2172 lines
72 KiB
Markdown
2172 lines
72 KiB
Markdown
The Difference Between an Idiot
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and a Moron
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General Chapters
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To be Incorporated
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***Chapter ****\[****\]****-- Corporal Adir Levin***
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"Says here you're a, uhm, corporal?" said the NCO sitting across from
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Adir.
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"Yeah, I-" Adir began answering before being rudely interrupted by a
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takeoff. They were sitting in the Technical Division part of Air Base
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10, in the far north of the country. The building was absolutely
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disgusting, and unfortunately situated a spitting distance from the
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massive runway.
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Both sat there stupidly waiting for the plane to take off. Adir assumed
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it was big because it took much longer than usual. The NCO motioned him
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to continue with the booming sound of the engine still hung back, but
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Adir waited a bit longer. At last, the last wisps of the jet faded out.
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"Yeah, I've long lost track of whatever's written there. I have no idea
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what it says -- only that it's wildly inaccurate at this point."
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"That doesn't sound right to me. We air force guys, we keep track of
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things, don't we? Now, it says here you're from the headquarters."
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"I haven't been in months."
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The NCO cast a doubtful look at first, but seeing how Adir did not
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flinch he continued.
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"Before that, you were in, uh... Hm. Air base 30. You've gone around,
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haven't you?"
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"I've been there a grand total of six hours. Never stationed there."
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"Look, it says right here in your file..."
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"It also says I'm a first sergeant at that station, doesn't it?"
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The NCO chuckled. "Now, don't be -- What? How did you know?"
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"I told you so."
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"You've been serving just under 18 months at that point. That doesn't
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make any sense. No promotion could get you in this early."
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Adir eyed him smugly.
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"Where did you get this?" the NCO demanded, waving Adir's Ground
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Personnel file.
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"Where did *you* get *this*?"
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"What??"
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"I left mine in Hutspace. Well over a year ago. Whatever it is *you're
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*holding I've never seen in my life."
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The NCO sighed deeply.
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"This is some mess of paperwork for your commanders. Never mind. I'll
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send you back with the documents and your commanders can sort it out. HQ
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loves this stuff."
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Adir began to protest but was cut short. "But wait, you're not HQ now,
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you said?"
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"Nope. 15^th^ wing."
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"Fine. You'll give them the papers."
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The room fell silent.
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"Anyways, you're here for a Computer Network Manager course -- but I was
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told you came over from a computer profession already, something from
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the greens. Is that right?"
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"Yes. I'm a Computer Systems Infrastructure Manager."
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"Never heard of it."
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"It's from Communication Corps"
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"That explains it. Is that it's brooch pin?", he asked, pointing to the
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insignia on Adir's left breast pocket.
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"Yeah."
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"What's going on there? What is it?"
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"It's a computer in the middle. Around it is the radioactive sign, for
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some reason. All Computer Academy courses have it for some reason. And
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it's split in three for the three arms of the army we get assigned in --
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the green part for ground forces, the blue for navy and white for air
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force. And there's a square root, for some reason."
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"It's too busy."
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"It is."
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"So basically, you have to go through the whole course again. It's two
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months in here, Air base 10, and you'd be assigned alongside the
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privates. However, seeing as you're already familiar, we decided to
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offer you the same test they get at the end of the course -- if you know
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your stuff, it could save us all the trouble. How does that sound?"
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"Sounds great. I wouldn't have come up here otherwise."
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"Up to the building?"
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"No, up north."
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"You're a handful, aren't you?" the NCO remarked fondly. "But that's
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someone else's problem. Look, I've asked Idan -- my most senior course
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instructor, to swing by and ask you a few questions. If you're
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reasonably familiar, you can take the test. He should be here any
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moment."
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"Sure."
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"Would you like anything to drink in the meantime? Cold water? It's a
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hot day"
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"No, thank you kindly. I'm all good."
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"There's some disgusting coffee too, if that's your thing"
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"Not many other options in the military, are there? But thank you, I'm
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all fixed. Nice of you to offer."
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"Of course. It's common courtesy. Ah, that must be Idan! Come in!"
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\~\~\~
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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 forty 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 fiercely struggling to stay awake. The CC was
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vigorously instructing them on Operating System Internals, and Adir
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realized that for the first time in all these months he is in real
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jeopardy 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.
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'Yea'.
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Silence fell, and eventually Adir realized 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, the course commander, did not expect this from Adir, who had
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never piped up before.
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'Be a bit more, er, professional next time, please', he said, and
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gestured at 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 him right
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in the face 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. The other coursees in the other classrooms were all still
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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, joints cracking softly, feeling some strength
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returning.
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He began rounding the small classroom towards the restrooms, very
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slowly, 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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Socially handicapped as he was, even Adir had managed to pick up on the
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long lasting rivalry between the Computer Systems Infastructure Managers
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and the Cyber Security Defense Specialists. He could not understand why
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-- they do pretty much the same thing -- though he dared not utter this
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aloud. This was a fact of this place, inherited one course cycle at a
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time, and like everything else in his life right now he accepted it
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offhandedly.
