diff --git a/Cutting_room_floor.md b/Cutting_room_floor.md
index 338863d..2e76623 100644
--- a/Cutting_room_floor.md
+++ b/Cutting_room_floor.md
@@ -183,3 +183,2066 @@ You've been given a great privelege. Act like it'. He left.
 
 The others were just pouring out, and as soon as Dan was out of sight
 many they flocked to Adir.
+
+Adir opened his eyes to the same dull, leaden brain fog he's so used to
+by now. The room was pitch black, except for the small ray of light
+coursing through the broken window blind, crushed by many musty
+mattresses.
+
+He could tell exactly what time it was by the amount of revulsion he was
+already feeling. Reluctantly, He started peeling himself off the
+mattress so he could sneak off to a scalding cup of Mud Coffee and go
+die on a smelly beanbag somewhere.
+
+He had just finished donning the pajamas when Eitan stepped into the
+room.
+
+'Good morning', he said neutrally but not unkindly as he made his way to
+the router room out back. He was walking too fast for a stay-and-chat,
+but slow enough to be viable for a response, which he could accept but
+did not expect.
+
+'Good morning', the Gerbil bluntly tossed back while lacing the
+perverted boots.
+
+'Everything okay?' Eitan addressed the Gerbil's general vicinity from
+the router room. 'Mmmhm', he replied, thus completing the ritual. With
+the bare minimum achieved, Eitan took a router somewhere and stepped
+through the side door outside, bombing the tall, dark room with blinding
+morning light.
+
+He was, by far, the Gerbil's favorite of the commanders -- little talk,
+no expectations, no comments. Had the rest had been like this things
+would have been considerably easier.
+
+The Gerbil was already striding through the dark server room towards the
+(aptly named, he mused) restroom for his usual *embarrassing medical
+issue* when one of the many pointless IP phones in the great hall rang.
+He picked up and said nothing because he still thinks it's really funny.
+
+'Hi,' said Mike Tavor cheerily across the line. 'What's up? Who is it?'
+
+'Me', he replied.
+
+'What's up, Adir? Could you maybe help us with a little something, you
+know, when you've got some time?' Hope swelled in Adir's heart, and he
+hated himself for it.
+
+'I'll try,' he said. 'What is it?'
+
+'Oh, well, I was going to call David about it, sure glad you picked up
+--' he chuckled nervously - \`The Trainer is acting up again. I think
+it's the, um, DVI RAM co-board multi-caster, or -'
+
+'Say no more, Tavor', the Gerbil said professionally, 'I'm coming
+straight away'.
+
+'Well, it's not running today so if you'd prefer to come later, I-'
+
+'Don't you worry about it' he assured him. 'Be there in a minute', he
+hung up.
+
+Considering how there's no such thing as a 'DVI RAM co-board
+multi-caster', he'll just swing by and kick the bloody thing so it
+works. He could fart dust that computes faster. Ignorant old dinosaurs.
+
+And now he has to go outside. Yuck.
+
+The Gerbil irritably squished his beard to a somewhat presentable shape
+and muscled through the side door into the scorching hell outside. Too
+bright, too hot, and people. Oof, the people. The smoking area's musty
+ash smell wafted in with the hot salty sea wind to create what was now
+engraved in his sorry psyche as the aroma of despair and stupid.
+
+He strode towards the squadron as the jobnics were already pouring in
+with their little backpacks and single Airpods talking enthusiastically
+to their friends about the *crazy* party last night, praying to no one
+in particular that none of *them* show up. None of the bastards did --
+likely too busy parking and shaving and whatever it is they do - and he
+stepped into the first squadron's soothing, people free inner courtyard
+and towards the Trainer's door, where Tavor awaited him next to the
+phone shelf.
+
+'Hey man', he said, 'Thanks for swinging by!'. He quickly surveyed him
+and frowned. 'You look pretty tired'.
+
+'It's okay', Adir answered, despite the fact it was not, in fact, okay.
+
+'Do you want a Mud Coffee, maybe? Was just making one for myself'.
+
+Sitting down for Mud Coffee with a pilot was every self respecting Air
+Force soldier's *dream*, man, but the Gerbil had an appointment with a
+smelly beanbag, and he meant to honor it. It was his highest duty as a
+jobnic, a rebel, and an irritable ass. Even though they have those nice,
+tall coffee glasses here\...
+
+'No, thank you -- you're very kind. I can take it from here -- I'll let
+you know what's up'.
+
+'Sure. Thanks dude!'
+
+Tavor took his phone from the phone shelf and strode away with purpose.
+
+Adir kind of liked Mike Tavor. He still treats him as human.
+
+He casually hid his phone in his pajama pockets (with a loud
+*ccccrrrrk!* from the scotch pockets), entered the code on the numpad
+and stepped inside. He didn't need the phone -- in fact, it was a
+hindrance -- but it was a matter of principle, like most other matters
+in the Gerbil's life right now. This is his domain and he answers to
+none.
+
+The Trainer room was blessedly dark -- even the blinds into the
+courtyard were shut. The only light was the big digital clock, filling
+the room an eerie red glow indicating he has a few precious peaceful
+moments before the instructors arrive.
+
+He entered the small side room and did the whole usual nonsense --
+flipped only some of the switches in that specific order, closed the
+hatch, put the AC on the thingy, made the three beeps, waited for the
+*Vrrrrruuuhhhhh!* to start up and the *Hhhhhuuurrrrrv* that died down
+and crouched his way back to the main room, where the eight big screens
+slowly lit up and started complaining.
+
+*You and me both*, he thought. Both stupid old things.
+
+The thing took a good ten minutes to power on, of course -- sixty
+seconds of booting up, and five hundred and forty seconds of him staring
+at it. He then clicked on the thing and waited for it to start up --
+thirty seconds of starting the program and three hundred seconds of
+staring at it. Add about thirty scattered seconds of taking out his
+phone, checking the time, sighing grumpily and putting it back with a
+*ccccrrrrk!* Because he still could, dammit. Just as he pressed the
+gamepad (they paid millions for this! how?!) to confirm the thing works,
+today's two instructors walked in.
+
+'Oh, hi! Didn't see you there', said the first. He thought she was nice
+because she never made for the light until he was gone, and it was those
+small gestures that kept him going at this point, really.
+
+'Hi Adir', said the other a bit too friendly. She was the first's
+commander, and she clearly thought the darkness was kind of weird but
+still respected it. He thought *she* was a bit *too nice* because of
+that time she called Ronen to tell him what a great job he did (which he
+did not -- it was a matter of principle), which got him an *hour* stuck
+with all the commanders in the room so he can detail exactly what he
+did. What a nightmare. He was still okay with her because it's just not
+her fault -- the poor soul could never know, they're all nice here.
+
+'Good morning,' he replied casually. 'Just finished, uh, checking it.
+Looks all clear. You can give it a test too if you'd like'. The
+commander sometimes calls Ronen or David for errors as well, despite him
+clearly declaring he'll handle it, which he never ever did out of
+principle, so he may just get it out of the way.
+
+'It's okay! I'm sure its fine, we never have problem with it when you
+power it up', the nice instructor said. '\...Why *did* you power it up,
+though? It's not in use today'.
+
+He stared dazed and confused into her beautiful green eyes. It had
+suddenly occurred to him that this is still going on, and he is
+partaking in it. He found this all very strange.
+
+'To check,', he replied. 'If anyone asks you'll mention me, right? have
+an awesome day', he added to the confused silence. With the bare minimum
+achieved, he left.
+
+When he was a safe distance away on his Evasive Maneuver, he checked his
+phone, which of course showed eight missed calls in a span of two
+minutes. Slow day.
+
+He also got a message. It was safe to check. The commanders never text
+him after calling, because it implies a lack of urgency and an
+acceptance of him being unavailable which just won't do.
+
+'Where'd you go', wrote Gilad.
+
+'Trainer', he replied.
+
+'What do I say', wrote Gilad.
+
+'Big trainer trouble', he replied. 'And then Operations'.
+
+Operations was great because there were no phones there, and everyone
+always says he was there because he replaces their printer ink on time.
+He replaces their printer ink on time so he can say it ran out, and
+devoutly go replace it seven more times alternating between Job Field's
+many luxurious avenues.
+
+'Why do they ask me?' Gilad complained yet again. 'It's annoying'.
+
+'Just say you don't know then'.
+
+'They keep crying. Crying, crying. I have a headache.'
+
+'You know what helps headaches' Adir wrote, hoping there was some truth
+in it to ease his own.
+
+'Fine, fine. Give me fifteen minutes. They're checking shoes'. He really
+conveyed his contempt through the text somehow. The animals.
+
+There are very few people Adir was willing to delay Mud Coffee for.
+Gilad was one of them.
