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618911a7fa Added today's writing 2020-12-09 23:29:07 +02:00
0e61468abd Added today's writing 2020-12-09 23:28:59 +02:00
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@@ -939,60 +939,64 @@ alright.
Chapter II -- Rookie Adir Levin Chapter II -- Rookie Adir Levin
It wasn't a direct transition to the Academy. However glamorous Adir's It wasn't a direct transition to the Academy. However glamorous Adir's
station, he -- and those whom he would later study with -- must of station, he and those whom he would later study with must of course go
course go through the standard ordeal of having their souls crushed by through the standard ordeal of having their souls crushed by the army,
the army, so that the pulp can be remodeled. so that the pulp can be remodeled.
There are many special facilities to do so, but Adir had had the great There are many special facilities to do so, and Adir had had the great
privilege of enjoying one of the oldest and finest of them -- the Spring privilege of enjoying one of the oldest and finest of them -- the Spring
Buds Rookie base, 15km off the border, in the desert. Buds Rookie base, in the desert 15km off the border.
Adir adapted quickly, but it was a forced, instinctual adaptation, and Adir adapted quickly, but it was a forced, animal adaptation, and he
he often didn't quite register what exactly was happening, and certainly often didn't quite register what exactly was happening - and least of
not why. He did figure it out at some point, which he remembers all why. He did figure it out at some point, which he remembers
especially well. especially well.
It was a fiercely cold night -- a cold Adir had yet to know, It was a fiercely cold night -- a cold Adir had yet to know,
nonchalantly seeping into your bones and joints and draining you. He had nonchalantly seeping into your bones and joints and draining you. Sharp,
hardly come prepared in his arrogance, and was shivering bitterly in his slanted rain smashed bitterly against the hard, worn fabric of the tent.
team's tent. Adir, in his arrogance had hardly come prepared and was shivering
peacefully in his team's tent.
Everyone else was getting ready to sleep, and Adir knew he had no point Everyone else was getting ready to sleep, and Adir knew he had no point
trying to rest himself before they all arrive and so was sitting in idle trying to rest himself before they all arrive and sat in idle misery,
misery -- a state which was quickly becoming familiar. He so enjoyed it which rapidly became a familiar pastime of his. He so enjoyed it that he
that he always hurried off and got ready much faster than everyone in always hurried off and got ready much faster than everyone in order to
order to *really* take it all in. *really* take it all in.
His usual solitude was broken this time by Regev. Regev was a His usual solitude was broken this time by Regev. Regev was a
fascinating person -- he was quiet, but not of shyness like himself -- fascinating person -- he was quiet, but not of shyness like himself --
but of silent, bitter sarcasm. Under the right circumstances, Regev but of silent, poigant sarcasm. Under the right circumstances, Regev
could stun the entire brigade with a few words of wisdom, uttered could stun the entire brigade with a few words of wisdom, uttered
clearly without hesitations, unsullied by so much as a twitch of facial clearly and without hesitations, unsullied by so much as a twitch of
muscles to convey his misgivings. The commanders despised him, even facial muscles to convey his deep and rich misgivings. The commanders
their own team's unengaged, apathic commanders coming to real fury with despised him - even their own team's unengaged, apathic commanders
him. The soldiers, of course, greatly admired him, as did. coming to real fury with him. Naturally, the soldiers greatly admired
him as a result.
Adir was greatly in awe and so avoided him with great determination, and Adir was greatly in awe as well and so avoided him with great
passive Regev made no real note of it. This time, however, as he slumped determination, and the extremely passive Regev made no real note of it.
on his sleeping bag, he immediately turned to Adir. This time, however, as he slumped on his sleeping bag, he immediately
turned to Adir.
'You mark my words, Adir', he told him with a clear, ringing voice 'You mark my words, Adir', he told him with his clear, ringing voice
devoid of emotion. 'Within three months or less, I will be a civilian'. utterly devoid of emotion. 'Within three months or less, I will be a
civilian'.
Now, many proud fools make similar claims -- and Spring Buds is ripe Now, many proud fools make similar claims -- and Spring Buds is ripe
ground for it. They come like flies to an old steak, and the military ground for it. They come like flies to the mush of rotting vegetables
swats them accordingly. behind the dining hall, and the military swats them accordingly.
Adir had already heard dozens (that day) make similar claims. Coming Adir had already heard dozens (that day!) make similar claims - but from
from a person such as Regev, however, it was worthy of consideration. a person such as Regev, however, it was worthy of consideration.
"\...But, we've only been here a week!" he squeaked back. "\...But, we've only been here a week!" he squeaked back.
"A week too long, and I will not stand many more like it. I have made up "A week too long, and I will not stand many more like it. I have made up
my mind." my mind."
Even in the dark, Adir could see his severe face looking him straight in Even in the dark, Adir could see Regev's severe face looking him
the eyes. straight in the eyes.
"You mark my words -- should I still be in uniform 90 days from now, I "You mark my words -- should I still be in uniform 90 days from now, I
am a stupid, spineless whoreson." am a stupid, spineless whoreson."
@@ -1001,9 +1005,9 @@ am a stupid, spineless whoreson."
"A s*tupid, spineless whoreson*." "A s*tupid, spineless whoreson*."
Adir let that sink for a bit. Adir let that sink for a bit in his feeble faculties.
"What will you do outside?" he asked. "What will you do outside?" he prompted eventually.
"Whatever the hell I want", Regev shot back quickly. "Whatever the hell I want", Regev shot back quickly.
@@ -1017,20 +1021,22 @@ Regev smiled widely, the first time Adir had ever seen him do so.
"That's all I wanted to hear," he said, and quickly rolled up and fell "That's all I wanted to hear," he said, and quickly rolled up and fell
asleep. asleep.
The next month or so was superemely strange. Adir found himself waking The next month or so was supremely strange. Adir found himself woken up
up to a starry sky by hail smacking his face, running for shelter from to a starry sky by hail smacking his face, or running for shelter from
hostile mortars (which were 'thunder', according to Adir's commander. hostile mortars (which were 'thunder', according to Adir's commander,
'But what does thunder have anything to do with it?' He asked her, 'But what does thunder have anything to do with it?' He asked her,
stunned - 'None of your business, soldier' she'd replied), rolling over stunned - 'None of your business, soldier' she'd replied), rolling over
the sand dunes simulating combat ('It was great, but when you rolled the sand dunes simulating combat ('It was great, but when you rolled
just now, you were exposed, and you could've been shot, and killed', just now, you were completely exposed, and you would've been shot, and
she'd told him then, 'but great otherwise'), shooting on the range twice killed', she'd told him then, 'but great otherwise'), and shooting on
on each run ('I've never seen anyone without a dominant shooting hand in the range twice on each round ('I've never seen anyone without a
my life', the stunned Company Commander had said, 'Do it again'), and dominant shooting hand in my life', the stunned Company Commander had
even going up on guard duty for thirty minutes at the middle of the said, 'Do it all over again until you figure it out'), and even going up
night ('You have to get used to it,' said their Commander, to which on guard duty for thirty minutes at the middle of the night ('You have
Regev replied 'I won't, but you do you' and lost a weekend at home), and to get used to it,' said their Commander, to which Regev replied 'I
many other bizzare scenarios, forced on him at random. won't, but you do you' and lost a weekend at home), and many other
bizarre scenarios, forced on him at random, the consequences of which
often registered many days later.
Throughout all that madness, Regev's words rang often in Adir's fragile Throughout all that madness, Regev's words rang often in Adir's fragile
psyche. psyche.