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He would not buy into this foolish affair, though.
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He 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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\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
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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 genuinely 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? Why would you spoil
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it by acting out like that?'
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Adir's poem burst out from the great nothing, and he was supremely proud
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of 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 it 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 privilege. 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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* *
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'You're an idiot,' Yogev thoughtfully stated. Even Karin seemed to
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agree.
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'What else is there to be?'
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\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
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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 others piped smugly, which Adir found kind of 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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'Commander Kim.'
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'Commander Kim.'
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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 yesbut me. I'm not your mate from boot camp'. Re'em
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sulkily 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 poignantly. ' I do see a fault here. You're giving up on
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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 had also studied 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 studied programming throughout highschool, with 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, Everyone here has 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 Har'el
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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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'I'm not going through with this. 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
|
|
sleepless nights until I understand case statements'
|
|
|
|
'Good,' Kim said, 'We've reached a solution.'
|
|
|
|
'However', Adir put in, 'We study for 15 hours everyday'
|
|
|
|
'And?'
|
|
|
|
'And I am a smooth brain. My brain is smooth.'
|
|
|
|
'You're getting off track here.'
|
|
|
|
'I cannot study any more than 15 hours.'
|
|
|
|
'See? You're giving up on yourself."
|
|
|
|
'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. Adir mentally bade his sweet, sweet desk goodbye,
|
|
and silently mourned the three minutes he had lost.
|
|
|
|
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 finds a way, Commander'.
|
|
|
|
'Do you think,' he said, 'When you're on duty, life will find a 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?'
|
|
|
|
'Because I am a smooth brain. My brain is smooth."
|
|
|
|
'Why do you think you are a smooth brain? How do you know your brain is
|
|
smooth?'
|
|
|
|
'I turned half my test in empty'
|
|
|
|
'If you are here', Idan intoned poignantly, '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 are you on about?'
|
|
|
|
'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?'
|
|
|
|
'Whatever the country needs me to!' Adir declared patriotically.
|
|
|
|
'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 sooooo 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'
|
|
|
|
'Life finds a way. 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 off 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! Get it? A blast?'
|
|
|
|
'What am I going to tell your parents?' Ronen confronted him sharply.
|
|
'Your son just stood there and got blasted apart?'
|
|
|
|
'He had a blast', Gilad piped in despite himself
|
|
|
|
'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
|
|
done enough'.
|
|
|
|
'What if a rocket falls on me?'.
|
|
|
|
'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
|
|
friggin' 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.
|
|
|
|
'Alright. 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 email 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 stopped and turned to confront him. 'I've been
|
|
stuck here for *two years* with these people. 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 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. '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, Yoav, 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,' Yoav exclaimed 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', said Gilad.
|
|
|
|
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 - Networking
|
|
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'.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
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 emails*'
|
|
|
|
*'*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 6972: 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 likes of
|
|
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 through spongy plugs, 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.
|
|
|
|
"Cease fire! Cease fire!"
|
|
|
|
They all rose.
|
|
|
|
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 behind 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 bustling
|
|
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 III -- Corporal Adir Levin
|
|
|
|
Adir was woken up with a jolt by Ariel, who towered over him seeming
|
|
mildly upset.
|
|
|
|
The first thing he felt was a sharp pain in his temples, and he
|
|
shuddered back with disgruntled revulsion.
|
|
|
|
Everything came crashing back at once -- he had spent another night in
|
|
the Pit, and was now paying the price for it. The headaches hurt him
|
|
very often lately, which was understandable -- yet it was the worst when
|
|
waking up in here. *No one should have to wake up without sunlight,
|
|
without wind and fresh air*, he thought. But that didn't explain why
|
|
Ariel was towering over him -- he was deemed problematic, and she had
|
|
shunned him ever since. He didn't mind, of course, as he was shunning
|
|
everyone else as well. What a bunch of bastards.
|
|
|
|
But that *still* didn't explain why Ariel was towering over him. He
|
|
sought answers.
|
|
|
|
"Huh?" he asked eloquently.
|
|
|
|
"Huh," Ariel replied with visible disgust. "Good morning."
|
|
|
|
"I've had better."
|
|
|
|
"Everyone else is cleaning."
|
|
|
|
Great, he thought, Passive aggression for breakfast again.
|
|
|
|
"OK"
|
|
|
|
"Go help."
|
|
|
|
"I'm really in pain."
|
|
|
|
"Can't you even help?"
|
|
|
|
"I don't know."
|
|
|
|
Ariel kept staring him down, which was unusually aggressive for her. She
|
|
was always quite cheerful and accepting, which Adir absolutely hated. Is
|
|
he really that bad?