+
+If he shows his face there now to make it, though, he'll be interrogated
+on all the Trainer's troubles, and why they took so little time to fix
+-- as he had long since established the Trainer could not be kicked for
+any less than three hours. So he continued his route to its next
+destination -- the grass behind the Igloo.
+
+The Igloo is the most pointless structure on the earth, aside from the
+Old City behind Computing. It has large windows overlooking absolutely
+nothing, fancy marble floors, a big dome and walls made of acoustic
+retardant for no reason whatsoever. It stood empty 99% of the time,
+except when it was used for the safety lectures. He sold himself on the
+idea he always shows up to those because someone has to tear up that
+acoustic retardant bit by bit. God, they're lucky to have him.
+
+The Igloo is so pointless, in fact, no one bothers approaching it -- and
+even if you did stumble there on the way wherever, it's just not worth
+looking at. The Gerbil himself occasional gets lost on his way there,
+because he passes it by and fails to notice. Throw in the fact it's this
+side of the airstrip too and you got the ultimate safe haven.
+
+He crashed down on the grass and took out his phone to another
+*crrrrrrk*. The phone, of course, was ringing casually with its twenty
+second call this morning. He let it go on because he likes the ringtone
+-- from the videogame *Doom* -- and because the vibration felt nice.
+
+He put the phone to his chest and looked up at the clear blue skies. He
+closed his eyes and felt the pleasant warmth seeping into the dark
+pajama and heavy dark boots.
+
+Maybe it's not so bad.
+
+He got another message.
+
+'Will take time,' Gilad said. 'You won't like this'.
+
+'What.'
+
+'Drill.'
+
+'No.'
+
+'Yup.'
+
+The air sirens blared up immediately. He heard some of the miserable
+planes taking off. His phone started hanging from all the phone calls,
+from various sources, which kindly sent each other to hold.
+
+Perverted Boots were thumping around, none glancing at him. Maybe it's
+because of his weirdly squashed beard.
+
+Adir lay on the grass, his head pounding in the deafening noise, with
+tears of frustration welling in his eyes.
+
+Chapter I -- Go Home, Kid
+
+Adir sat almost motionless in the great hall.
+
+There was something strange about this room -- it felt as if it was
+yanked straight out of the 1950's, much like all the places he's been in
+today. Here and there he saw shreds of the modern world -- it was lit
+with cold, white light bulbs and all the benches were fancy, incredibly
+uncomfortable stainless steel. Despite this, all four hundred or so of
+the young people in the room sat perfectly upright, worried eyes
+unmoving, gazing intently at nothing in particular.
+
+'Strange day, huh?' someone echoed weakly from somewhere. Someone else
+replied with a nervous chuckle, and their echoes feebly died out in the
+great hall.
+
+A small girl cautiously arose from her seat, and very slowly thread her
+way between the cramped benches. No one bothered making way for her
+between the duffel bags chaotically tossed on the floor.
+
+'Excuse me,' she eventually said to the soldier standing at the end of
+the room, near the doors. The soldier made no sign that she heard nor
+cared, inspecting her nails.
+
+'Um, uh...' the girl said. Her uniform was very ill fitting -- it was as
+if she was wearing an old tent.
+
+'Would you know, maybe, when are the buses due?'
+
+The soldier did not even lift her head to answer -- she lazily looked up
+at the girl.
+
+'A sec.' she said. A sec had passed. Nothing happened.
+
+'O..Ok' said the girl, and slowly thread her way back to her seat. This
+whole process took around five minutes.
+
+Behind him, some massive dude threaded past, plunked down at a certain
+spot again and stared into the horizon like everyone else.
+
+Adir was intensely uncomfortable. His shoulder hurt where the needle hit
+earlier, when the guy he assumed was the medic tossed it across the room
+into his shoulder, and these massive boots were so alien to him he
+simply could not walk in them. His legs hurt from hours of waddling. The
+boots' tab was sticking out again and he was completely and utterly
+powerless to fix it. His shirt kept slipping out of his trousers because
+he could not figure out how to close the belt, if it was one at all.
+
+Earlier that day, he realized for the first time that he had no real
+clue how soldiers look like. Sure, they have big black boots and wear
+long, olive green clothes - and that's about as far as he got. The
+family's eldest, he had never really seen a soldier up close before --
+no one else got drafted yet, and it just didn't happen naturally, common
+as they were. He was just entering that massive tin shed when a skinny
+soldier rudely shoved him to a great wooden counter, where he stood limp
+and confused until something else happened.
+
+'What size?' spewed a voice from the other side.
+
+'Huh?' he said.
+
+A bored young soldier appeared behind the counter.
+
+'What size?' he asked impatiently.
+
+'What size what?' Adir replied. He had absolutely no clue as to what is
+happening.
+
+'How big are your feet?'
+
+'My feet?'
+
+'Yes. Those you walk with'.
+
+'Oh'.
+
+'Size?'
+
+Adir was concerned, because he had very large feet. Over the last few
+months he and his friends debated intently whether the army could
+provide shoes big enough, because if they couldn't he could walk around
+in sneakers. He couldn't remember who told him that but felt it was
+true.
+
+'I am concerned,' he said.
+
+The soldier looked past him grumpily.
+
+'Because I have very large feet'.
+
+A fly could have slept on the guy's face. There was an awkward silence.
+
+'I'm size 14,' he said. 'With width. Do you think mayb-'
+
+The soldier *thumped* a pair of massive boots on the counter. There was
+another awkward silence.
+
+'Here. Those fit. If not, come back. I've up to 16's'.
+
+Adir took a second to let that it. For a fragment of a second he saw
+pity in the guy's sad, sad eyes.
+
+He carefully took the boots. They were really heavy.
+
+'Go home, kid', the guy told him, and sunk back down below the counter.
+
+Adir had no idea what to do, again. Fortunately, a soldier swung by and
+rudely shoved him towards a blue door.
+
+He stumbled inside. There were many stalls. Another soldier stood in the
+middle. Tall and skinny with pimples on his shaven face with an
+expression of constant, mild misery. Adir thought the soldiers here all
+look surprisingly alike.
+
+'What size?' he asked.
+
+'What size what?' Adir replied.
+
+He gestured vaguely at Adir. 'What size?'
+
+'Um, medium?'
+
+'So B.' he said, clearly upset. He tossed two nylon squares at him,
+which Adir gracefully missed. As soon as he had the slightest grip on
+them he was rudely shoved him into a stall.
+
+The squares turned out to be his new uniform -- a shirt, pants and
+something he guessed was a belt. Everything had buttons and straps where
+there should not be straps.
+
+After some time someone pounded on the stall doors. 'Hurry up!' he
+yelled.
+
+Adir inspected himself, pleased. Yes, this is how soldiers look. He
+stumbled outside.
+
+'What the fuck,' said the skinny miserable soldier.
+
+'Is this not right?' Adir asked. His shirt was hanging open and the
+shoes fit weird. Shouldn't they have laces? He still thought it was
+right because the others were dressed the same.
+
+'Yea, whatever. Just. Go. They're waiting'. Adir didn't know who was
+waiting or where to go, but he did anyway. He stepped outside and
+straight into a middle aged man. His uniform was different -- it was
+light blue -- and he had an air of authority around him. Adir made a
+move to pass him but he did not budge.
+
+Behind the man, the warehouse went silent. The man scanned him from head
+to toe in a way that, to him, felt predatory, almost sexual. They locked
+eyes. The man's cold expression was consumed by rage. For a moment,
+there was no sound.
+
+Adir deducted something was amiss using his superb emotional
+intelligence.
+
+'**WHO**', the man bellowed, '**IN THE** ***FUCK,*** **LET HIM OUT LIKE
+THIS?!**'
+
+In the background, people started scurrying. A hand reeled him back in
+immediately. The soldier was on the verge of tears.
+
+'You could have asked for help, man' he said pleadingly. 'You could have
+asked for help!'
+
+He yanked out Adir's belt and somehow slung it around. It was really
+tight. 'I was supposed to go out this weekend', he intoned, somehow
+lacing the monstrous boots with laces he pulled out somewhere. He then
+yanked some part of the boot and sent a flash of pain through Adir's
+leg.
+
+'God dammit', he muttered and shoved him outside straight into the man
+again.
+
+He stared him down from head to toe again, breathing heavily, and barely
+made way.
+
+Adir had later learned that was the commander of the recruitment unit,
+whatever that means. He was not surprised because he's so clever.
+
+Adir was pulled out of his trance processing these odd events by a short
+soldier who replaced the one who stood there earlier.
+
+'FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO!' she bellowed at an unbelievable volume.
+
+No one answered.
+
+'WAKE THE FUCK UP! THIS ISN'T KINDERGARTEN! I SAID -- FOUR HUNDRED AND
+SIXTY TWO!'.
+
+Silently, a great ox of a guy rose from the back of the room. He
+hesitantly took up his duffel bag and threaded the hall. His stance was
+of a small, shamed child.
