Revising older chapters; moved some to be added
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Chapter II -- The New Cyber Kids
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'So, I'm standing there like an utter idiot, and all of a sudden the
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syringe flies across the room and into my shoulder!' Adir was telling
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several of his new coursemates, all huddled excitedly.
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'Into your *shoulder?*' Karin asked with silent awe. She always spoke
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silently.
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'Still have a nasty mark,' he answered, 'Look'. He lowered the thick
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green uniform to reveal a blackened old bruise. 'This is where it went
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in', he gestured just below the neck.
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'And I though I had it bad', said Dennis. 'I still think I had it bad.
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Bastards wouldn't let me out for a smoke. We sat there for hours'.
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'Well, you got in front of me in line. You have the bigger Personal
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Number.'
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'That's Time Length!' Sharon excitedly pitched in. 'Nothing's more
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important!'
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Adir found the whole concept of 'Time Length' *incredibly* stupid.
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'Alright, line up', Shani said from the now open classroom door, just
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enough for them to hear. Adir has yet to decide his stance on the whole
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constant shouting business, now that's it's over with.
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They lined up in front of the classroom, all fourty two of them.
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'One minute to attention', Shani said coldly. 'Look nice for the Course
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Commander'.
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'ONE MINUTE TO ATTENTION!' bellowed Roi. Well, maybe not entirely over
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with.
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After much more than a minute, the CC showed up.
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'Alright, alright', he chuckled. 'Come on, get inside'.
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It was 11AM and Adir was fiercly struggling to stay awake. The CC was
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vigoursly instructing them on Operating System Internals, and Adir
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realised that for the first time in all these months he is in real
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jepoardy of dozing off. He stood up -- joining most of his coursemates
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at this point.
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Much to his surprise, Re'em nudged his shoulder. He had fallen asleep.
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Adir suddenly felt a wave of despair. What else is he supposed to do?
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'Could I go?' he suddenly blurted out to the CC.
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The CC stopped mid-sentence, and everyone turned their fragile attention
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to him. The officer was so surprised he did not even seem about to scold
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him.
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'Go?' he asked, frowning with puzzlement.
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'Yea'.
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Silence fell, and eventually Adir realised the CC was expecting him to
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say something else.
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'Pee, I mean'.
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Yotam did not expect this from Adir, who had never piped up before.
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'Be a bit more professional next time, please', he said, and gestured at
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the door. Adir fuddled out with elation.
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'The key,' Yotam added.
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'Here man', mumbled Bar and tossed the keys at him. They hit his face
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and fell to his hands.
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The heavy metal door closed behind him. He stood at the small, empty
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space outside, overlooking the muddy nothing with the few benches in
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between. Everyone was still studying.
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He took a deep, exhausted breath. He felt the warm sun on his uniform.
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He stretched lazily, feeling some strength returning.
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Adir rounded the small classroom towards the restrooms, very slowly,
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humming to himself.
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He inserted the key in the door -- to his surprise, it was unlocked.
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A tall, red headed coursee opened the door. Behind him was another
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squat, dark haired soldier.
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'What?' he demanded.
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Adir saw his stripithings. Black and white. These must be the new Cyber
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coursees.
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Asocial as he was, even Adir picked up on the long lasting rivalry
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between the Computer Systems Infastructure Managers and the Cyber
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Security Defense Specialists. He could not understand why -- they do
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pretty much the same thing -- but this was a fact of this place,
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inherited one course cycle at a time. He did not buy into it, though. He
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would treat this person with utmost respect.
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'Pee', he answered diplomatically.
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The Cyberer sighed.
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'Don't make a mess', he reprimanded. 'We clean this up later'.
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'Everyone cleans this up later', he said. The Cyberer looked at him as
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one might a deranged, fuming chimpanzee.
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He 'ugh'd and left.
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By the time he got back around the classroom, everyone was outside. How
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long has it been?
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Naturally, he went to his desk for his three minutes of intense sleep.
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When he sat down in front of the computer, however, he did something
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else -- and was not quite sure why.
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'I don't understand why you would act like this', Commander Dan told
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him. 'You've been a good soldier so far. Where is this coming from?'
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Adir was vaguely aware of the situation. They were sitting around one of
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the tables outside, after Dan pulled him out from class. He suddenly
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felt cold.
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Adir did not answer, because he genuinly did not know what this is
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about. Why can't he hold on to thoughts lately?
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Dan did that thing where he sits and stares until Adir blurts something
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out to break the silence. Every single soldier ever trained for command
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used this tactic liberally, certain all the enlisted would break under
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their steely gaze.