|
|
|
|
"Go wash your face or something. You're a mess."
|
|
|
|
"If you'd had a night like I had," he answered, "You'd be a mess too."
|
|
|
|
"I've had plenty."
|
|
|
|
"Good for you."
|
|
|
|
Ariel finally disengaged. Adir rose from his office chair -- how he ever
|
|
fell asleep in that thing he could not tell for the life of him -- put
|
|
away his book, tossed aside his coat and went towards the bathroom.
|
|
Looking around, he was dumbstruck by the amount of people in the room.
|
|
There were well over four dozen people in Operation today, which was
|
|
significant, and they were all running around with great vigor.
|
|
|
|
He had to dodge several officers on the way out, all of which eyed him
|
|
suspiciously -- some with open animosity, though he did not know them.
|
|
|
|
He was glad to put Operation's big metal doors behind him, and started
|
|
the endless trek through the hall to the bathrooms, praying no one else
|
|
was there. He creeped on the floating tiles with hard won mastery -- if
|
|
even one of them bangs again today his head would literally explode --
|
|
and reached the bathroom.
|
|
|
|
He stood in front of one of the sinks in the long, disgusting row,
|
|
keeping his eyes lowered and doing his utmost to ignore his
|
|
surroundings. He reached in his pockets and was glad to find his
|
|
toothbrush, toothpaste and a bar of soap each wrapped neatly in plastic
|
|
sandwich bags -- at last a success in these troubling times. He brushed
|
|
his teeth, lathered the soap and carefully washed his face with frigid,
|
|
mildly yellow water. When he felt mildly more refreshed, he finally
|
|
gathered some loose wisps of courage and met his image on the mirror.
|
|
|
|
His reflection gazed back, amazed and horrified.
|
|
|
|
The image he saw was very far from how he remembered himself, and the
|
|
dissonance jarred him.
|
|
|
|
He was gaunt, and there were great dark gray circles around his eyes. He
|
|
had far too much stubble for a single night, and his faced looked
|
|
wrinkled and greasy even after washing. And the eyes... the eyes felt...
|
|
wrong. Too cold. Too lifeless. He quickly looked away, realizing he was
|
|
breathing uneasily.
|
|
|
|
Slinking back he found everyone putting away the cleaning supplies, but
|
|
against his expectations the frenzy did not slow down -- it even
|
|
magnified, which was disconcerting. Nothing good can come out of this.
|
|
|
|
Unhelpfully, the first person he ran into was Keren.
|
|
|
|
From the second he stepped into Headquarters, Keren absolutely despised
|
|
Adir -- and this time, he could not figure out why. It was something
|
|
else -- a raw, seething hatred, a hatred of great velocity, intensified
|
|
with each time they met. In a way, it was refreshing to be hated so
|
|
intensely -- and while Adir did mildly dislike her for it, he did not
|
|
hate her back nearly as much, which sort of made him the winner in this
|
|
transaction.
|
|
|
|
"Ariel, he finally bothered showing up", she muttered back into the
|
|
Operations Chamber staring at him yet never addressing him. To her, he
|
|
was some animal unworthy of engaging in conversation, and if that was a
|
|
mean to attain the peace Adir so desperately sought he took it without
|
|
hesitation.
|
|
|
|
Ariel scurried towards them from much further back in the chamber with a
|
|
speed that greatly concerned him. This was not good.
|
|
|
|
"Where have you been?? it's been twenty minutes!"
|
|
|
|
"I-"
|
|
|
|
"Ugh, never mind. Just go back and get in line." She surveyed him
|
|
carefully. "And put on all of your badges, Why would you even take them
|
|
off?"
|
|
|
|
"I-"
|
|
|
|
"Never mind. Your problem. Model yourself and get in line. The
|
|
commander's coming any minute."
|
|
|
|
With that, they both scattered. Adir stood there dazed and confused for
|
|
a few seconds until Karin passed nearby.
|
|
|
|
"Hi, Adir"
|
|
|
|
Adir admired Karin greatly. She always seemed peaceful, and always
|
|
treated him with respect.
|
|
|
|
"Hi, Karin. What's happening?"
|
|
|
|
"The unit commander is coming any second to grant our ranks." she
|
|
replied without a hint of judgment. "The grant is scheduled for 10:00"
|
|
|
|
"The grant?"
|
|
|
|
"Yes, we're getting our corporals!" Karin told, beaming. "You didn't
|
|
know?"
|
|
|
|
"I had no idea. It's been ten months already?"
|
|
|
|
"Would you believe it?" Dennis chimed in from behind. "We've been stuck
|
|
here a while!"
|
|
|
|
"See you," said Karin and went further into the chamber.
|
|
|
|
Adir sat down in his spot and pondered all these new findings when
|
|
officers flooded the room, put on their berets and rose suddenly. A
|
|
bunch of random people stood around Adir, all with eyes towards the back
|
|
of the room where Adir's eight coursemates stood proud and motionless.
