's going off to get killed?"
"He wants opportunity," Kyle clarified. "He's thinking that the army offers the chance to meet new people. Learn new things, see new places. He's hoping this will ensure a better life for himself and for the rest of us."
"He can't do that if he never comes home," Natalie said, starting to cry. Jae crawled over and hugged her.
"Don't cry, Natalie," Jae pleaded.
"How can I not?" Natalie sobbed.
"Why couldn't you just say you weren't going to say anything and just tell Uncle Jacob anyway?" Rae asked.
"How would that have helped?" Kyle asked defensively. "He'd already signed up. It was over and done. He was obligated to go after that. Telling on him wouldn't have accomplished anything but making dad angry and ruining Kevin's trust in me."
"As though Uncle Jacob isn't already angry now?" Aidie said. "And he'd have forgiven you eventually."
"Not this time," Kyle said knowingly. To Kevin, this really was going to be what was for the best whether they all fully understood it or not. If Kyle had taken that away from him, he'd never have forgiven him. "Not this time," he repeated. Moments later, Renesmee and Jacob returned outside. Jacob told Renesmee to give him a moment alone with Kyle. She agreed and stepped away to Sara while Jacob went to Kyle. Kyle shivered a little. It hurt for Jacob to see.
"Kyle, come with me. We need to talk."
Nervously, Kyle stood up and looked at Jacob. "Alright," he finally managed and followed Jacob. He'd thought they'd go back home, but they didn't. Instead, Jacob took Kyle into the woods and to an apple tree that all the kids liked.
"Meet me up there," Jacob said as he started climbing up the tree. Kyle went to an adjacent tree and started climbing just a little faster and reached the perch Jacob was aiming for just second before Jacob. Jacob actually smiled a little, but it was a weak smile. "You're a good climber," Jacob said. There was an awkward silence that followed as they looked at one another. Kyle wasn't reading his father's mind. He was too scared to. And he was still nervous. Eventually, Kyle decided to be brave and broke the silence.
"I'm really sorry, dad," Kyle finally said. "I didn't find out until Kevin and Embry had already joined. There was nothing I could do and he made me swear not to tell anyone." Jacob didn't answer right away. When the silence continued, Kyle looked up at Jacob and finally realized he wasn't in trouble anymore. But he wasn't sure he was 'safe' either.
"Come here," Jacob finally said. Kyle scooted down the tree branch until he and Jacob were nearly face to face. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"No," Kyle said. "No, you were right to. After everything that happened today, I realize you were mad."
"It doesn't matter. I still shouldn't have screamed at you. And Embry shouldn't have shamed you. I'll confront him about it later."
"No, dad," Kyle said as he started crying again. "No, I deserve it."
"No," Jacob said and grabbed a hold of Kyle to hug him. Kyle hugged Jacob back. "I realize Kevin put you in a compromising position. You're damned if you tell us, damned if you don't. I understand why you didn't tell us. I just don't understand why Kevin and Embry did this in the first place."
"Embry was doing it because he didn't want Seth to be alone and he didn't want to leave Kevin either. He promised he'd follow Kevin to hell and back."
Jacob released a humorless laugh, "He'll certainly be following him to hell. So Embry got dragged into this by Kevin?"
"'Dragged' is a strong word, but Kevin was definitely the mastermind behind this."
"So why? Why did Kevin do this?"
"Because he thinks the army will give him opportunities that he wouldn't have if he stayed here." When Kyle said that, it finally made sense. He remembered when the twins were born and when Renesmee admitted she was saddened that their children would never be able to accomplish much outside the tribe. He'd promised her then that he would give their kids everything he could. Yet opportunity in a world ruled by bigots was not something he could provide. Kevin was taking matters into his own hands.
"So that's what this was about," Jacob finally said.
