Chapter 14

Thomas swore he had only been asleep for a few minutes before sergeant Kurtz was storming into the barracks and ripping the blankets off sleeping cadets.

“Up and out of those beds!”

Thomas kunckled the sleep out of his eyes and shivered as the cool air hit his skin. Quickly, he pulled on a plain linen shirt and trousers and went to stand at the end of his cot.

Ivan yawned as he made his way next to Thomas. “I’m not a morning person,” he mumbled, still half asleep.

“I know you’re not,” Thomas replied. He swept his eyes down the ranks of cots. A few cots away, Hal was awake. Standing next to him was Randy, half naked as always, and standing over him was Drew.

Hal made eye contact with Thomas and shrugged.

Thomas turned back to Ivan. “Any idea what we’re doing?”

“Maybe a run?”

Thomas eyed Sergeant Kurtz, who was pacing in front of the cadets. “I don’t know. Something feels different about this time.”