|
|
Grateful for the anonymity, Adir stood like the rest and gazed ahead
|
|
with purpose.
|
|
|
|
The Horizon commander, Secondary Champion Ram Halabi, stepped into the
|
|
room after an escort of officers from PR. He walked around the room
|
|
casually greeting anyone he came across with an easygoing, friendly
|
|
manner as he made his way towards the back. Adir was again grateful for
|
|
his tactical remote location, far away from the passageway. The
|
|
department commander, John, quickly appeared at his side.
|
|
|
|
"Hello, everyone. Officers, NCO's, soldiers. How happy I am to be here!
|
|
What a happy day!"
|
|
|
|
A murmur of agreement came from the crowd.
|
|
|
|
"Hello, Ram, happy to have you here as always", said John with atypical
|
|
enthusiasm. "So, as you may or may not know", he said cheerfully, "We've
|
|
gathered to grant these great soldiers, cycle 38 of Computing Systems
|
|
Infrastructure Management, the rank of Corporals. In the Greens, and in
|
|
other units of the force, it's not the custom to make it a ceremony;
|
|
Certainly not with the unit commander -- When I was a corporal a million
|
|
years ago, I was handed the rank and told to sow it on!"
|
|
|
|
That was a killer, apparently; An audible chuckle went through the
|
|
crowd.
|
|
|
|
"But here, in the Horizon unit, we treat our people with the respect
|
|
they deserve. The are skilled professionals, devoted soldiers, and
|
|
they've worked hard to earn their rank. Corporal is said to be an
|
|
automatic rank -- stay ten months, and you have it, but that's not true.
|
|
A rank is earned, not bestowed! I've seen people remain Privates
|
|
throughout their service, some even rookies, and I hope never to come
|
|
across that again! Here are people who worked hard, and so we wanted to
|
|
do them the honors, bring Ram here to show them how much we appreciate
|
|
them -- and grant their rank from the unit commander, personally. Ram?"
|
|
|
|
\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
|
|
|
|
Ram spread his arms and looked about the room with ecstasy.
|
|
|
|
"How great it is to gather with good news for a change!" he declared
|
|
proudly, and a wave of clapping went through the room.
|
|
|
|
"Ah, there's no need for much introduction, is there? We all know each
|
|
other. We all work together. And we all watched these fine young men and
|
|
women, standing here before us, grow empowered as they shape the next
|
|
generation of the defense of our country. Those on the outside may be
|
|
mistaken as to think these are quiet times, but if only I could tell you
|
|
what goes on in the shadows! The threats nowadays are much more severe
|
|
than most care to think. It is only via our..."
|
|
|
|
At this point, the Horizon commander went into the omnipresent rant
|
|
about the air force's crucial air superiority, the threats from the
|
|
north, the technological advantage which the air force has gathered and
|
|
the increasing reliance on it, all delivered with a confident,
|
|
deliberate speech.
|
|
|
|
Adir, who had heard this speech dozens of times since joining the air
|
|
force (do they gather monthly and rehearse these things? They\'re so
|
|
alike!), naturally drifted away skillfully. He was a person of
|
|
incredible mental will, a trait which manifested itself very helpfully
|
|
in these situations -- once he decided he does not want to hear, then he
|
|
will not commit so much as a syllable further into memory, and looking
|
|
into his rigid stance and attentive eyes you would never see it.
|
|
|
|
Now, however, he was exhausted -- and in his fatigued mentality,
|
|
something managed to slip through the cracks.
|
|
|
|
Ram approached each of his coursemates in order. As if through a haze,
|
|
he could see each receiving their rank. Daniel, ever the happy-go-lucky,
|
|
saluted each of the commanders proudly and stood facing the crowd as
|
|
they sewn in his rank, one sleeve each. Each gave him a loud pat on the
|
|
back, and he thanked them with his clear, ringing voice.
|
|
|
|
Dennis stood casually, but with a smug air, and received his after
|
|
respectfully shaking the commander's hands rather than going for the
|
|
pat. Karin thanked them each in her quiet, shy voice, with eyes downcast
|
|
as her rank was sown. Roni, ever the energy blast, often blurted out
|
|
amazed excerpts - 'I can't believe this is finally happening!', 'Thanks
|
|
so much for this! That's awesome'. Arrogant as ever, Tom gave each
|
|
commanders a strong handshake after a small, satisfied chuckle, and then
|
|
of course prompted them to give him a 'worthwhile' pat on the back.
|
|
Omer, always in neutral, merely went with a 'yeah, cool', and shook
|
|
hands as if with buddies from highschool. Dana screeched with excitement
|
|
and giggled with glee, never managing to gather her feelings into a
|
|
coherent word, let alone a sentence. Reasonable Chen addressed the two
|
|
commanders as of dealing with two respected colleagues, Thanking them
|
|
humbly with an official, reserved greeting and a friendly air.