"He's not ashamed of you, dad," Kyle was quick to defend. "None of us are. We're proud of who we are and we're all proud to call you our father. Kevin just wants everyone else to be too. He wants to prove that he's just as worthy of respect and just as worthy of everything this world has to offer. He won't let being Indian hold him back because he doesn't think being Indian's anything to be ashamed of."
"You're right," Jacob said. "It's not." Jacob tightened his hug. "Did you mean that? About being proud to call me father?"
"Of course I mean it," Kyle said and hugged Jacob tighter right back. "You're one of the greatest men I've ever known and you've raised us all to be strong just like you. That's what Kevin's doing, dad. He's setting out to prove he's strong, just like you. He wants you to be proud of him."
"I've always been proud of all of you," Jacob said. "Why did he think I wasn't proud?"
"He wanted to earn it," Kyle answered honestly.
"Believe me," Jacob said. "I'm proudest of the four of you than I've ever been of anyone or anything else. In all honesty, the four of you may be the only good I've done to the world."
"We're not the only things," Kyle answered with a smile. Jacob chuckled and Kyle chuckled back.
"I love all of you," Jacob said. "And I'll always be proud of all of you."
"I know, dad," Kyle answered. "We love you too."
Three days later, the Cullens finally arrived with Quil having heard the news. By then Jacob, Renesmee, Embry and Caevia had finally calmed down and Embry apologized for what he said to Kyle. However, the Cullens were still mortified. Edward was furious when he heard from Jacob and Embry exactly what the two of them had gone through. He went to the safe, took out Kevin's birth certificate, and personally ran to Port Angeles demanding they, that being City Hall, correct their inexcusable mistake. But he was met with the same, albeit less condescending, answer: they were already shipped, they were of age according to the information they provided, there was no valid proof they weren't, and there was nothing more they could do. After that, the Cullens decided to remain in Forks indefinitely. The Denali's came to visit from time to time, but the Cullens remained to provide Renesmee and Caevia with all the emotional support they could offer.
"We aren't leaving until Kevin and Embry are home," Edward promised Renesmee, holding her close and doing as best he could to make everything as okay as possible.
After the train had left the station, Embry and Kevin finally came back into the train when they couldn't see their fathers anymore. Kevin overheard the whispers around the train. The spectacle Embry Sr. and Jacob had caused didn't appear to sit well with anyone else. He even heard one man claim that if Kevin's and Embry's fathers were this bad, imagine how much their mothers must have babied them. One man speculated that Kevin and Embry must still be breastfeeding. There was shared laughter at the comment, but Kevin ignored it. The officer from earlier stepped forward and looked right at Embry and Kevin with his arms crossed. Seth tried one last time to plead with the man.
"Sir-" was all Seth managed.
"You shut your God damn mouth!" the officer yelled and then looked right back at Kevin and Embry. "Now you two listen and you listen good. You're new, so I'll go easy on you this time, but I, nor do any of my colleagues, will not tolerate ANY form of misconduct. Now you two signed up and you will serve your time. And if the two of you cause any more trouble at any point during this train ride or at the base, I will see the two of you punished severely for it. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir," Kevin and Embry replied quietly.
"Is that clear?!" the officer yelled.
"Yes sir!" Kevin and Embry answered again, louder this time. After the officer finally walked away, Kevin and Embry looked at Seth, who was looking out the window now.
"Seth-" Kevin began.
"I can't believe you did this," Seth immediately interrupted. "I can't believe you would do something this stupid. What were the two of you thinking?" Seth was finally looking at them and he gave them a look of aggravation.
"We didn't want you to be alone," Embry said.
"Jesus, you two," Seth rubbed his face. "So you join the army? 'Company' isn't exactly my highest priority at this point. It's getting through training and staying alive. Now, I have to focus on that AND make sure nothing happens to the two of you."
"You don't have to worry about me, Seth," Kevin said. "I'll make sure we all get home safe and alive."