+
+'MAKE WAY!' screamed another soldier no one had seen before. People
+cowered before the guy.
+
+He dashed beyond the doors of the hall.
+
+'EIGHTEEN!' the small soldier yelled again. A tall blonde girl ran
+maniacally to the doors and burst through.
+
+This mad ritual went on for almost two hours when the soldier shouted,
+'TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN!'
+
+Adir vaguely recalled *he* was two hundred and sixteen. He could not
+figure out how were his life dependent on it. This had been a strange
+day.
+
+He got up and made his way down the hall.
+
+'MOOOOVE!' the other soldier screeched at him, veins popping on his
+neck. Adir found this odd, as they both stood at the door already. He
+was too tired to dwell on it. He opened the heavy door behind the
+soldier.
+
+Waddling outside to a bright early afternoon sun, squinting in
+confusion, he could see a man walking up to him. He had a green uniform,
+but it was clean and well ironed, and thus Adir wisely came to the
+conclusion that he was an officer.
+
+The officer approached Adir. He had kind eyes and smiled widely.
+
+'Ah, hello! Adir, isn't it?'.
+
+'Yeah,' Adir answered nonchalantly.
+
+'Hello Adir,' the kind officer said. 'Let's see, now, *your* bus is that
+way -- see, the red one with the grey stripe?'
+
+'I see it,' he replied. 'Say, you wouldn't know where its' going, is
+it?'. Smooth as silk.
+
+'Oh, of course. That bus is for the Instruction Base City. You'll go
+through boot camp there.'
+
+Score! INBA city soldiers have touchscreen in the shower and waffles for
+dinner. He couldn't remember who told him that but he felt it was true.
+'The bus will leave in a few minutes. Why don't you go show yourself
+nearby, and you'll get moving soon? I'm sure you've had a long day'.
+
+'It's alright,' he said. 'Thanks'.
+
+Around the bus were gathered several other people. All guys, he noticed.
+'Sweet, huh? INBA CITY!' one of the others shouted at him. 'WOOP WOOP!'
+
+The others around him burst with 'Yeah!-'s and 'Brooooo!'-s and resumed
+smoking their cigarettes.
+
+'Yeah', he said, now confused. 'You guys into computers?'
+
+'No, man', said one. 'That's some boring ass shit!'
+
+INBA city was where people drafted into his role -- Computer Systems
+Infrastructure Managers -- go through boot camp. This means that either:
+
+1\) These people are headed to INBA city, the most luxurious base in the
+force, or
+
+2\) This bus isn't going to INBA city.
+
+It's probably just a logistics thing. Adir was certain things will work
+out.
+
+Chapter II -- The Feline, Or The Language?
+
+Commander Kim gracefully turned away from the blackboard. He surveyed
+the class calmly with a proud smirk, and was content to see no confused
+faces.
+
+'And that is it,' he said. 'That was a good introduction to case
+statements. Does anyone have any further questions?'
+
+'No', the other coursees piped smugly, which Adir found kind of
+annoying.
+
+He raised his hand. Commander Kim looked at him, offended and
+bewildered. 'Yes?'
+
+'Permission to speak, commander'.
+
+'Adir,' he said, 'You don't need to ask for permission to speak anymore.
+This is not boot camp'.
+
+'I understand, commander'.
+
+'And you don't have to call me commander', he added benevolently. 'This
+is not boot camp'.
+
+'I understand, Kim'.
+
+'Adir,' he admonished, 'You can't just call me by my name. I'm not your
+mate from boot camp'.
+
+'I understand, commander'.
+
+'And you don't have to call me commander', he said sternly. 'This is not
+boot camp'.
+
+Adir simply stared at him, relinquishing control of the situation. Kim
+stared back with futile anticipation of a response.
+
+'You had a question,' he prompted after a billion years.
+
+'Yes...'
+
+'...'
+
+'...'
+
+'Commander Kim,' said Commander Kim
+
+'Commander Kim,' said Adir.
+
+'I have a question about case statements, Commander Kim'
+
+'Yes, Adir -- you had a question about case statements'
+
+'Yes'
+
+'Well?'
+
+The guy did not even twitch. It's almost midnight, for god's sake. What
+do they do to these people? *What happens in INBA city?*
+
+'I don't understand'.
+
+'\...You don't understand?' asked Commander Kim
+
+'I don't understand', said Adir.
+
+'You don't understand case statements?' Commander Kim cleverly deducted.
+
+'Commander Kim, I think Adir does not understand case statements',
+Re'em, Adir's desk mate, helpfully pitched in.
+
+'Commander, I don't think I understand case statements', Adir admitted.
+
+'What,' inquired Commander Kim, 'About case statements don't you
+understand?'
+
+'The case statements, commander', Adir stated. 'I lost you a good 50
+minutes ago'.
+
+'We've only been on case statements for the last 30 minutes'
+
+'Yes.'
+
+'Well, then, why didn't you say anything earlier?'
+
+'Commander Kim, Adir did say something earlier', Re'em pitched in.
+
+'I did say something earlier, Commander Kim', confirmed Adir.
+
+'I'm sorry,' said Commander Kim, who was not at all sorry. 'I can't
+quite recall. Could you repeat your question?'
+
+'When we just started,' he said, 'You explained what case statements
+were, and I said I did not understand'.
+
+'I told you to see me after class if you don't understand', Commander
+Kim recalled.
+
+'Yes.'
+
+'I answered your question, then'
+
+'I suppose you did at that'
+
+'But you did not come to me after class'
+
+'Class has yet to end. Commander.'
+
+'Okay,' said Kim, who was clearly going for something else. 'What else
+don't you understand?'
+
+'The whole thing -- you were talking about case statements'
+
+'And?'
+
+'I do not understand case statements'
+
+'Come see me after class', Commander Kim commanded.
+
+'Does anyone have any further questions?'
+
+'No', everyone else piped smugly
+
+'Good. Class is over. Adir, will you come see me, please?'
+
+Adir came to see him. Everyone else left besides Re'em, who was never
+tired because he eats so many coffee beans. Re'em left when Commander
+Kim demanded that he leave.
+
+'Do I really have to leave, Commander Kim?' he insisted. 'I kinda wanna
+see this'.
+
+'You can go back to the hostel with the other soldiers,' Commander Kim
+said.
+
+'Yes, but -'
+
+'Don't you ever but me. I'm not your mate from boot camp'. Re'em sulkily
+crunched a coffee bean.
+
+'Now go'.
+
+With that, they were two.
+
+'Adir,' Commander Kim said with everlasting patience, 'What don't you
+understand about case statements?'
+
+'Well-'
+
+'If you don't understand case statements,' demanded Commander Kim, 'Why
+don't you stay after class to study it?'
+
+'Because it is 11P.M, commander'
+
+'Stop calling me commander'
+
+'I'm sorry, commander'
+
+'Why don't you stay after class?'
+
+'We start at 7AM'
+
+'That you do'
+
+'You must see some fault here'
+
+'I do,' he said. 'You're giving up on yourself'.
+
+Adir thought that was a rather exaggerated statement. 'I think that is a
+rather exaggerated statement', he said.
+
+'When I was a coursee here,' Kim lectured him, 'I did not understand
+case statements. So I stayed late every day, until I understood case
+statements. Do you understand?'
+
+'You have also been studying programming throughout highschool with
+excellence', Adir said. He knew this because Commander Kim often told
+them he had been studying programming throughout highschool, with
+excellence.
+
+'The course requires no prior programming knowledge', Kim reiterated yet
+again.
+
+'And yet, you all have extensive prior programming knowledge'
+
+'Pele does not, either'
+
+'It doesn't matter, because Pele is getting released in a month'
+
+'How did you come to that conclusion?'
+
+'It's true,' Adir insisted, 'he told me.'
+
+They sat at their tent together, in the Spring Buds Rookie Base Harel
+Division Tent Area B. It was cold and damp and there was fuel on the
+floor as always.
+
+'You mark my words, Adir', said Pele, who says very little. This sudden
+outburst alarmed Adir. 'If I am still in the military in three months',
+he proudly intoned, 'then I am a god damned whoreson'.
+
+'Don't be silly', Adir had told him. 'We just got in'
+
+'And no one told me it was so stupid. I'm not going through with this.
+It's just not for me.
+
+You mark my words, Adir. Should I still be drafted three months from
+now, I am a stupid, spineless whoreson.' Adir did mark his words, and
+could not help but admire his perseverance. There's a man who knows what
+he's after.
+
+'What are you on about?' asked Kim.
+
+'Look,' he said. 'I could obviously sit here and grind water for many
+sleepless nights until I understand case statements'
+
+'Good,' Kim said, 'Then it is decided'
+
+'However', Adir said, 'We study for 15 hours everyday'
+
+'And?'