|
|
|
|
Each of them were praised as they received their rank -- how they had
|
|
solved this and that malfunction, how funny it was when this and that
|
|
happened to them, how much so and so trait help the team and make
|
|
everyone happy. Adir had not been there for nearly all of the events
|
|
described, recent arrival as he was, and could not relate -- yet even
|
|
through the haze, the words hurt him. He felt envious of the standing
|
|
his coursemates made for themselves -- knowing full well from their own
|
|
words they were unhappy. It was a facade, he know, but he could not help
|
|
but feel strong misgivings, pangs of regret and solitude -- perhaps if
|
|
he had powered through at Hutspace, he could attain that ever-off
|
|
acclimation he so desired, and be left alone in peace.
|
|
|
|
But why should I wait to be left alone in peace, if I can force the
|
|
others to acknowledge I am alone, in peace? He thought, and with that
|
|
took a deep breath, feeling himself washed away, and shut himself down
|
|
from the rest of the room through sheer determination. It always works.
|
|
|
|
This time, however, it backfired magnificently.
|
|
|
|
When he next opened his eyes, every single person in the room was
|
|
staring at him -- some with unveiled curiosity, some with open contempt,
|
|
others with confusion and some even with a shred of pity. He had no idea
|
|
what was going on, and was suddenly growing aware of his sorry state. He
|
|
felt his eyelids droop, the heavy black circles around the eyes
|
|
throbbing, the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead dry and stiff, the
|
|
skin greasy.
|
|
|
|
Amit was suddenly at his side.
|
|
|
|
"Come up, Adir. Why did you even stand out here? Come on!"
|
|
|
|
Adir furrowed his brow, and stared Amit down for an answer.
|
|
|
|
"You're getting your rank, Adir! It's your turn. Come up! Everyone's
|
|
waiting"
|
|
|
|
Then it suddenly registered.
|
|
|
|
They're granting** me** a rank? He wondered, stunned.
|
|
|
|
They're granting **ME** a rank!? He thought, indignant. What a fucking
|
|
charade!
|
|
|
|
Amit motioned John to come over, and he promptly surged through the
|
|
crowd parting for him until he was at Adir's side as well. He grasped
|
|
his arm, trying to lead him up, eyes towards Ram. Amit put a hand
|
|
between his shoulder blades. "Go on, it's okay. Go and receive your rank
|
|
like the rest of your friends."
|
|
|
|
What happened next was profoundly idiotic, on Adir's part, and he was
|
|
well aware of it beforehand. Adir realized very early on he could not
|
|
fight every affront thrown his way by the military -- hell, he could not
|
|
consider even 5% of them. He had to pick his battles, so he may have the
|
|
strength to stand his ground where it mattered. These stupid affronts,
|
|
he would have to take. He would have to stand there like an idiot, no
|
|
one knowing him, no one saying one positive thing about him, and receive
|
|
these two stupid stripes that declared him as slightly less a piece of
|
|
shit than everyone else.
|
|
|
|
"No," he said. His voice rang surprisingly loud in the silence.
|
|
|
|
John turned to stare at him, alarmed.
|
|
|
|
"Are you missing your markings?" Amit asked. "It's okay -- I had some
|
|
brought for you. Here -" he handed Adir a set of two Corporal markings.
|
|
"You'll need to bring the other sets afterwards from HQ. Now -"
|
|
|
|
"I'm not going", he said again, and was surprised to hear how feeble his
|
|
voice sounded. He was shaking, he realized suddenly -- with fear, anger,
|
|
stress or sadness he could not even tell.
|
|
|
|
In the Pit, things stay very constant. The lights are always on, and the
|
|
temperature is always fifteen degrees Celsius. There's always the hum of
|
|
servers and fans in the background, and every ten minutes or so a short
|
|
alarm or announcement is sound. Under such static conditions, Adir's
|
|
emotions stabilized as well -- growing more timid with each passing day
|
|
until, finally, dying out completely. He had felt nearly nothing for
|
|
well other two months now; nothing upset him greatly. Nothing brought
|
|
him joy. Nothing went beyond irritating him, and being tired was just
|
|
another state of being.
|
|
|
|
But now, now he was flooded. He was quivering with anger, tearful with
|
|
sadness, breath heaving with stress and panic coursing through every
|
|
vein in his body. He was proud, he was assertive, and he was deeply
|
|
hurt.
|
|
|
|
He could see Ram, from the corner of his eye, considering the situation
|
|
awkwardly. The man who'd just been so eloquent and precise now seemed at
|
|
a loss for words.
|
|
|
|
John stared him down severely. Adir thought he could see a brief flash
|
|
of sympathy in his eyes, which was quickly gone.
|
|
|
|
'We'll talk about this later', he said quietly, and motioned Ram to
|
|
continue.