"How? With that little 'magic trick' of yours? How does that keep me or Embry alive? Fuck, Kevin, it's bad enough that I'm going to war. I had no choice, I was drafted. But now you're putting yourself and Embry in danger and for what? To babysit me?"
"We're not 'babysitting' you, Seth. You shouldn't have to face this alone."
"Better to face this alone than with two pre-teens," Seth mumbled. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, do you?"
"Seth, I get it-"
"No, Kevin, you don't," Seth snapped back. "If you did get it, you would never have done something as stupid as lying about your age to join the army. Neither of you."
"Frankly, Seth, I think this was probably the smartest decision I've ever made," Kevin defended himself.
"And how do you figure that?" Seth asked sarcastically. "You signed yourself up for something that will probably kill you when you didn't need to. How is that the smartest decision you've ever made? More like a pre-teen's ego trip."
"What is there for us back there, Seth?" Kevin asked.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Seth asked.
"I'm talking about opportunity," Kevin said. "Seriously, what's there for me, for Embry, for any of us? Sure, we're getting a good education, but that won't do us a damn bit of good if we don't make contact, make friends with people in the outside world. I can't be stuck in a little bubble, Seth. None of us can. If there's a chance that this can give me, and by virtue the rest of the tribe, a better life, then God damn it I'm going to do it." Seth looked at Kevin a moment a little baffled.
"So that's what this is really about," Seth stated harshly. "You risk your life and Embry's life just for being a spoiled little shit?"
"How is wanting better for us being spoiled?" Kevin asked just as harshly.
"This isn't about 'us', Kevin, it's about you!" Seth said, louder than he'd meant to. They noticed the officer staring them down, so Seth lowered his voice again. "Why did you drag Embry into your little ego trip?"
"I came because I didn't want you to be alone. And I didn't want Kevin to be alone either. Besides, Kevin's right. There's no telling what doors the army could open for us that would never open any other way."
"I'm sure Grandpa Edward would gladly cup just the right pairs of balls to ensure you got somewhere 'worthwhile' if you wanted to, Kevin," Seth said.
"Sure, Seth, I'll let Grandpa pave the way for me. Then when I get there, I can have no respect from any of my peers because I haven't earned it. This way, Seth, not only are we taking control of our futures, but we're doing it all by ourselves. I don't need Grandpa to 'cup just the right pairs of balls' to get anywhere and I'll damn well prove it."
"You're a spoiled brat that dragged your friend along for the ride, Kevin," Seth said. "End of story." Seth returned his gaze to looking out the window. "I'll do what I can to keep the two of you out of trouble, but I can't promise how much that will be."
"I don't need you to take care of me, Seth," Kevin said. "I can take care of myself and I'll prove it. And I'll take care of you and Embry."
"Fine," Seth said, exasperated. "Whatever you say."
Rather annoyed himself, Kevin did not speak to Seth for the remainder of that day on the train. He spent most of the ride conversing with Embry. The following day, they reached the station and were put on several buses to travel another 2 hours until they finally reached their base for training. He wasn't certain what state they were in just yet. No one had mentioned it. Honestly, to Kevin, it wasn't important. The base itself was…..he wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it wasn't this. The base was rather small surprisingly. He saw areas where there were trenches in the ground and he saw several obstacle courses. Some included climbing which, he knew immediately, he and Embry would concur easily. Unfortunately, climbing wasn't going to do them any good given where they were going and the warfare they were to engage in. There were large buildings near the western end of the grounds, one of which was fully exposed and clearly a kitchen area where they'd all eat. There were large pillars that looked like they had large openings to them He couldn't tell what those were for. They were all led inside by the officer and ordered to fall in a straight line where he instructed. Seth, Kevin and Embry remained side by side. They were told one by one that, when their commanding officer came out and yelled attention, they were to stand up straight or they would be 'firmly corrected'. Kevin was relieved the officer from the train would not be their 'commanding' officer.