+
+'And I am a human being'
+
+'You're getting off track here'
+
+'I do just dandy at everything else, and I need to work very hard to do
+so, because I'm not supposed to be here. I have only so many hours, and
+I choose to use them to surmount the challenges I can'
+
+'You can do whatever you want if you study hard enough.'
+
+'I have limited time and energy and I choose to spend them thus. If
+you'd like to help, Commander, I'd be grateful. But I just don't have
+the patience to grind through this alone'
+
+'Ask your coursemates.'
+
+'Hey, can you help me with variable type declaration?' Adir had asked
+Tom, who was the best programmer in the course.
+
+'Sure Adir,' said Tom, 'I'm the best programmer in the course. What
+don't you understand about variable declarations?'
+
+'The variable declarations', said Adir.
+
+Tom had gathered the course's finest with a solemn mission -- to teach
+Adir variable declarations. They sat with Adir for about four late
+nights before declaring him unteachable.
+
+'We're sorry, Adir', they had told him, 'But maybe you should ask
+Commander Kim'.
+
+'Do you guys wanna get ice cream or something?'
+
+'It's midnight', said Nitzan.
+
+'Oh, right,' Adir replied.
+
+'What are you on about?' said Kim, finally losing his patience. 'You
+know what? When you put in some *real* effort, I may consider helping
+you. I'll see you tomorrow' he said and left.
+
+Adir left the cold, dead classroom and sat outside, even though he could
+go home. He wished he had some coffee beans. Programming, the feline
+cat, jumped to his lap. They were best buds, even though he was allergic
+to feline cats. And they say he can't pull through.
+
+The next day, Commander Idan spoke to him just before lunch, robbing his
+precious free minutes. They sat outside just within sight and out of
+earshot of everyone else. Commander Idan, while a skilled adversary at
+military mind chess, still fell short of Adir, who has learned to
+anticipate his moves quite easily. First, the admonishment.
+
+'Adir, why were you late this morning?'
+
+'Life gets in the way, Commander'.
+
+'Do you think,' he said, 'When you're on duty, life will get in the
+way?'
+
+'That is very much a possibility, I'm afraid'.
+
+Then, there is the steely gaze.
+
+Commander Idan gazed at him, steely. Adir did nothing in response
+because he was so tired.
+
+Then, the merciful change of subject.
+
+'Commander Kim told me you've been struggling with case statements', he
+said.
+
+'I have been, commander'
+
+'Yet you do not stay late and ask for help from your coursemates'
+
+'I do not, commander'
+
+'Why are you giving up on yourself?' Idan demanded fiercely.
+
+'I think that is a rather exaggerated statement.'
+
+'Look, you've got it in you.' Idan said, inspired. 'Otherwise you would
+not have been here'
+
+'I am not supposed to be here', Adir stated.
+
+'How are you so certain?'
+
+'I turned half my test in empty'
+
+'If you are here', Idan intoned poetically, 'You should be here. Look,
+you got it in you. Wouldn't you like to be a Computer Systems
+Infrastructure Manager?'
+
+'That would be nice', he said
+
+'Don't you feel it burning in your soul?'
+
+'I think that is a rather exaggerated statement.'
+
+'Look, you've got it in you, Adir. What happens if you fail
+Programming?'
+
+'The feline, or the language?'
+
+'What?'
+
+'The feline, or the language?'
+
+'What if you fail the feline, Programming?' Idan asked, dumbstruck.
+
+'I would be greatly upset. We have a special bond'
+
+'So why do you struggle with case statements?'
+
+'What does that have anything to do with the cat?'
+
+'What cat?'
+
+'So the language'
+
+'The programming language, yes'
+
+'Oh. Not the feline cat'
+
+'Don't joke around with me,' said Commander Idan. 'I'm not your mate
+from boot camp. You know, you shouldn't even touch it'.
+
+'The language?'
+
+'No, the feline cat. It's prohibited by martial law'
+
+'Because I think I shouldn't touch the language either'.
+
+There was silence.
+
+'The language should also be prohibited by martial law'.
+
+'\...'
+
+'I'm also severely allergic'
+
+Idan tried the steely gaze again. It was ineffective.
+
+'If I touch my face now,' Adir mused, petting Programming, 'It will be
+so, so bad'.
+
+'If you fail Programming -- *the language*, you will fail the course.
+What will you do if you fail the course?'
+
+'Something else, probably'
+
+'Wouldn't you like to be a Computer Systems Infrastructure Manager?'
+
+'That would be nice'
+
+'Don't you feel it burning in your soul?'
+
+Adir was not listening, because he was so tired, and Programming's fur
+was so soft.
+
+'Don't give up on your self,' Commander Idan preached, 'It says a lot
+about character'.
+
+That got to him. 'I honestly don't understand,' he said, 'Why is it
+considered so awful when I set my own priorities. I'm good at a few of
+the other fields. An hour spent there will help me much, much more that
+an hour of futile programming. I could grind away coding, sure -- but
+I'd like to be good at a few things I already have a grip on, rather
+than a mediocre programmer. Is that so bad?'
+
+'Don't make excuses. We're good at everything'.
+
+'It doesn't work like that'
+
+'Don't give up on yourself,' he said. 'Now go eat lunch. I don't want to
+be having this conversation again'.
+
+Yogev walked up to him. 'I think you're absolutely amazing with
+Programming,' he said in his usual cold, cynicism soaked drone.
+
+'The language?'
+
+'Don't be an idiot', Yogev said. 'The feline cat, of course. Things that
+matter'.
+
+Commander Shilo swung by from somewhere. 'Go! Run!' he told them.
+'There's PE! The Communications commander is here!'
+
+'Yes Commander!' Yogev spat back and took of with a frenzy.
+
+'You too, Adir! Get up! Why are you giving up on yourself?'
+
+Adir was so, so tired, and Programming was purring softly, which Adir
+loved because he'd never had a cat before, much less a feline cat.
+
+'I'm not running', he tossed back, annoyed.
+
+Chapter III -- The Grand Computing Conference Room
+
+'I'm not running!' Adir spat back outraged.
+
+Around them lay pandemonium, with officers, technicians, and the other
+soldiers from Adir's department scattering randomly in every direction.
+
+'What do you mean you're not running!?' roared Henesee, loud enough to
+slow the scattering around them, if momentarily. 'I am your *Department
+Commander!,* and as your ***Department Commander!** I demand that*
+-**'**
+
+'*How are we still having this conversation??'* Adir shouted back at the
+top of his lungs. *'I could have gotten there **TEN TIMES** by now!'*
+
+'*IF I TELL YOU TO GO THAT WAY, THEN -'*
+
+'I WENT TO PICK UP THE TOOLS!'
+
+***'YOU DIDN'T SIGN OFF THE TOOLS?!'*** Henesse screeched at him,
+outraged. Adir thought him moments from fuming with spittle.
+
+He took a deep breath.
+
+'I have finished our little talk, commander, please and thank you', he
+said.
+
+*'*Well *I* have been running like crazy here all morning, while *you
+-*'
+
+'And that is your business, commander, and I wish you best of luck with
+it.'
+
+'Maybe I will be busy preparing your trial, so you'
+
+'Getting tools. Buh-bye now', Adir announced, already pacing back.
+
+Gilad waited around the corner. 'You're an idiot, you know?', he said
+
+'I am aware, yes'.
+
+'You drove them crazy this morning'
+
+'That's not very hard to do'
+
+'They've been searching for you like crazy people. Couldn't find you at
+the Trainer'
+
+'I was behind the Igloo'
+
+'Of course', he said. 'Looking at memes'
+
+'Yes.'
+
+His mistake was caving in and going back to prepare the coffee.
+
+'My mistake was caving in and going back to prepare the coffee', he
+explained to Gilad. 'As soon as I opened the doors David stood there
+staring at me like a deer in the headlights, and I knew I'm in for it'.
+
+'You poor thing', Gilad said unenthused.
+
+'Ronen was there within the minute, lecturing about our responsibility
+to be constantly vigilant, and carry out the drill so that we shall be
+prepared in the event of war'.
+
+'The guy just won't take a hint,' Gilad stated, irritated. 'He's a good
+man but he just won't take a hint. What did you tell him?'
+
+'Look, we've been over this. I will not keep 'undergarments' here. I
+will *never* keep 'undergarments' here. Not for two weeks, not for two
+hours!'
+
+'Not even for the war?' asked Ronen with an air of triumph
+
+'*Especially* not for the war!' Adir proclaimed.
+
+'What if a rocket falls on you?' cried Ronen
+
+'I should hope so', he said to Ronen, who was stunned despite them being
+over this a million times.
+
+'What do you *mean* you hope one lands on you?' Ronen demanded. 'Have
+you ever had a rocket land on you? Oh, it's not pleasant!"
+
+'Because now I'm having a blast!'