|
|
|
|
Chapter \[\] - The Second Trial
|
|
|
|
Dor burst in on Adir while he was eating one of the *fabulous* oranges
|
|
from the dining room, in *the room* with the rest of the squad. Adir had
|
|
expected this, as this was one of his few moments of respite, therefore
|
|
bound to be interrupted. That, and Henesee's threat to take him to
|
|
trial.
|
|
|
|
'Adir, come outside for a moment', said Dor in his subdued yet very
|
|
clearly arrogant manner. It was a subtle rivalry, of those two; Dor
|
|
always acted fine on paper, but when you read into the subtleties, be
|
|
was very clearly hostile. Take the phrasing of that very sentence: *Come
|
|
outside*, not *could you please come outside,* or *can I see you outside
|
|
a moment,* or even *come here for a second*. It was very clearly a
|
|
command, issued from a superior to an inferior. Just because he was a
|
|
commander doesn't mean he has that right, Adir thought, and conveyed
|
|
this often to Dor, who respectfully answered with an 'I see'.
|
|
|
|
'I'm eating an orange,' said Adir.
|
|
|
|
'I can see,' said Dor and continued no further, still standing in the
|
|
doorway. Adir in turn continued eating his orange.
|
|
|
|
'I'm waiting,' Dor remarked after another twenty seconds or so.
|
|
|
|
'I can see,' said Adir and continued no further, still eating his
|
|
orange.
|
|
|
|
'Adir, when people are called upon,' Dor curtly explained, 'They usually
|
|
answer to whomever called them.
|
|
|
|
'Dor, for me to fit that definition,' said Adir, 'I would have to
|
|
qualify as people, which I currently do not'.
|
|
|
|
As usual, Dor was flabbergasted. 'Not people? Why not? Surely you're a
|
|
person!'
|
|
|
|
'You're being annoying,' Gilad helpfully tossed in.
|
|
|
|
'No, he's just enjoying a ripe, juicy orange. Is that right, Adir?'
|
|
|
|
'Not currently, but I certainly mean to try.'
|
|
|
|
'As much as I like our banters, Adir, you need to come outside.'
|
|
|
|
'Okay'. Adir stared at his watch. 'We went for lunch in 12:00.
|
|
Therefore, I am entitled to another full thirteen minutes of lunchtime,
|
|
after which I must be physically present at the department. Is that not
|
|
so?'
|
|
|
|
'It is,' said Dor, finally losing some patience, 'But I called you now'.
|
|
|
|
'And now is my central-command assigned lunch break, which entitles me
|
|
under martial law to do as I please within the confines of the base and
|
|
human rights to do as I please. I choose to eat this ripe, juicy
|
|
orange.'
|
|
|
|
'We'll take care of you afterwards. Don't you worry,' Dor said in his
|
|
clever double-meaning way.
|
|
|
|
'Oh, no need. I feel very taken care of.'
|
|
|
|
Dor sighed deeply. 'Okay then. Since you refuse to come, we'll do it
|
|
here in front of everybody. Last chance...'
|
|
|
|
Adir stared him down, his nerves getting the better of him.
|
|
|
|
'The department commander has set your trial for 13:15. Be there on
|
|
A-type uniform, in time. Shined shoes. No funny business.'
|
|
|
|
'You're taking away from my break time,' Adir answered, 'Hence I'll be
|
|
there at 13:18'.
|
|
|
|
'That kind of knitpicking won't work with the commander.'
|
|
|
|
'Speaking from experience?'
|
|
|
|
Dor sighed irritably and left.
|
|
|
|
'You're an ass', said Gilad.
|
|
|
|
'A real ass,' Ana agreed.
|
|
|
|
'See? When can agree', said Gilad.
|
|
|
|
'We don't agree on anything.'
|
|
|
|
'Don't you think he's being an idiot?'
|
|
|
|
'No.'
|
|
|
|
'Why?'
|
|
|
|
'Because you think he's an idiot.'
|
|
|
|
'I've had it with you people,' Gilad said, 'and would have left now had
|
|
I cared. Goodbye. I am not in the room.'
|
|
|
|
'Ciao,' Max threw in.
|
|
|
|
So the bastard wants another go. This time, however, Adir felt smug
|
|
rather than angry.
|
|
|
|
'You get used to it pretty quickly', said Ana, who'd been trialed
|
|
countless times. At that point, Micha walked in.
|
|
|
|
'Trialed again?' he asked Adir in his concise, no frills manner.
|
|
|
|
'Yup'
|
|
|
|
'Oh, he's pissed. You're gonna have a blasted.'
|
|
|
|
'How do you know?'
|
|
|
|
'Where do you think I just came from?'
|
|
|
|
'Anything good?'
|
|
|
|
'5 days in base. Per usual.'
|
|
|
|
'That's peanuts. See ya at dinner.' Micha left off for his business.