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It never worked on Adir, and he quite liked seeing confusion creeping up
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their faces.
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Dan was a bit proud for that, though. 'You skipped out on the CC's
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lesson,' he continued, 'And now you write this nonsense on the course
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forum. You're one of the better soldiers here. Why?'
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Adir's poem burst out from the nothing, and he was supremely proud of
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it. It read thus:
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The New Cyberers / Pooshellu
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The Man Bar hands me the key,
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Methinks to meself, make water I shall
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And just when the hand reaches out for the trousers
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Into the room enter the new Cyberees.
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The first's eyes fall to my stripthings
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Purple is great, yet he did not see it thus
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His nose rising just shy of his brows
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'What, do you have a bathroom key too?' he asks
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The restrooms are for all coursees, says I
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Yet Cybereeno remains unimpressed
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*Do me a favor, he begs with a look of plea*
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Don't thrash the bathroom
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Wer'e cleaning them later.
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'I thought it was funny', he stated.
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'And you came here to laugh?', Dan inquired.
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He stared Adir down again. Adir mulled the question over.
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'I know things are difficult', Dan finally gave out, 'But get a grip.
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You've been given a great privelege. Act like it'. He left.
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The others were just pouring out, and as soon as Dan was out of sight
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many they flocked to Adir.
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Adir opened his eyes to the same dull, leaden brain fog he's so used to
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Adir opened his eyes to the same dull, leaden brain fog he's so used to
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by now. The room was pitch black, except for the small ray of light
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by now. The room was pitch black, except for the small ray of light
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coursing through the broken window blind, crushed by many musty
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coursing through the broken window blind, crushed by many musty
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@@ -701,427 +515,6 @@ force, or
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It's probably just a logistics thing. Adir was certain things will work
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It's probably just a logistics thing. Adir was certain things will work
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out.
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out.
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Chapter II -- The Feline, Or The Language?
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Commander Kim gracefully turned away from the blackboard. He surveyed
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the class calmly with a proud smirk, and was content to see no confused
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faces.
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'And that is it,' he said. 'That was a good introduction to case
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statements. Does anyone have any further questions?'
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'No', the other coursees piped smugly, which Adir found kind of
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annoying.
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He raised his hand. Commander Kim looked at him, offended and
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bewildered. 'Yes?'
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'Permission to speak, commander'.
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'Adir,' he said, 'You don't need to ask for permission to speak anymore.
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This is not boot camp'.
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'I understand, commander'.
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'And you don't have to call me commander', he added benevolently. 'This
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is not boot camp'.
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'I understand, Kim'.
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'Adir,' he admonished, 'You can't just call me by my name. I'm not your
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mate from boot camp'.
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'I understand, commander'.
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'And you don't have to call me commander', he said sternly. 'This is not
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boot camp'.
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Adir simply stared at him, relinquishing control of the situation. Kim
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stared back with futile anticipation of a response.
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'You had a question,' he prompted after a billion years.
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'Yes...'
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'...'
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'...'
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'Commander Kim,' said Commander Kim
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'Commander Kim,' said Adir.
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'I have a question about case statements, Commander Kim'
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'Yes, Adir -- you had a question about case statements'
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'Yes'
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'Well?'
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The guy did not even twitch. It's almost midnight, for god's sake. What
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do they do to these people? *What happens in INBA city?*
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'I don't understand'.
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'\...You don't understand?' asked Commander Kim
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'I don't understand', said Adir.
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'You don't understand case statements?' Commander Kim cleverly deducted.
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'Commander Kim, I think Adir does not understand case statements',
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Re'em, Adir's desk mate, helpfully pitched in.
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'Commander, I don't think I understand case statements', Adir admitted.
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'What,' inquired Commander Kim, 'About case statements don't you
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understand?'
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'The case statements, commander', Adir stated. 'I lost you a good 50
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minutes ago'.
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'We've only been on case statements for the last 30 minutes'
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'Yes.'
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'Well, then, why didn't you say anything earlier?'
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'Commander Kim, Adir did say something earlier', Re'em pitched in.
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'I did say something earlier, Commander Kim', confirmed Adir.
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'I'm sorry,' said Commander Kim, who was not at all sorry. 'I can't
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quite recall. Could you repeat your question?'
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'When we just started,' he said, 'You explained what case statements
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were, and I said I did not understand'.
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'I told you to see me after class if you don't understand', Commander
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Kim recalled.
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'Yes.'