+
+'What am I going to tell your parents?' Ronen confronted him sharply.
+'Your son just stood there and got blasted apart?'.
+
+'You can tell them their son is an idiot,' he said. 'Mum already knows.
+Dad, I'm not so sure'.
+
+'Just go to the bunker,' Ronen spat back with visible disgust. 'You've
+done enough'.
+
+'Oh, yes. The bastion. Our stronghold'.
+
+'Could you lay off for five minutes? We'll discuss this later'
+
+'Can't wait. I'll schedule an appointment.'
+
+'Go.'
+
+'You're an idiot', Ana told him back at the smoking area, where they sat
+with Gilad and Max about thirty minutes later. 'Why do you bother
+bickering with them?'
+
+'It pisses me off!'
+
+'Do you think nature's dumbest animal cares?' Gilad rounded on him. 'Do
+you think a guy like Henesee stops after this and thinks, *man, that
+P.F.C is right! I **am** being a jerk!* Do you think this happens in a
+place like this?'
+
+'I'm not a P.F.C for a while. And it doesn't mean I have to take it'
+
+'Kinda does', Max piped in. 'Kinda does. So shut up, youngster'.
+
+'I have a day over you! One extra day in the army!'
+
+'Sure, young'un. Sure you do. But you'll be released later.'
+
+'Over my cold, dead body'
+
+'Maybe. Who knows?'
+
+'Shut up,' said Gilad. 'You've given me a headache.'
+
+They fell silent until yet another air siren died out. Eitan burst from
+inside through the door.
+
+'You finished your coffee?' he queried Ana and Max sarcastically.
+
+'Yeah, ok', Max replied neutrally.
+
+'Just finishing a cig,' Ana said.
+
+'Whatever. Come soon', he told them.
+
+'Gilad, Adir'. With that he left.
+
+'Come,' said Gilad. 'We have to rescue Yoav. They probably got to him as
+well. Crazy people.'
+
+'Do you think Eitan will snitch?'
+
+'Of course. Not like he's got anything better to do', Ana blurt out
+grumpily.
+
+'I'll be dead right inside, per usual', remarked Max.
+
+'I'll go scream into my pillow and change my mail signature,' Ana said.
+'See you at lunch'.
+
+'Give me some credit,' Adir told them. 'I'll swing by much sooner'.
+
+'Your problem', Max said and let the door slam behind them.
+
+'Come on, enough bullshit', Gilad told him. 'We're going to gather as a
+squad and discuss your problem, you idiot. Let's fetch Yoav'
+
+'Do you think he can help?'
+
+'Not even you can help. Come on'
+
+'Like you're not an idiot'
+
+'How dare you', Gilad admonished him. 'I've been stuck here for *two
+years* with these guys. Do you think an idiot like you could have pulled
+two years like that?'
+
+'Over my cold, dead body'
+
+'You've died like a dozen times the last two hours. Calm down,
+princess.'
+
+Unsurprisingly, they found Yoav in the department alone with David, who
+was on with six phones at once.
+
+'Yes, Gilad, I'm still working through the operations log,' he proudly
+told commander Gilad Henesee over the phone. 'Yoav, how's it going with
+the operations log?' he frantically asked. 'Well, there's the -' 'Yoav,
+hang on. No, Ronen, the operation log is incomplete. I can't find Adir
+anywhere. Sent Gilad out to fetch him, and -'
+
+'I'm right here, dude' Adir said, feigning himself hurt. 'You're not
+looking very hard. It's like I don't mean anything to you, man'
+
+'No! Adir, you kind soul, of course you - Ronen, I'll call you right
+back!, just wanted to report, okay? I, uh, I have found Adir -- I will
+add him to the task force, with him and, and uh, Yotam, to handle the
+operations log, quickly. Can you please keep Gilad up to date? No? Okay,
+I'll tell him. Just hang on a second, Adir, don't go anywhere. Yes,
+Gilad, I have Adir here, an- to your office? At 18:00? well, now, look,
+there's a task forc-'
+
+'Thank god,' Yotam said as the door slammed on David alone in the
+platoon. 'The guy really needs a break! They won' t stop calling'.
+
+'Really?' Adir asked innocently. 'It's been a slow day'.
+
+'Ronen just sits upstairs and constantly calls Gilad, who constantly
+calls David, who constantly calls Dor, who is constantly called by
+Johnny -- how does anything get done? They just sit around and call each
+other. No one ever gets up!'
+
+'You have a call', Gilad said.
+
+Adir snatched the phone. 'We're at Operations, David', he said quickly
+and out of breath. 'The new server fell! Yoav helped set it up so he can
+help'
+
+'Look, I need Yoa-'
+
+'I'm sorry, I'm being bombarded with calls. Call you from inside', he
+said and hung up.
+
+'Poor David', Yoav said.
+
+'He chose this', Adir said. 'Part of the job, dealing with pricks like
+me'.
+
+'Shut up,' said Gilad. 'My head hurts, because of you two.'
+
+'I didn't say any-'
+
+'You too. Off to the Great Computing Conference Room.'
+
+Another siren blared, and everyone else conveniently rushed in the
+opposite direction. The three naturally assumed a stance of great
+importance and strode with purpose until everyone was holed up again.
+
+And there they were: The Great Computing Conference Room, the Computing
+Department's pride and joy.
+
+The other departments in the platoon all had their spots --
+Communications had the smoking area, and even Comms -- cursed as they
+were -- could sit around in their spacious room and never talk to each
+ever, as they often do, because nobody cares what Comms do, including
+Comms.
+
+Yet Computing had been deprived of that joy -- besieged by the
+department (the room) a few steps down the road next to the airfield,
+Communications Platoon command a bit further inward and the Base Command
+right across, they stood no chance. Until Gilad, tired and greatly
+depraved of the silence he so desired, had come to a decision.
+
+'This is the Great Computing Conference Room', he had told Yoav and Adir
+one day when they arrived out back of the Tradition Room, further away
+from the airstrip just before Construction. 'Look at the luxury! There
+is this nice ledge, here, and we can shelter at Construction if it
+rains, and no one comes here ever'.
+
+'Yes, I guess no one does', mused Adir, who stared even further away
+towards the Igloo with sudden interest, as no one had ever done before.
+
+'What are we going to do here?' Yoav asked, skeptical. 'We're just going
+to sit here with our coffee and discuss events of the day?
+
+'We are going to sit here with our coffee,' Gilad curtly explained, 'And
+discuss events of the day'.
+
+The three sank in deep thought.
+
+'You know,' Adir told them, 'There really is way too much going on.'
+
+'There's no such thing as too much for the sons and daughters of Job
+Field Airbase!' Yoav proudly proclaimed, giggling.
+
+'Shut up,' Gilad said.
+
+'Shut up,' Adir said.
+
+'No, I mean, every day here can be a damned soap opera. Something
+happens every single day'
+
+'You know,' admitted Gilad, 'It's true.'
+
+'A real *Computanovella*', said Yoav
+
+*'*Shut u- no, wait. That's actually brilliant', said Gilad.
+'*Computanovella, chapter 3253: Opal configures the squadron's mails*'
+
+*'*God, that was a disaster', said Adir*.*
+
+*'Computanovella, episode 6386: David fixes a keyboard'*, Yoav continued
+
+'The motherboard!' cried Adir. 'We ended up replacing the motherboard!
+The guy wouldn't listen!'
+
+'He's a good guy, but he just can't take a hint!'
+
+'*Computanovella, episode 4972: Adir discovers Igloo meme-haven'*, Adir
+added, excited.
+
+'When was that?' asked Yoav
+
+'Why, today', Adir replied, looking further off with newfound greed.
+
+'You're an idiot', said Gilad. 'As well as a co-founder of the Great
+Computing Conference Room, where we have just proven the system works'
+
+'Our system', stated Yoav
+
+'Of course', Adir retorted. 'Who else's? Those animals?'
+
+'What are you doing here?!' barked some officer they'd never seen at
+them.
+
+'What are *we* doing here??' Adir shot up and confronted him. 'What are
+*you* doing here?!'
+
+'Me?! How dare you! While you loiter an-'
+
+'*Loiter!?* You come waltzing in from headquarters and think you know it
+all? Can't you see we're discussing strategy?'
+
+'*Out in the open?*' the officer demanded. 'That's against information
+security regulations!'
+
+'It is!' Adir cried. 'This is a confidential zone! You trespass and run
+off to complain about us? Wait until your commander hears this!'
+
+'What?? I-'
+
+'You're leaving', said Adir, 'and we part as friends'.
+
+The officer checked the time on his iPhone. 'I don't have time for
+this,' he muttered and strode off.
+
+Chapter IV -- The Machine Is Perfect
+
+Delicate, smooth waves of sandy motes gently blew past the virgin,
+desolate sands of Firing Range Six. Unbelievably tall hills, the tallest
+Adir had ever seen, masked the source of the harsh salty wind spray,
+turbulent ocean waters a rich shade of deep blue in the day's furnace.