|
|
|
|
The remaining 9 minutes were spent in speculation on the trial's outcome
|
|
-- all present spelt doom for Adir, who adamantly insisted he had a
|
|
plan, yet refused to divulge it.
|
|
|
|
'Hope you got those two weeks of underpants ready,' said Max.
|
|
|
|
'I will change my underpants at home tonight, after coming home and
|
|
hugging my mother. You cynical brats will all see.'
|
|
|
|
'Of course, honey, of course', said Ana. 'See ya at dinner'
|
|
|
|
'Absolutely not'.
|
|
|
|
Adir knew he managed to frustrate Dor when David showed up at 13:12 to
|
|
pick him up. He never quite understood why he must be picked up
|
|
considering the office was across the road.
|
|
|
|
'Adir! You're late for your trial! You're not dressed yet? Oh, Henesee
|
|
is going to be pissed! Wait, I'll call him, I- '
|
|
|
|
'My trial is at 13:18. I have a full 5 minutes to get dressed! We're all
|
|
good, David'
|
|
|
|
'But Dor told me 13:15, and now I-'
|
|
|
|
'It's okay. You can go on your business. I'll be there.'
|
|
|
|
'Henesee told me to escort you -- but he told me not to say, I'm saying
|
|
this for you, because I ca-'
|
|
|
|
'Fine, fine, I'm getting dressed,' he said and slammed the door.
|
|
|
|
Two minutes later they stood outside the door waiting to be called in.
|
|
|
|
'You enter with your head bowed down, beret on your head, you only
|
|
answer with 'yes commander' or 'no commander', clean uniform, only speak
|
|
when spoken to, only-'
|
|
|
|
'I'll manage, David. I'm sure you're very busy.'
|
|
|
|
Those were the magic words. 'Of course! Okay. I'm going. Promise me
|
|
you'll go in! I told Henesee I'll send you in'
|
|
|
|
'I don't make promises. But you did your part'
|
|
|
|
'It's always so difficult with you,' David offered compassionately and
|
|
left.
|
|
|
|
'Adir!' Henesee roared in his coarse, disgusting voice. Adir waited a
|
|
few seconds in defiance before waltzing in.
|
|
|
|
'You wanna start of like that already? What's all that? Where's the
|
|
beret!? And you look me in the eye!'
|
|
|
|
'We're a pair of human beings, not silverback gorillas. I'm sure you'll
|
|
manage.'
|
|
|
|
'No, no. Scram. We'll do it a thousand times, until you get it right. Go
|
|
outside. Now!'
|
|
|
|
Rather than prolong this fight throughout the day, Adir decided to get
|
|
it over with. He stepped outside, put on the stupid beret and stepped in
|
|
again.
|
|
|
|
He looked Henesee right in eye, of course -- that much he won't give the
|
|
bastard -- but seeing him sitting at the edge of that stupid room
|
|
wearing that *stupid *officer's cap defused Adir completely, and he
|
|
started laughing before quickly supressing it.
|
|
|
|
'What is it?' Henesee asked, furious.
|
|
|
|
'No no, it's just, I - '
|
|
|
|
'Do you think now's the appropriate time? Again!'
|
|
|
|
'Fine, fine.'
|
|
|
|
Adir did the whole loop again.
|
|
|
|
'I see that's the best I'll get out of you. Very well. We'll see how
|
|
that affects my conclusion.'
|
|
|
|
Had Adir not come in with an agenda, he would have made some nasty
|
|
remark -- but fueled by spite, he managed to hold back.
|
|
|
|
'Adir, you stand on trial for a desertion of one whole day of service,
|
|
after refusing to stay and man the operational department, leaving home
|
|
without leave from your commander. Stand up straight, come on!'
|
|
|
|
'Do you agree to be judged by me, your commander, over the charge of
|
|
this offence?'
|
|
|
|
'No.'
|
|
|
|
'It's *No, Commande-*' Henesee spat out before registering the response.
|
|
'No? Refusing me means the case to be taken up to the squadron
|
|
commander. You know that?'
|
|
|
|
'Yes.'
|
|
|
|
'Yes, commander,'
|
|
|
|
Adir did not break his gaze and added nothing.
|
|
|
|
'I- You know what that means, right? The Commander can give much heavier
|
|
penalties. You cannot take the request back. Let's try again. Do you
|
|
agree to be judged by me, your commander, over the charge of this
|
|
offence?'
|
|
|
|
Adir took a small step towards him. 'No,' he said, smirking arrogantly,
|
|
'*Commander*'.
|
|
|
|
Henesee exhaled with deep, furious malice.
|
|
|
|
'You know what? Let's talk off the record here. I wanna get to the
|
|
bottom of this. Why the hell would you want to go to the squadron
|
|
commander?'
|
|
|
|
Adir *guffawed*. 'Are you joking?'
|
|
|
|
'Not at all!' Henesee said, suddenly offended. 'Do you not trust my
|
|
impartiality?'