"Attention!" came a loud voice and everyone stood up straight as they'd been ordered to do. Then a man, not a young man but not old either, began walking along the line inspecting the men. "I am your commanding officer, Sgt. Henry J. Stanley!" he began, projecting his voice so they could all hear. "You now stand within the ranks of the world's finest military! As such, you will be expected to uphold that standard! While you are here and when you're at the Western Front, you will follow orders! That means you eat when I say, you sleep when I say, and you shit when I say! Is that clear?"
"Yes sir!" every man barked in response, Kevin and Embry included.
"Good!" Sgt. Stanley said. "Now, I'm a Sergeant that likes to know his men! So I will go down the line and speak to each and every one of you! When I ask you a question, you answer! You do not speak unless spoken to! Is that clear?!"
"Yes sir!" every man barked again. Sgt. Stanley went to the end right of the line and worked his way along. He asked each man the same questions: name, date and location of birth, goals and a random fact. Usually a favorite color, favorite food and so on. When he reached Seth, he immediately looked extremely critical.
"And what is your name, boy?" Sgt. Stanley asked of Seth.
"Seth Jagger, sir!" Seth answered the way everyone else had.
"Jagger?" Sgt. Stanley raised an eyebrow. "That's a German name is it not?"
"My father was German, sir!" Seth answered.
"Oh, really?" Sgt. Stanley answered. "And I suppose you sympathize with the Germans?"
"No, sir!" Seth said.
"I must say, you're awfully red for a German," Sgt. Stanley said.
"My mother was an Indian, sir!" Seth answered.
"Is that right?" Sgt. Stanley said. "And when were you born and where?"
"May 9th, 1887, sir!" Seth answered.
"Where?"
"Forks, Washington, sir!"
"Forks?" the sergeant said. "Never heard of it. Why are you here?"
"I was drafted to serve, sir!"
"Is that it?" Sgt. Stanley said, unimpressed with Seth's answer. It was an answer he'd gotten from a couple of the men and he was less than pleased with such a dismissive answer. He finished with Seth and moved on to Kevin. He took one look at him and knew. Perhaps he appeared a teenager at best, but he wasn't a man. Not yet. "Name?"
"Kevin William Black, sir!" Kevin answered and the Sergeant raised an eyebrow and pretended to be impressed.
"Oh, well aren't we fancy? Three names like a regular old aristocrat!"
"William is-"
"Did I give you permission to follow up, maggot?!"
"No, sir!" Kevin answered and stayed quiet. Sgt. Stanley looked at Kevin intently as if sizing him up before continuing.
"How old are you, boy?" Sgt. Stanley asked.
"I'm 19, sir!"
"I didn't ask you how old you said you were, boy! I asked you how old you are, as in how many years ago did your mother belch you out of her gapping cunt?!" Kevin just stared at the Sergeant, offended and ready to punch him, but not stupid enough to actually do it. He wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Answer the question, boy!"
"I'm 13," Kevin finally admitted.
"You're what?"
"I'm 13," Kevin answered again. "14 in October."
"14 in October? Well pardon me! That makes all the difference in the world!" Sgt. Stanley yelled. "Fuck me sideways and call me Mary Magdalene. I ask for men and they send me boys! And where were you born?"
"Forks, Sir!" Kevin answered, returning to the voice that was expected. Sgt. Stanley looked back at Seth. Then he stepped a little closer to Seth.
"I take it you two are familiar?" Sgt. Stanley asked.
"He's my cousin, sir!" Seth answered.
"Well," Sgt. Stanley continued. "Ain't this shaping up to be one hell of a family reunion!"
"'Is this not', sir!" Kevin said. The Sergeant looked right at Kevin the way Renesmee might have looked at him if he'd sworn particularly harshly. The Sergeant took the single step closer so he was right in front of Kevin and their noses very nearly touched, making Kevin extremely uncomfortable.
"What was that?" Sgt. Stanley demanded.
"What you mean is 'is this not' sir! Ain't is not a word and is grammatically incorrect, sir!"