+He thought it a terrible waste to designate such a place to the
+military.
+
+He took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the baked, tainted earth
+filling him completely. The warmth even took away some of the cold
+indifference in the muffled shouts he could hear.
+
+"Fire!", he just made out, and pulled the trigger. The shockwave met
+rough, dirty green linen as it coarsed through him without resistance.
+
+Even through the earplugs, the roar of gunpowder was deafening. The
+media never gets it right -- it's such a raw, explosive noise, such a
+vicious boom of hate and violence ready to pierce both flesh and soul.
+
+*"**Fire!***", the cry came again, and Adir smoothly fell to a crouch
+with accustomed movement. Six more rounds, the ritual uninterrupted -- a
+little nudge to position the butt of the rifle, squeezing the cheek
+against the disgusting, sweat-sodden stock, making contact around the
+dirty plastic barrel, pulling it close, closer. closing an eye, holding
+breath, and finally -- the mental leap to pull the trigger, and embrace
+the violence about to surge past you.
+
+"Fire!", and Adir dropped to the ground and fired ten more bullets with
+a clean, timed rhythm. He hated how he found it both therapeutic and
+awesome at the same time, like some dumb middle schooler with a new
+Xbox.
+
+"Cease fire! Cease fire!"
+
+Adir lowered Karl and took out his earplugs.
+
+"CHECK SAFETY!"
+
+"CHECK SAFETY!" they all shouted back.
+
+"RIFLE -- SIXTY DEGREES!"
+
+"RIFLE -- SIXTY DEGREES!"
+
+"MAGAZINE -- PULL OUT!"
+
+"MAGAZINE -- PULL OUT!"
+
+"**RIFLE -- DISCHARGE FOR EXAMINATION!"**
+
+"RIFLE, DISCHARGE FOR EXAMINATION!"
+
+Adir quickly discharged his rifle and kept it up. He found this part
+harder than the actual gunfire.
+
+The company commander made the usual scurry behind them.
+
+"Discharge indicator," she spat at Ran at the edge of the line and
+tapped his shoulder.
+
+"Discharge indicator! Discharge indicator!"
+
+She tapped his shoulder as well. "Discharge indicator!"
+
+Adir put in his discharge indicator. The company commander finished the
+survey.
+
+"RIFLE, DISARM!" she roared. Adir pressed the thingy and disarmed Karl.
+
+"You may lower your rifles," said the company commander.
+
+"SHOOTERS, CROSS THE LINE OF FIRE!" Commander \#5 took back charge and
+lashed at them, perfectly conveying his deep displeasure of the
+situation. Disgusting prick.
+
+Everyone slung their blistering rifles aside carefully, and began
+running across the slosh of sand and old military gunk to the cardboard
+targets afoot the great wall of sand.
+
+He somehow got to his first. He looked up, fascinated to the shrubs
+hanging of the hill's side. How can it grow in such a hostile place?
+
+"Adir", said commander Gal. Adir shot her a surprised glanced -- he did
+not see her running with them. Commander Gal, in turn, seemed surprised
+by his surprise.
+
+"Let's take a look. How do you think you did?"
+
+"How I did?"
+
+"Yes. Do you think you hit?"
+
+"Hit? Hit what? We're not supposed to hit anything"
+
+"The targets", she said, masking a confident smile.
+
+"Oh! The targets!"
+
+"Yes! Do you think you hit?"
+
+"Well of course I hit the targets. That's what we're supposed to hit,
+isn't it?"
+
+"You know, not everyone hits at all."
+
+"Kind of funny for a soldier"
+
+Gal was already inspecting the battered cardboard cutout. Adir thought
+shaping it like a person is quite distasteful, considering his battalion
+of computer guys, university students and general staff.
+
+"Come with me. The next round is coming up."
+
+She started jogging back, and he took it as an excuse to avoid another
+sprint as well.
+
+They crossed the line, and she motioned him further on, past the
+crumbling concrete wall. They were out of the range.
+
+"What side did you end up firing on?"
+
+"I think it was right this time."
+
+"Is this your rifle?"
+
+"Yes, this is Karl."
+
+She gave him a distasteful look. He didn't argue. That lot doesn't get
+it.
+
+"And you have yours with you, commander"
+
+"Yes, of course," Gal said, flustered. She had lent him her rifle on the
+previous shootout so they could determine on which side he shoots.
+
+"Do you think you did any better?"
+
+"I honestly don't remember how it went last time."
+
+"Adir, didn't you shoot about ten minutes ago?"
+
+He stared blankly.
+
+"Well, let's see", she browsed her dusty notepad, flipping back and
+fourth between the pages.
+
+"How strange."
+
+"Yea."
+
+"I didn't tell you anything yet."
+
+"Yea."
+
+Gal gave him a somewhat concerned look and gave a small sigh. "You hit
+all but two dead center," she said. "If no one this round hits it all,
+you're first in the company and second in the battalion."
+
+Adir continued staring blankly, not registering at all.
+
+"You had the exact same score on both hands. Never seen it before."
+
+"So I can go akimbo?"
+
+"Could you what?"
+
+"Can I go akimbo, commander?"
+
+"Explain yourself, please, Adir"
+
+"Two rifles, one on each hand, commander", he curtly explained.
+
+"Every soldier gets one rifle, Adir". That lot doesn't get it.
+
+"But I have two"
+
+"That's because Yuval is sick today."
+
+"Oh, he is? Is that why I have his rifle?"
+
+"You can't go akimbo."
+
+"Damn shame. Knew I should have gone to combat. I'm wasted talent at
+communications"
+
+"That's enough. You're out of line. Go rejoin the squad"
+
+"Yes, commander".
+
+Adir could feel the vibrations in the earth as he kindly waited for Gal
+to turn her back and head away from the squad into the smallest bit of
+shade. He awarded her this great courtesy because she was both a
+commander and a human, a rare gem in Spring Buds Rookie Base.
+
+Commander Gal later found him in the ruins of the old ammunition bunker
+with a few drifters from other companies.
+
+"Where are your commanders?!" she shouted as they scrammed back outside.
+Adir looked up and was once again surprised to see her.
+
+"Why were you staring like that?"
+
+Adir was even further surprised by her lack of antagonism. Commander \#5
+would have fried him alive. Disgusting prick.
+
+"I'm sorry, commander. I don't follow".
+
+"You were staring at your rifle."
+
+"Karl?"
+
+Commander Gal gave another resigned sigh. "You were staring at your
+rifle, Karl".
+
+"Was I? I\...I've been trying to stop it. Keeps happening."
+
+They locked eyes for a few seconds.
+
+"Is everything okay?"
+
+He hesitated.
+
+"There was.. an incident. Shortly before I was drafted". Should he
+really state that? It hasn't even been a month. And yet, it seems so far
+off.
+
+"The machine is perfect", she said suddenly with cold determination.
+
+Adir frowned.
+
+"The rifle", she said, moving her own around and inspecting it
+reverently, "Is a perfect machine. It is a simple mechanism, executed to
+perfection.
+
+The flaw," she added, "Is always who holds the trigger".
+
+With that, she stood up and walked away, leaving Adir with a rare quiet
+moment to steam gazing at the sands, weak mind racing with new thought.
+
+Chapter V \[Unordered\] -- Air Force Headquarters
+
+Above all, it was silent. The grand, modern skyscraper, always busting
+with activity, stood as a monument to the advancement, the brashness,
+standing in defiance of the comforting spring sun.
+
+Soft white rays of light made their lazy way to the grey brick path
+littered with remnants of old cigarettes, the wooden benches crumbling,
+not a hand tapping against the white tin sealing the narrow passageway.
+On, the silence went, to the grand space afoot the scraper, the curves
+brutally leading your eyes up, up so high, the distance not only
+physical but mental as well, so high you could not bear to look. It
+draws you into the guts, the cold marble floors and the metallic high
+ceilings, looking ahead towards the way up to the towers.
+
+One can almost miss the small passageway aside, the chrome gates barring
+you out and caging you in, and you stand alone with the massive metal
+door flung aside, and yet hanging there menacingly. Beyond the doorstep
+lies an older era, not unlike an old hospital, checkered tiles worn and
+bright wooden railing leading your descent. To him, it felt a descent
+into madness, watching the officers run up and down in a frenzy,
+enlisted men slunking up, all professional, and nothing echoes but the
+sound of heavy boots. Further and further down, each stop a different
+realm of the same kingdom -- the operators, the intelligence guys,
+co-ordinators, and you're at the bottom. You're home.
