(All the usual disclaimers apply. This snippet picks up directly after the previous one. Remember, this is the rough draft and changes, some substantial, will occur before publication.—ASG)
Six
“So, any big plans for after graduation Saturday?”
Jake Shaw slowed and glanced over his shoulder. Camilla Alsop, another first year cadet and a member of his squadron, jogged to his side. Like him, she wore Academy PT gear consisting of shorts, tank, and running shoes. Her red hair was pulled back into a braid. Also like him, she glanced back and shook her head as the rest of their group lagged behind.
“Nothing much. Figured I’d finish getting my gear ready for our training cruise. I’m heading out to my grandparents’ place for lunch Sunday to celebrate their anniversary. Afterwards, they’re having s small get-together with some family and friends.” Of course, his grandfather’s idea of small never exactly matched with his—or most of the rest of the family for that matter. “What about you?”
“Pretty much the same. My folks want me to catch a shuttle home but I’m doing my best to put it off.”
Jake nodded in understanding. She told him about her strained relationship with her parents who did not approve of her choice to join the Marines instead of becoming an attorney like them. Because of that, he did his best to include her whenever he could. Fortunately, his family understood and welcomed her.
“Why don’t you join us Sunday night? Granddad said I could bring some friends if I wanted.”
Actually, his mother had, but he learned quickly not to say his mother extended an invitation. Too many of the cadets took such a comment as proof she favored them and tried to use it for their advantage. That was just one of the downsides of being the commandant’s son. Not that he’d ever complain. He knew before his first day at the Academy that their relationship would present challenges, not between them, but where some of the staff and cadets were concerned. He looked at it is as the first challenge of his military career. If he couldn’t figure out how to deal with it, he might as well find something else to do because this was minor when considered against the challenges he’d face once he graduated.
“You sure it’s okay?”
“I am.”
He didn’t say anything else as the others finally joined them. Instead, he shook his head and frowned. While he wasn’t going to complain about the fact Sergeant Major Anisimova wasn’t torturing them with yet another turn at the O-Course, that didn’t mean they could half-ass their morning run.
“Hey, Jake, your mom say anything about why Okafor was here yesterday?” a lanky blond asked as he elbowed his way through the others to join Jake and Alsop at the head of the squad.
Jake rolled his eyes. He rarely talked about his family with his fellow cadets and Howard Powlen was one reason why. Powlen’s family made its fortune several generations ago in commercial shipping. The current generation, Powlen’s parents, looked down on anyone who didn’t happen to be part of their social strata. He still didn’t understand why they allowed their son, their golden child, to enter the Academy. Powlen made it clear from their first day at the Academy that his family felt the military was beneath them all and he planned on using it a little more than a stepping stone for the rest of his life.
None of which endeared him to Jake and their fellow cadets.
“You’ve probably seen my mother more than I have, Howie.” He ignored the quick flash of anger in the young man’s green eyes at his use of the hated nickname. “You’ve got her for tactics this term. I haven’t done more than nod and salute for the last month. She’s been swamped getting ready for end of term.” Now he paused, his expression turning hard. “And it is General Okafor. You’ll show proper respect. I don’t want to pay for your insolence if any upperclassman happens to hear you.”
“As if you’d get in trouble,” Powlen sneered.
“Unless both of you want to get in trouble, I suggest we get back to our run. The sergeant major might not be here, but I guarantee you she’ll know if we continue slacking off,” Alsop said and the other three cadets with them nodded in agreement.
“She’s right.” Jake turned away from Powlen to face the others. “Klein, you and Gentry take the lead. Alsop and I will bring up the rear. Howie, Ghattaora, fall in.”
He watched as they did as he said. Then he turned to Alsop and mouthed a silent thank you. She’d been one of those who hadn’t bothered him last night about Okafor’s appearance at the Academy. Powlen and several others proved once again that they expected him to know what was going on simply because his mother was the commandant. It didn’t matter that he saw her even less than they saw their own parents except when she was in her role as Academy commandant. She certainly didn’t gossip with him or share information out of turn. Not that it stopped the questions.
But he could handle them. Two semesters taught him that. But now, he needed to follow his own advice and finish his morning run. The last thing he wanted was to start the day explaining to Anisimova why he failed to follow her orders.
As he and Alsop crested the hill overlooking the obstacle course, he found the others waiting for them. Before he could say anything, Gentry pointed at the course below. Even as his fellow cadets looked between the course to him and back, Jake said nothing. His attention was focused on the two women running the course. A course that had been substantially altered since the last time he ran it two days ago. He recognized the layout of the obstacles as one of the courses the SpecOps units ran for their PFTs. It made what the cadets did look like a walk in the proverbial park.
One he wouldn’t complain about.
Before anyone could ask anything, he shook his head. He no more knew why the course had been transformed than he knew why his mother and Captain Hernandez ran it so early. And it was early. The colors wouldn’t even be presented for another half hour.
“All right, ma’ams,” Anisimova called out as the women crossed the finish line. “Grab your rucks and do it again. Remember, ma’ams. Asses and elbows only. Asses and elbows.”
Without a word, the two jogged to the edge of the course. Jake watched as they lifted their rucks and settled them in place on their backs. Anisimova gave them a moment and then ordered them back on the course. At her order, they started off, Anisimova running with them this time, calling out “encouragements” as she did. Jake winced slightly, all too familiar with her so-called encouragements as well as with the fact she could still out perform most everyone at the Academy despite her age.
“Jake?” Allsop stood to his right, her attention riveted on the two women as they shrugged out of their rucks, dropped into the mud and rolled onto their backs, their rucks held tightly to their chests, as they wormed their way under the first obstacle.
“Your guess is as good as mine, Cam.”
“She’s not said anything to you?” Franco Ghattaora asked.
“I haven’t seen her outside of assembly and passing her in the hallways for the last month.” A hint of frustration colored his voice. He didn’t care if they heard it. Ghattaora was another of those who refused to understand why he didn’t use his relationship with Ashlyn for his own benefit. “C’mon. We’ve got less than half an hour to finish our run, clean up and get ready to present the colors.”
Without waiting to see if they followed, he turned and jogged in the direction of the dorm. As he did, he couldn’t help wondering what was going on. It wasn’t unusual for his mother or for Hernandez to join the cadets as they worked out or ran the O-Course. But for them to be doing the course before dawn, when there was little chance of being seen—and with Anisimova setting up the course so it met Devil Dog standards—something had to be up. The question was if he had any right (or reason) to find a chance to speak with her alone to ask.
The title and series title of the book has changed. After talking it over with some friends during a brainstorming session, I decided this better fits not only the book but the series overall. Does this mean it’s the final title? Probably not. But we will see.
In the meantime, here’s another quick reminder. Surtr’s Fury is now available for pre-order on Amazon. It will be an Amazon exclusive for the first three to six months (still figuring that out). Then I will decide whether to take it wide or not. Here’s the link.—ASG