"Well is that right, Mr. Fancy Britches? Let me ask you a question then, since you're so God Damn smart! Train 1 leaves station A at 1:30 and goes 30 miles an hour! Train 2 leaves station B at 1:00 and is going 100 miles an hour! How long before they collide!"
"How-" Kevin began, requesting to know their starting distance away from one another, but was interrupted.
"Who gives a shit, boy?! They're all going to die!" Everyone in the crowd started laughing, even Seth and Embry, but Kevin just stared at the man. "So why are you here, boy?"
"I chose to join, sir!" Kevin yelled back.
"I asked you why, boy! For such a little smart ass, you certainly don't answer questions right!"
"I joined for opportunities that would not be available to me if I remained home, sir!" Kevin answered honestly. To his surprise, the sergeant looked a little impressed with that answer, but that glimmer was gone as soon as Kevin saw it. The sergeant looked at Seth again, then at Kevin.
"You an Indian, boy?" Sgt. Stanley asked.
"My father is son to the Chief of the Quileutes and is his successor, sir!" Kevin answered.
"Oh, son to the chief? Well, I didn't realize we were among royalty! Everyone, please, take a moment to bow down to the great Prince Kevin!" After his little jab, the sergeant got a little closer again and his voice was calmer. "Your mother must be white. You're far too pristine and proper looking not to have some good worthwhile blood in you."
"My mother is white, sir," Kevin said, putting emphasis on the title. "And every drop of blood I have is 'worthwhile', white, Indian or otherwise."
"Oh, really?" Sgt. Stanley said, then started to chuckle. "Well then, I expect to be impressed."
"You will be, sir!" Kevin answered back. The sergeant actually smiled at Kevin. Then the sergeant moved on to Embry.
"I take it you're a redskin too, boy?!" the Sergeant yelled.
"Yes, sir! I'm Quileute, sir!" Embry answered.
"And are you related to Herr Jagger and Prince Kevin?!" Sgt. Stanley asked.
"Not by blood, but Kevin's like a brother to me, sir!" Embry answered.
"Well, is that not sweet?" Then the Sergeant looked at Kevin. "Aren't you proud, your highness? I talked good." Kevin didn't answer, which the sergeant fully expected, and so he returned his attention to Embry. "Name!"
"Embry Call, sir!"
"And when did your mother belch you out of her gapping cunt?!" Sgt. Stanley asked, knowing, just as he had with Kevin, right away that he was just a boy.
"July 1903, sir! I'm 14, sir!"
"Yet another boy instead of a man! Perhaps I should put on lipstick and a dress so I might look pretty while I'm being fucked!"
"You'd look lovely in pink, sir!" Embry answered back. He simply couldn't resist. Though he really should have. The slightest laugh escaped a handful of men, but the laughter stopped when the Sergeant stared daggers at those that dared laugh.
"Pink you say?" the Sergeant asked, coming uncomfortably closer to Embry's face. Then suddenly, he punched Embry directly in the stomach and they hit their heads against one another. Embry released an audible 'oomph' but made sure to stay standing. "I never cared for pink. Now tell me, boy. Why did you join the army?"
"For opportunity, sir!" Embry answered, figuring it was a better answer than 'because Kevin did'.
"Is that so? Am I to assume you're a little smarty pants like his majesty over there?"
"We were schooled together, sir!"
"Well, well," Sgt. Stanley said. "Reds learning like proper white folk. Never thought I'd see the day."
Having had his fill of picking on Embry, Sergeant Stanley moved on to the next man in line and gave him much the same treatment, save for punching him. The young man had the good sense not to make fun of the sergeant. The men were standing in line for nearly 2 hours while the Sergeant made his way down the line asking each man his questions. Once he was done, he returned to the center where everyone could see him.