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'I answered your question, then'
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'I suppose you did at that'
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'But you did not come to me after class'
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'Class has yet to end. Commander.'
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'Okay,' said Kim, who was clearly going for something else. 'What else
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don't you understand?'
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'The whole thing -- you were talking about case statements'
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'And?'
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'I do not understand case statements'
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'Come see me after class', Commander Kim commanded.
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'Does anyone have any further questions?'
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'No', everyone else piped smugly
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'Good. Class is over. Adir, will you come see me, please?'
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Adir came to see him. Everyone else left besides Re'em, who was never
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tired because he eats so many coffee beans. Re'em left when Commander
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Kim demanded that he leave.
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'Do I really have to leave, Commander Kim?' he insisted. 'I kinda wanna
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see this'.
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'You can go back to the hostel with the other soldiers,' Commander Kim
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said.
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'Yes, but -'
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'Don't you ever but me. I'm not your mate from boot camp'. Re'em sulkily
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crunched a coffee bean.
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'Now go'.
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With that, they were two.
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'Adir,' Commander Kim said with everlasting patience, 'What don't you
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understand about case statements?'
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'Well-'
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'If you don't understand case statements,' demanded Commander Kim, 'Why
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don't you stay after class to study it?'
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'Because it is 11P.M, commander'
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'Stop calling me commander'
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'I'm sorry, commander'
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'Why don't you stay after class?'
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'We start at 7AM'
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'That you do'
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'You must see some fault here'
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'I do,' he said. 'You're giving up on yourself'.
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Adir thought that was a rather exaggerated statement. 'I think that is a
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rather exaggerated statement', he said.
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'When I was a coursee here,' Kim lectured him, 'I did not understand
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case statements. So I stayed late every day, until I understood case
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statements. Do you understand?'
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'You have also been studying programming throughout highschool with
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excellence', Adir said. He knew this because Commander Kim often told
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them he had been studying programming throughout highschool, with
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excellence.
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'The course requires no prior programming knowledge', Kim reiterated yet
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again.
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'And yet, you all have extensive prior programming knowledge'
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'Pele does not, either'
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'It doesn't matter, because Pele is getting released in a month'
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'How did you come to that conclusion?'
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'It's true,' Adir insisted, 'he told me.'
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They sat at their tent together, in the Spring Buds Rookie Base Harel
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Division Tent Area B. It was cold and damp and there was fuel on the
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floor as always.
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'You mark my words, Adir', said Pele, who says very little. This sudden
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outburst alarmed Adir. 'If I am still in the military in three months',
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he proudly intoned, 'then I am a god damned whoreson'.
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'Don't be silly', Adir had told him. 'We just got in'
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'And no one told me it was so stupid. I'm not going through with this.
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It's just not for me.
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You mark my words, Adir. Should I still be drafted three months from
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now, I am a stupid, spineless whoreson.' Adir did mark his words, and
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could not help but admire his perseverance. There's a man who knows what
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he's after.
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'What are you on about?' asked Kim.
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'Look,' he said. 'I could obviously sit here and grind water for many
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sleepless nights until I understand case statements'
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'Good,' Kim said, 'Then it is decided'
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'However', Adir said, 'We study for 15 hours everyday'
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'And?'
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'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
|
Chapter III -- The Grand Computing Conference Room
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'I'm not running!' Adir spat back outraged.
|
'I'm not running!' Adir spat back outraged.
|
||||||
@@ -1199,7 +592,7 @@ hours!'
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
'*Especially* not for the war!' Adir proclaimed.
|
'*Especially* not for the war!' Adir proclaimed.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'What if a rocket falls on you?' cried Ronen
|
'What if a rocket falls on you?!' cried Ronen
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'I should hope so', he said to Ronen, who was stunned despite them being
|
'I should hope so', he said to Ronen, who was stunned despite them being
|
||||||
over this a million times.
|
over this a million times.
|
||||||
@@ -1207,24 +600,26 @@ over this a million times.
|
|||||||
'What do you *mean* you hope one lands on you?' Ronen demanded. 'Have
|
'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!"
|
you ever had a rocket land on you? Oh, it's not pleasant!"