+
+The creak of the floating tiles sears into your very soul, so repulsive
+you tread lightly. You know where to step -- often blamed for sowing
+fear and deceit in the banging and crashing that never follow your path
+like the rest. The effort is unnecessary today -- today is cold, even
+colder than usual, because the beast is dead and the facade is finished
+for now. The silence follows, out of habit, further up the passageway
+and away from the storage area, the crypt of many bright ideals and
+long, successful careers, gone and forgotten. On and on, to the very
+source of the seeping cold -- the wide blank doors.
+
+You have nothing to do there, you are seldom wanted there, but there
+lies your promise, your right, your legacy. None watch behind the
+cameras today, and so you take a deep breath, hear the faint metallic
+*clunk* and step inside.
+
+Rows upon rows upon rows of the very best, as good as it gets, fill this
+cramped white cavern to the brim, wires running up the causeways just
+over your head as thick as a man or two. Here, you tread with even more
+care -- below the soft floors lie more and more wires, delicate strands
+of life, a life that should have been yours, that *are* yours, a life
+that inside yourself, and surfacing, you know you will never live. You
+browse the rows, back and fourth, watching the text fly on unclosed
+consoles, hearing the hum of electricity, the screech of a false warm
+gale your only solace this deep.
+
+You know each and every cabinet -- what it does, why it's there, how to
+handle it -- at least you think you do, but that doesn't matter -- you
+are not needed. You are not wanted.
+
+You consider going back inside, with what few *elders* remain, if only
+to find something warm to wear, and as revolting as the thought is, you
+head back out the blank doors, sealing them -- as you know -- for the
+very last time -- thought none other know yet.
+
+Of its own will, your hand reaches out to the searing metal, and pulls
+-- to a muted clunk. Nothing.
+
+You are shunned. You are alone. You are relieved, and you are hurt.
+
+The only other way is back, back to the small room with a small blanket,
+to dose off yet again and let this strange dream pass by as you drift
+aimlessly towards the warmth. The creaking metal door swings in with a
+hiss, and an old breeze wafts by, the stench of sweat, dust, and
+despair. The metal slams with a bang, the first real noise in ages, and
+darkness leaps into you and envelopes you completely.
+
+The only sound your ragged breath. The only scent ashes of those who
+have long since left. The only sensation your blood pulsing in delicate
+veins behind strained ears, aimlessly seeking a sing of life.
+
+You cannot stand this a second longer. There is nothing for you here.
+There is nothing for you there. There is nothing for you up. Up, at
+least, you trade the lying wind for the spring sun. You begin your
+ascent again. You know it to be one of your last -- so you dream, so you
+will, but where will you go? Anywhere but here. There must be someplace
+better. Or is there?
+
+Out, out past the checkered tiles and thudding boots, past the fearsome
+metal door, past the chrome gates and through that massive hall, small
+and alone. Out to the foothills of this monster, a speck across the
+grand entryway, drifting with the soft light to the crumbling benches,
+lowering with a gentle croak of old wood.
+
+Outside, just a hand above your head and a small plunge, you can hear
+the happy chatter of people, the heavy engines of buses, impatient
+screeches of cars loaded with families and friends on with their day,
+blissfully unaware of this.
+
+His eyes drawn up, and he could finally see the top of the building.
+
+Adir spread out his arms, crossed his legs, and with his head tilted
+upwards he closed his eyes and soaked up every last bit of warmth he
+could gather.
+
+Chapter VI \[Unordered\] -- Getting helped
+
+Adir warily made his way deeper and deeper into the base. He had not
+been here in months, and felt a strong mixture of emotions he had
+trouble deciphering.
+
+Right now, he did not have the liberty to dwell on it. He knew that if
+he faltered, if he breaks face, the tight reins will snap right off, and
+he'll do something he'll regret.
+
+His appointment was at 11:30 -- about as late as possible if he is to
+make it to his lesson afterwards. Today was biology, scheduled for
+Genetic Engineering -- he could not bear to miss it, long as he's
+awaited it. For months and months he's been waiting on a response from
+the military, and how like them, he thought bitterly, to break radio
+silence at the most inconvenient time.
+
+He could not tell them that, of course, since his studies are illegal by
+martial law. Whatever ills he may have committed - this was
+unforgivable. This set him on the warpath.
+
+He made a small attempt at fixing his scruffy beard -- still an
+unfamiliar motion, and at this situation it seemed unreal. He had
+forgotten how *smooth* everyone was, heads and face shaven for the men
+and long, carefully gathered ponytails for the women. He had forgotten
+how hot and uncomfortable the uniform was, to the point he had wondered
+whether by design, how heavy and clumsy the boots.
+
+He arrived hot, sweating, uneasy, extremely self conscious, and worst of
+all -- very early.
+
+Adir hated it here - a raw, seething hatred. He had done his very best
+to arrive just in time, and leave as soon as possible -- but now he had
+a full forty-five minutes to spend before he can slowly muster the
+courage to make his appointment.
+
+He could go down to the pit, of course, and see his old coursemates
+again. He wanted to, but was afraid of what he will find -- and afraid
+of what they will see. Will they see a determined student, fighting
+against all odds to follow his dream, or a depressed wreck trying
+desperately to save himself?
+
+So he revisited his habit from the worst of his days and sat outside on
+the disgusting benches aside the construction site, where he could stay
+in the shade and covertly watch everyone go by. Even the worst of
+slackers could not go out for a smoke this time of the day, so he should
+have some peace. He did not have to reclaim his phone and that was a
+difference he found great solace in.
+
+And just as luck would have it, a few general workers quickly scurried
+past and rolled out a red carpet.
+
+This can't be good.
+
+The first sergeant showed up not long after, trailed by a swarm of fresh
+officers and P.F.C's from public relations, and his glanced went to Adir
+like a starved hound.
+
+As much as he would have enjoyed making the smug bastard work for it,
+Adir did not have the capacity to deal with this today. He got up and
+started heading off in a random direction, but he was too slow and by
+that point he was within earshot.
+
+'Oh, no no no no', the sergeant piped smugly at him. "I want to hear
+this. Don't you move another step'.
+
+Torn by his desire to flip the guy off and roll into a ball and cry,
+Adir casually leaned on one of the wooden pillars conveniently nearby.
+
+He could soon feels the man's piping hot breath on his face. So that's
+how it's going to be.
+
+'Stand up straight while you're talking to me'.
+
+So he did.
+
+'And look at me when I'm talking to you!'
+
+'You don't have to yell. I can quite clearly hear you'.
+
+'Now just what do you think you're doing here?'
+
+'I'm obviously missing something. Is there a reason I should not be?'
+
+'You're joking'
+
+'I'm completely serious. Please, tell me'
+
+'Have you not checked you email in the last three months?'
+
+'I have not.'
+
+That set him back. 'First I'm hearing about a headquarters soldier with
+no access to a computer, but okay. Surely, one of your commanders have
+told you'.
+
+Adir did not mentally prepare for this, and he was desperate to escape
+the situation.
+
+'No,' he said.
+
+'Who is your commander?'
+
+'I... don't know.'
+
+The sergeant was dumbstruck by the honesty in Adir's voice, and was
+suddenly compassionate.
+
+'Kid, how long have you been here?'
+
+'I'd really rather not talk about it. Look, whatever it is, I don't want
+to know. I'll just scram.'
+
+'I've asked you a question'.
+
+A few of the officers were curiously listening from the back, surprised
+the exchange is taking so long.
+
+'Since September'
+
+'You're telling me', he said, furious, 'You've been here since
+*September* and you don't know your commander, soldier?'
+
+'Let me go somewhere in peace.'
+
+'What do you mean somewhere? Do you have no place to go?'
+
+Adir lost his patience. 'Gee, thanks for rubbing it in. Yea, I have no
+place to go. No one in this rathole gives a damn fuck about where I am
+or what I do. And you know what? It's none of your damn business. You
+told me to leave -- I'm leaving, and that's all there is to it. You can
+go ahead and report me, too -- if you find out who's supposed to take
+care of it, please -- let me know. I sure have no stinking idea'.
+
+'That's how it is? Alright then. I'll teach you how to behave and we'll
+find your commander just dandy. What's your name?'
+
+'Fuck off and good luck', Adir tossed back and left. The rest were too
+stunned to do anything.
+
+Great. That killed off a good ten minutes. And now he'd lost his temper.
+
+\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--
+
+By the time he'd found the place in the maze of floors, corridors,
+offices and unhelpful secretaries, Adir had composed himself again. Just
+in time, he rapped the door gently.
+
+A tall middle aged woman opened the door. She was tall, fairly handsome,
+and had a soft, comforting air around her.
+
+'Hi! Good to have you here. Your name?'
+
+'I am Adir. I have the 11:30 appointment'
+
+'Ah, yes. Adir! I've been waiting quite a while to see you. Please, wait
+here for a bit and I'll be with you shortly'.
+
+'OK'.
+
+'Alright. Should not be long'.