"Now that I've learned some juicy tidbits about each of you, let the real work begin! Don't think just because you just got here doesn't mean you aren't going to be worked to the bone! We'll start with some basic exercises to ensure you're of proper condition! We're going to run around this base twice! That will be a mile! I expect each and every one of you to finish in under 10 minutes! For those of you who don't, you will start over and keep starting over until you do it or you drop! Is that understood?!"
"Yes sir!"
"To the entrance!" Sergeant Stanley yelled and every man in formation went to the entrance of the base and got ready to run. "Ready!" Sgt. Stanley pulled out a gun and aimed it into the air, "get set!" he pulled back the clip, "GO!" and pulled the trigger, and all the men started running. Kevin and Embry were able to get a head start right away while Seth, still near the front, remained closer to the others.
"Are you alright?" Kevin asked while he and Embry were running. "He hit you pretty hard there."
"It was nothing," Embry answered. "The old fart just can't take a compliment." The two of them laughed.
"I don't know," Kevin said. "I think purple might be more his color."
"Maybe you should say something."
"No thanks," Kevin said. "I'd rather avoid a punch to the gut." Kevin looked over his shoulder and saw Seth was still near the front to his relief, then looked forward again. "If I ever get the chance, I will hit that man over the head."
"The Sergeant? Good luck with that."
"Insult me, but don't insult my mother," Kevin said.
"Hey, he insulted mine too," Embry said. "So give him a punch to the face for me."
"I'll keep that in mind," Kevin laughed.
They continued to run until they'd circled the base as they'd been ordered to and they finished their mile in 7 minutes 30 seconds. Since they finished, they were 'rewarded' with 10 pushups, 10 sit ups, and finally they were able to stand in line and wait for the rest of the group to finish. Seth finished his mile, as did several others, with mere seconds to spare and finished in 9 minutes 45 seconds. He and the others that finished were also rewarded with 10 pushups, 10 sit ups, and standing in line waiting. There were 28 men that did not finish the mile in the required time. All had assumed that, if they finished in time, they would be scot free for the day and those that failed would have to finish themselves. Were they ever wrong.
"Well, boys!" Sgt. Stanley said when the 10 minutes were up on his clock. "Since your teammates failed to finish in time, they'll have to run the course again! Of course, it wouldn't be fair to leave them out here alone, now would it?! So we'll stand out here and wait!" The Sergeant looked at the men that were approaching and stood in their path. "Times up, boys! Get back in position and try again!"
The men that needed to run the mile again got back to the start and waited for the Sergeant to shoot his gun before trying again. The second time, two men of that group managed to just barely beat 10 minutes. The remainder, however, did not. Sergeant Stanley was most disappointed.
"Well, fuck me!" Sgt. Stanley said. "First I'm told I was sent children and now I'm finding out I'm sent men that can't run a mile in a proper time!" Sgt. Stanley turned his gaze to the men that had finished in the required time. "Maybe they just need a little extra support! All of you back at the start!" Not a single man said a word, but no one was happy. Everyone got back in line to run. "This is the 3rd bullet I'm wasting, so don't fuck this up! Ready!" he positioned the gun, "Set!" pulled the clip, "GO!" and shot.
All the men started running and Kevin and Embry were in the lead again as they had been the first time. Some of the men were determined and were catching up to them desperate to not have to run again. Seth, being among those men, ran as fast as he could no matter how tired he started getting. Yet despite the efforts. 30, rather than 28, did not complete the run in the required time.
"Well shit!" Sgt. Stanley said. "I think you boys need a little more motivation!" Sgt. Stanley looked at someone, who nodded and ran off to fetch something. He returned with a horse and a very big ridding crop, much bigger than what was typical for use with a horse. "Now, boys, I'll encourage you along!" Sgt. Stanley got on his horse and went to the start. "Back at the start!" he screamed and all the men complied. "RUN!" he yelled, not bothering with the gun or start up. The men started running and Sgt. Stanley stayed at the back of the group, hitting men with his riding crop that weren't running fast enough.