|
|
|
|
'Your impartiality? You'd send me off to the firing squad, if you had
|
|
the means! Is this some kind of sick joke?'
|
|
|
|
'I don't know why you'd say something so distasteful, really. After we
|
|
took you in and treated you so fairly.'
|
|
|
|
'If that's your definition of fair, I suggest you start looking for a
|
|
new base for me, because this won't end well.'
|
|
|
|
'Oh, It will -- I'll make a soldier out of you, one trial at a time! But
|
|
first, I want to understand. Answer me this -- did you or did you not go
|
|
home on Thursday?'
|
|
|
|
'I did.'
|
|
|
|
'So you plead guilty'
|
|
|
|
'I don't plead anything, particularly since I'm not on trial.'
|
|
|
|
'You are, but we're pausing that for a moment, of fairness to you.
|
|
You're charged with having left before the time, and you say you left,
|
|
and Dor says he never released you. So you plead guilty.'
|
|
|
|
'First, I don't plead anything. I don't plead -- I'm telling you what
|
|
happened. Dor never said anything. We were all told to go home. And
|
|
everyone went home.'
|
|
|
|
'He didn't tell you to go, thought'
|
|
|
|
'He never told anyone by name. We were all together and he said 'go
|
|
home', so we did'.
|
|
|
|
Henesee frowned in thought. 'Dor says he told you specifically not to
|
|
go.'
|
|
|
|
'Bullshit.'
|
|
|
|
'Watch your language'
|
|
|
|
'Tell Dor to watch his. No such thing was ever said.'
|
|
|
|
Such a thing was, in fact, said -- Dor brazenly past them by and added,
|
|
almost whispering, to Adir -- 'not you' -- after telling them to go, in
|
|
his usual smug, correct manner. Adir was so pissed -- especially after
|
|
being held up last time -- he decided to go, and take the case to the
|
|
squadron commander and show these fucks he's not scared of them.
|
|
|
|
'So you plead innocent.'
|
|
|
|
'I don't plead anything. I didn't do it.'
|
|
|
|
'Look, you can either plead innocent or plead guilty. You either plead
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guilty -- 'I went home despite Dor's orders' -- and acknowledge your
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fault and perhaps soften your punishment -- or you plead innocent,
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saying 'I didn't go home''.
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'I did go home'.
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'So you plead guilty'.
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'I don't plead anything! And I'm not guilty!'
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'Did you or didn't you go home??'
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'I did, because he told me to go home!'
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'You see,' said Henesee, 'That's pleading guilty, but contesting the
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circumstances.'
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'What circumstances? What are you on about? No one told me anything!'
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'You say, 'I went home' -- therefore you are guilty -- but the offence
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|
is incorrect -- you weren't told to go home -- therefore contesting the
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|
circumstances, your feedback to be considered in your punishment.'
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Adir stood dumbstruck.
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'Listen,' he said, barely keeping himself from shouting -- 'I have not
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the slightest idea as to whatever you want from me. I truly don't. Name
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it whatever military jibberish. I didn't do it. That's what I claim.'
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"How can you not know this? Weren't you judged before?''
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'No,' said Adir, 'I did not'.
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Henesee was stunned. 'You mean to tell me you've been acting like this
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for two years, and never stood trials? Those headquarters guys are
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soft!'
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'Or,' Adir added, 'Radical idea -- I'm not the problem.'
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'Whatever. Adir, you can't claim anything', he said, 'you can plead, and
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your judge -- me or the commander- determine what happened'
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'How on earth can you determine what happened? You weren't there!'
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'I hear your statement, and Dor's, and decide.'
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'How impartial!'
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'How is that not impartial? That's the martial law!'
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'Oh, sure! Who are you two going to believe -- Dor, the commander, who
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you're chumming with every day and would not want to offend because you
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|
need his talents, or me -- the piece of shit mistfit corporal - as you
|
|
plead. Now do you understand?'
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'Alright, I'm done' said Henesee. 'Scram. You wanna go to the commander?
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Fine. You'll go to the commander. And you'll see how impartial we are!
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Then you'd wish you trusted me'
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'And how could I not after that lovely speech?'
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'Scram! Go back to work!'
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And Adir did scram, furious, but content -- his goal had been achieved.
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|
'You just made everything a billion times worse', Yoav cried in despair
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|
and frustration. 'What exactly did you achieve?'
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|
'I want to hurt them just as bad as they hurt me,' said Adir. 'Every
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|
time that buffon wants to throw me a gut punch, I'll make sure he takes
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one as well.
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'And what if you're sentenced to two weeks of base confinement now,
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|
because of that stupid trick?' asked Gilad.
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'Then I'll gladly stay knowing I didn't give that smug bastard power
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over me.'
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The Room went quiet. Ana nodded silently.
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'Honestly,' said Gilad, 'I can respect that'.
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