+
+He sat down in the austere waiting room. It had the same dull cream
+color like everywhere in the towers. It was cramped, and some attempt at
+making it comforting had clearly taken place, making it all the more
+disheartening. Since he can't actually have his phone here, he was stuck
+in silence with the pretty but cool assistant, who stared at him
+shamelessly like some peculiar beast.
+
+"Adir? Would you come in please?"
+
+Adir's trance had broken, and he wordlessly stepped inside. The room was
+much brighter, and very minimal -- a simple wooden desk, and to its
+corner a chair against the wall, and nothing else.
+
+Behind the desk was a massive window overlooking the entryway, now with
+a rolling red carpet and lots of soldiers in clean, ironed and
+immaculate uniforms standing motionless. The sight hurt him, and he
+could not say why.
+
+The woman sat down behind the desk.
+
+'Hello, Adir. I am Dr. Tamar Hussberg, and I've been the mental health
+officer here for more than fifteen years. I understand you have been
+asking for help for quite some time, and I just want to ask some
+questions and see where we stand. Is that okay?'
+
+Adir shrugged and gave a feeble nod, not daring to do much else.
+
+'Please, sit down. No need to be so dense. This is unofficial business.
+Everything here is completely confidential.'
+
+He did not realize he had been standing in the middle of the room. He
+slowly made for the small chair and sat down, back to the wall and
+facing Dr. Tamar and the entryway below.
+
+'Adir, tell me about your family. Do you have any brothers or sisters?'
+
+'A younger brother and a younger sister.'
+
+'Do any of them serve in the army'
+
+'No. My brother is 13, and my sister 17'.
+
+'I see. Does your sister has a drafting date?'
+
+'I... don't know', it occurred to him. How could he be so selfish? And
+with her drafting, no less!
+
+'What do your parents do?'
+
+'My father is a physicist. My mother is a lawyer.'
+
+'Living together?'
+
+'Yes, thankfully'
+
+'Where do they work?'
+
+'Dad works for the ministry of defense. Mom works at a private firm'
+
+'Very nice. Good home', Tamar said, smiling warmly.
+
+Adir could not help but smirk as well. 'Yes, it is. Things are good'.
+
+'Many young men come here with issues they bring from home. I suppose
+you feel this is not the case here?'
+
+'No, not at all'
+
+'That's great. How long have you been in the army?'
+
+Adir had to take a moment to recall. Tamar noticed this and frowned.
+
+'Funny, soldiers usually spit it out down to the hour. When did you
+draft?'
+
+'December 2016'
+
+'Then that puts you... about halfway, doesn't it?'
+
+He had to take a moment to let it in. 'Yes,' he said tensely.
+
+The halfway point -- *Touching the wall* as people call it. Adir had no
+idea it had been so long.
+
+'Quite unusual for soldiers to come up here so late into their service.
+Especially outside of combat. Did you finish highschool?'
+
+'Yes'
+
+'Good grades?'
+
+'Great grades'
+
+'Hard study?'
+
+'Not terribly. I liked what I did'
+
+'What did you major in?'
+
+'Biotechnology'
+
+'Sounds fascinating'
+
+'It is. I can think of nothing more amazing'
+
+'Your role in the army... I've had it written down somewhere. Something
+to do with computers?'
+
+'The course is called 'Computing systems infastructure management'
+
+'Sound big.'
+
+'I wouldn't know'
+
+'That's quite far off from Biotech. How did you get into it?'
+
+'I never did. That's what I was offered, and I took it'.
+
+'Doesn't sound like they'd offer it to just anyone.'
+
+'I was screened beforehand. Did okay, but nothing spectacular'.
+
+'The recruiters thought otherwise'
+
+'I suppose'
+
+'So, Adir - you come from a good home. You had a good education in a
+field you're passionate about. You have a prestigious role in the
+military, and you're halfway through your service, stationed in air
+force headquarters, widely considered the best station in the military.
+
+I don't recall seeing anyone with a similar background here lately at
+all. What is it that's been weighting you down?'
+
+Adir thought about all his old coursemates and how they withered, how
+they hunkered down and became less and less responsive each day. He
+wondered if Tamar was lying, or if they were all too cowardly to get
+help. Tamar was friendly and with a docile smile, but he could not help
+but feel this was a crackdown, an assault. He chalked it down to
+paranoia.
+
+'I am depressed', Adir said . 'I've realized it a few months ago, but I
+am depressed. I've been depressed since the moment I got drafted, and
+it's getting unbearable. I don't know where else to turn.'
+
+'Why now?'
+
+'It's not now. I've been asking for help since December.'
+
+'Seems highly unlikely -- response time is two weeks. Sure, things get
+delayed -- this is a big base -- but not that delayed.
+
+But never mind that. Adir -- I don't think you're in a state to
+self-diagnose. Depression is a mental disease, and is very different
+from what healthy people exhibit, even in difficult times. Why would you
+say you're depressed?'
+
+'Depressed, down, sad, whatever you name it. I.. I don't know. What I do
+know is I just can't keep up. I have trouble sleeping. I feel sick and
+weak. I have trouble getting myself out of bed in the morning, and
+sometimes I... I don't. I have trouble talking to people -- I hadn't
+spoken to anyone in my squad in forever. I don't know what else to do.'
+
+'Adir, I understand you're facing difficulties. The military is a harsh,
+unforgiving place. People are moved from their homes, their lives, to
+something strange unfamiliar, and note everyone copes well -- and that's
+okay. I think we can start a gradual treatment, and see how we can ease
+things up for you."
+
+Adir sat silent, contemplating.
+
+"I can offer, say -- once a month?'
+
+The bastards. He fucking knew in. He fucking knew they can't pull
+through!
+
+'Look, Tamar -- do you want to know why I'm *really* here?'
+
+'We can discuss it next time, Adir'
+
+'I still have time. It's been, what -- fifteen minutes? I've been
+waiting almost seven months. I'm asking you to listen'
+
+'Go ahead'
+
+'I am here because... I am a defector. I have not set foot here since
+January, and no one has bothered to do anything about it, because no one
+cares.
+
+I am here because I have been taking drastic measures to save my mental
+health.
+
+I am a strong person. I am a fighter. And I've been battling *this* --
+whatever it's called -- for almost a year and a half now.
+
+And I'm here because, for the first time - I feel like I'm losing. Every
+day gets harder, and I have to find some respite. I *have* to. Next
+month will not do. I need help -- real help. And if you can't
+provide...'.
+
+Tamar frowned in concetration.
+
+'Since January... That makes it five months. That's the longest I've
+ever heard of.'
+
+'That's why it took so long. Because I have no commander. Because nobody
+cares about me.'
+
+'Do you not report in every morning?'
+
+'Hell, I couldn't even if I'd wanted to. Half the squad switched out
+already. The new commanders have never set eyes on me and my access card
+has expired a good four months ago.'
+
+'But you should be arrested! Had you no contact with MP's?'
+
+'None", he chuckled bitterly. "That's the beauty of being invisible,
+isn't it?'
+
+Tamar broke the drawn out silence.
+
+'Adir, I find this highly unlikely.'
+
+'I know you do. I do as well. But take a *good look* at me -- do you
+think I had that beard approved? Can you see I bear no rank? Please, be
+my guest -- let's go down to the pit right now and see if anyone
+recognizes me at all.'
+
+'How did this happen?'
+
+'Quite simple, really. I got worse. No one wanted to deal with it. So
+they threw me out.
+
+This is my third stationing, with another rejecting me from the
+beginning. They see I'm having trouble so they kick me out. Here, they
+made quite the spectacle of it too.'
+
+'What do you do to pass the time?'
+
+'I took up my sanity into my own hands. Around late December, I realized
+help isn't coming.
+
+So just before lunch, I got up and left for the campus nearby. Ten
+minute bus ride.
+
+I went to see a university advisor. They said they have a prep opening
+the following week for the March semester.
+
+I signed up, and I've been going every day since. I do something I like
+again.'
+
+'\...For a full degree?'
+
+'For a full degree. If the military doesn't give a shit about my time, I
+may as well do something with it.'
+
+Tamar took a deep sigh.
+
+'So what do you want?'
+
+'It's too late for me. No one wants me here.'
+
+'*So what do you want?*'
+
+'What do you mean, what do I want? Aren't you supposed to help,
+somehow?'
+
+'I need a goal from you.'
+
+'Once a month won't do.'
+
+'*So what do you want?'*
+
+Adir took a deep breath.
+
+'I want out.'
+
+Tamar gracefully got up, and handed Adir a small, colorful pamphlet.
+
+'These are mental diseases. Depression, Bi-polar syndrome. Mania,
+Schizophrenia and friends.
+
+Take a good long read, and see if anything fits.
+
+It won't.'
+
+Adir looked up, shocked.
+
+'Pick one, or get out.'
+
+He got out.