This time, even Kevin and Embry's running wavered. They still finished, but it was in 9 minutes flat. They were desperately hoping this would be the end of this. But alas, there were a handful that, despite the Sergeants 'loving' encouragement, did not finish in time and they ALL had to run again. Sergeant Stanley made good on his word and they did not stop until someone actually passed out from exhaustion. Sergeant Stanley ordered the men to the mess hall to eat dinner, after which they were sent straight to bed. Kevin and Embry shared a bunk and tried to talk like they would whenever they spent the night at each other's houses, but they were quickly told to shut up so everyone could sleep. The next morning, at 5 a.m. sharp, horns blew and the men were dragged out of bed to start training for the day. They were sent to the mess hall to eat their breakfast, which they had 10 minutes to finish. If they didn't finish in 10 minutes, too fucking bad. Of course, Embry learned this the hard way.
Days of this routine went by of wake up, eat in ten minutes, train hard, eat lunch in ten minutes, train harder, eat dinner in ten minutes, and get their asses to bed. It was wearing thin on Embry's nerves. One morning after a week of this rigorous and unrelenting routine, Embry was eating his breakfast and particularly enjoying it. Usually they were given some kind of oat gruel, 'gruel' being a kind term for it, but that morning they'd been given 1 sweet potato as a treat to go with their gruel. Sergeant Stanley did like rewarding his men in little ways after all. But the siren rang before Embry could finish eating. Usually, they were to leave their plates and immediately go to formation. Embry did that, but this time, he took a little something with him: the last of his sweet potato. He ran to formation with his potato in his hand and tried finishing his potato before Sgt. Stanley noticed. He was just one bite from finishing, however, before the Sergeant noticed and was right in his face.
"So what're you up to, boy?" Sgt. Stanley said a little more calmly than Embry had anticipated.
"I'm finishing my potato, sir," Embry replied.
"Forgive me, boy, but I could have sworn the siren ending breakfast sounded. Or am I going deaf?"
"I wasn't finished, sir," Embry answered.
"You weren't finished? Well, I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you Tatter!" the sergeant yelled, but that wasn't what got Embry's attention.
"Tatter, sir?" Embry asked.
"I admit, I've grown tired of calling all of you 'boy', so Tatter's a nice little upgrade," the sergeant yelled.
"I don't like that name, sir," Embry answered. The Sergeant's eye twitched just a little, then he cleared his throat.
"You know, Tatter," the Sergeant continued hostilely, "it just doesn't seem fair that you get to finish your breakfast when no one else did. Perhaps there's a way you might make up for this little episode of inconsideration."
"I don't follow, sir," Embry answered.
"Oh, don't you worry, Tatter. I'll be the one doing the following."
Determined to have the last word, when he saw the Sergeant's hand make its way to grab Embry, he put the last piece of sweet potato he had in his mouth and swallowed. As soon as he did, Sgt. Stanley grabbed Embry's neck in his hand and dragged Embry out to the entrance of the base while screaming at someone to bring him his horse and famous riding crop. Once outside the base and with a ready horse, Sgt. Stanley got on his horse and prepared his riding crop. He ordered Embry to run, which initially Embry thought a little silly. He and Kevin were easily two of the fastest runners in the group, but, as it turns out, not fast enough to outrun the horse Sgt. Stanley rode. He kept hitting Embry until he would manage to speed up and outrun the horse. Whenever he slowed down, Sgt. Stanley would hit Embry again as hard as he could. While the men trained normally under the Sergeant's subordinate, Sgt. Stanley had Embry running for nearly 5 hours. Then, when it was time to break for lunch, and later for dinner, Embry was kept outside the mess hall not allowed to eat anything. Sgt Stanley argued that, seeing as Embry had gotten extra time to eat, he should be more than set for food for the rest of the day. And from then on, Embry's nickname, whether he liked it or not, was Tatter.