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Because now I'm having a blast!'
|
'Because now I'm having a blast! Get it? A blast?'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'What am I going to tell your parents?' Ronen confronted him sharply.
|
'What am I going to tell your parents?' Ronen confronted him sharply.
|
||||||
'Your son just stood there and got blasted apart?'.
|
'Your son just stood there and got blasted apart?'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'You can tell them their son is an idiot,' he said. 'Mum already knows.
|
'He had a blast', Gilad piped in despite himself
|
||||||
Dad, I'm not so sure'.
|
|
||||||
|
'You can tell them their son is an idiot,' Adir said. 'Mum already
|
||||||
|
knows. Dad, I'm not so sure'.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Just go to the bunker,' Ronen spat back with visible disgust. 'You've
|
'Just go to the bunker,' Ronen spat back with visible disgust. 'You've
|
||||||
done enough'.
|
done enough'.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Oh, yes. The bastion. Our stronghold'.
|
'What if a rocket falls on me?'.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Could you lay off for five minutes? We'll discuss this later'
|
'Could you lay off for five minutes? We'll discuss this later'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Can't wait. I'll schedule an appointment.'
|
'Can't wait. I'll schedule an appointment.'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Go.'
|
'*Go.*'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'You're an idiot', Ana told him back at the smoking area, where they sat
|
'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
|
with Gilad and Max about thirty minutes later. 'Why do you bother
|
||||||
@@ -1232,10 +627,10 @@ bickering with them?'
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
'It pisses me off!'
|
'It pisses me off!'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Do you think nature's dumbest animal cares?' Gilad rounded on him. 'Do
|
'Do you think *nature's dumbest animal* cares?' Gilad rounded on him.
|
||||||
you think a guy like Henesee stops after this and thinks, *man, that
|
'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
|
friggin' P.F.C is right! I **am** being a jerk!* Do you think this
|
||||||
place like 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'
|
'I'm not a P.F.C for a while. And it doesn't mean I have to take it'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
@@ -1260,9 +655,7 @@ inside through the door.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
'Just finishing a cig,' Ana said.
|
'Just finishing a cig,' Ana said.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Whatever. Come soon', he told them.
|
'Alright. Come soon', he told them. 'Gilad, Adir'. With that he left.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Gilad, Adir'. With that he left.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Come,' said Gilad. 'We have to rescue Yoav. They probably got to him as
|
'Come,' said Gilad. 'We have to rescue Yoav. They probably got to him as
|
||||||
well. Crazy people.'
|
well. Crazy people.'
|
||||||
@@ -1274,7 +667,7 @@ grumpily.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
'I'll be dead right inside, per usual', remarked Max.
|
'I'll be dead right inside, per usual', remarked Max.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'I'll go scream into my pillow and change my mail signature,' Ana said.
|
'I'll go scream into my pillow and change my email signature,' Ana said.
|
||||||
'See you at lunch'.
|
'See you at lunch'.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Give me some credit,' Adir told them. 'I'll swing by much sooner'.
|
'Give me some credit,' Adir told them. 'I'll swing by much sooner'.
|
||||||
@@ -1290,9 +683,9 @@ squad and discuss your problem, you idiot. Let's fetch Yoav'
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
'Like you're not an idiot'
|
'Like you're not an idiot'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'How dare you', Gilad admonished him. 'I've been stuck here for *two
|
'How dare you', Gilad stopped and turned to confront him. 'I've been
|
||||||
years* with these guys. Do you think an idiot like you could have pulled
|
stuck here for *two years* with these people. Do you think an idiot like
|
||||||
two years like that?'
|
you could have pulled two years like that?'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Over my cold, dead body'
|
'Over my cold, dead body'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
@@ -1303,23 +696,23 @@ Unsurprisingly, they found Yoav in the department alone with David, who
|
|||||||
was on with six phones at once.
|
was on with six phones at once.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Yes, Gilad, I'm still working through the operations log,' he proudly
|
'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
|
told commander Henesee over the phone. 'Yoav, how's it going with the
|
||||||
the operations log?' he frantically asked. 'Well, there's the -' 'Yoav,
|
operations log?' he frantically asked. 'Well, there's the -' 'Yoav, hang
|
||||||
hang on. No, Ronen, the operation log is incomplete. I can't find Adir
|
on. No, Ronen, the operation log is incomplete. I can't find Adir
|
||||||
anywhere. Sent Gilad out to fetch him, and -'
|
anywhere. Sent Gilad out to fetch him, and -'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'I'm right here, dude' Adir said, feigning himself hurt. 'You're not
|
'I'm right here, dude' Adir said. 'You're not looking very hard. It's
|
||||||
looking very hard. It's like I don't mean anything to you, man'
|
like I don't mean anything to you, man'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'No! Adir, you kind soul, of course you - Ronen, I'll call you right
|
'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
|
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
|
add him to the task force, with him and, and uh, Yoav, to handle the
|
||||||
operations log, quickly. Can you please keep Gilad up to date? No? Okay,
|
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,
|
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,
|
Gilad, I have Adir here, an- to your office? At 18:00? well, now, look,
|
||||||
there's a task forc-'
|
there's a task forc-'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Thank god,' Yotam said as the door slammed on David alone in the
|
'Thank god,' Yoav exclaimed as the door slammed on David alone in the
|
||||||
platoon. 'The guy really needs a break! They won' t stop calling'.
