Spartan Company by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Mythic Adventure, LLC
Published: 2018-10-15T22:00:00+00:00

31

Money came back two hours later. I was awake, sort of. My eyes were open, and I was technically conscious, but my mind was numb. I wasn’t thinking about anything, just drifting in a state of total exhaustion.

“Alright, I found the platoon,” Money said. “Get on your feet, Marine, it’s time to move out.”

I stood up, but getting my pack on was difficult. I had trouble standing up under the weight of it. The walking stick helped, but I wasn’t fit for duty.

“When you get back to the platoon, tell the lieutenant that there are three other platoons within striking distance of the encampment,” Money told me.

“You should tell him,” I said, my words slurring a little almost as if I were drunk. I could tell my balance was wavering too. I was staggering more than walking.

“I’m not going with you. I have orders, remember. I’ll cause some havoc with the other platoons, but if he wants to win he’s going to have to formulate a plan and put it into action.”

“Who cares,” I said.

“Watch yourself Porter,” Money said. “Say what I tell you and nothing else. You’re not thinking too clearly at the moment.”

I knew he was right, but I resented the fact that it was true. Surely there were times when pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion was necessary, perhaps to save lives, maybe even your own, but I didn’t think winning a training competition was worth it. The dangerous thing was that I felt no fear about telling First Lieutenant Edward Rigel what I thought to his face, which would surely get me demoted, removed from Recon, and perhaps even courtmartialed.

“Alright, just stay on course and you’ll be in radio distance soon,” Money told me. “I’ll wait here for one hour. If the LT wants me to rejoin the platoon, he can move close enough to establish comms. You got that, Porter?”

“I got it,” I said.

“Damn man, you look rough. Hang in there, this is almost over.”

“Thanks for getting me through it, Master Sergeant.”

I forced myself to stand up straight, ignoring the pain in my lower back, and saluted. He returned the salute, then dropped to the ground, his back against a tree. It was the first time I realized that he was nearly as tired as I was. I felt for him. And leaving him all alone felt completely wrong, but I had to follow orders. He was setting the example for me, plus he was depending on me to carry his messages to Lieutenant Rigel.

The first name that popped up on my coms display was Corporal Willow Mandalay. My voice cracked as I radioed in.

“Willow, this is Orion Porter. Do you copy?”

“Orry?” The sound of her voice was like music, or a cool breeze on a stifling day. “Where are you?”

“Heading your way,” I said.

The platoon had taken a position in a cluster of trees. I came staggering in a few moments after making contact. Will Monephet and Petra Von’heim, our platoon medics, rushed to me as soon as they saw me.

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