|
platoon. 'The guy really needs a break! They won' t stop calling'.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Really?' Adir asked innocently. 'It's been a slow day'.
|
'Really?' Adir asked innocently. 'It's been a slow day'.
|
||||||
@@ -1329,7 +722,7 @@ calls David, who constantly calls Dor, who is constantly called by
|
|||||||
Johnny -- how does anything get done? They just sit around and call each
|
Johnny -- how does anything get done? They just sit around and call each
|
||||||
other. No one ever gets up!'
|
other. No one ever gets up!'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'You have a call', Gilad said.
|
'You have a call', said Gilad.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Adir snatched the phone. 'We're at Operations, David', he said quickly
|
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
|
and out of breath. 'The new server fell! Yoav helped set it up so he can
|
||||||
@@ -1358,11 +751,10 @@ importance and strode with purpose until everyone was holed up again.
|
|||||||
And there they were: The Great Computing Conference Room, the Computing
|
And there they were: The Great Computing Conference Room, the Computing
|
||||||
Department's pride and joy.
|
Department's pride and joy.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
The other departments in the platoon all had their spots --
|
The other departments in the platoon all had their spots - Networking
|
||||||
Communications had the smoking area, and even Comms -- cursed as they
|
had the smoking area, and even Comms -- cursed as they were -- could sit
|
||||||
were -- could sit around in their spacious room and never talk to each
|
around in their spacious room and never talk to each ever, as they often
|
||||||
ever, as they often do, because nobody cares what Comms do, including
|
do, because nobody cares what Comms do, including Comms.
|
||||||
Comms.
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Yet Computing had been deprived of that joy -- besieged by the
|
Yet Computing had been deprived of that joy -- besieged by the
|
||||||
department (the room) a few steps down the road next to the airfield,
|
department (the room) a few steps down the road next to the airfield,
|
||||||
@@ -1376,6 +768,10 @@ from the airstrip just before Construction. 'Look at the luxury! There
|
|||||||
is this nice ledge, here, and we can shelter at Construction if it
|
is this nice ledge, here, and we can shelter at Construction if it
|
||||||
rains, and no one comes here ever'.
|
rains, and no one comes here ever'.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
It was brilliant. Only a few steps further down from Base Command, with
|
||||||
|
a clear line of sight to the department. It was so bold, so audacious,
|
||||||
|
that no one could even think to find them there.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'Yes, I guess no one does', mused Adir, who stared even further away
|
'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.
|
towards the Igloo with sudden interest, as no one had ever done before.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
@@ -1404,7 +800,7 @@ happens every single day'
|
|||||||
'A real *Computanovella*', said Yoav
|
'A real *Computanovella*', said Yoav
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
*'*Shut u- no, wait. That's actually brilliant', said Gilad.
|
*'*Shut u- no, wait. That's actually brilliant', said Gilad.
|
||||||
'*Computanovella, chapter 3253: Opal configures the squadron's mails*'
|
'*Computanovella, chapter 3253: Opal configures the squadron's emails*'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
*'*God, that was a disaster', said Adir*.*
|
*'*God, that was a disaster', said Adir*.*
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
@@ -1415,7 +811,7 @@ The guy wouldn't listen!'
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||
'He's a good guy, but he just can't take a hint!'
|
'He's a good guy, but he just can't take a hint!'
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'*Computanovella, episode 4972: Adir discovers Igloo meme-haven'*, Adir
|
'*Computanovella, episode 6972: Adir discovers Igloo meme-haven'*, Adir
|
||||||
added, excited.
|
added, excited.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
'When was that?' asked Yoav
|
'When was that?' asked Yoav
|
||||||
|
|||||||
@@ -935,5 +935,3 @@ Yet an army base it was, and the bastards would not let Adir soon forget
|
|||||||
it. He and his peers may have waltzed in from the city each morning,
|
it. He and his peers may have waltzed in from the city each morning,
|
||||||
sure, but after coming in through the old-school guard post, it was army
|
sure, but after coming in through the old-school guard post, it was army
|
||||||
alright.
|
alright.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
**
|
|
||||||
|
|||||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user