The Recruit
By; Gerald A. Polley
Chapter 2
They
flew through the night. When Imal woke the other passengers were
muttering excitedly. "We're coming over the coast!" one of them
remarked, "Flying right over the road that runs down the middle of The
Republic!"
One of the young women that had
been serving them spoke up. "The Republic runs right along these
two nations' borders. That road marks where their border used to
be. We have ten miles in each country. This particular
Republic runs right around the country to the left, and splits off
sharing the borders with other countries. Our presence here keeps
the peace. These countries have long been feuding with each
other. Now, in order for one of them to attack the other, they
have to pass through our territory, attack us first. And they
don't really want to do that. The airfield is just inland. We'll
be landing in a few minutes. Take your seats, fasten your seat
belts. Stay together. An officer will pick you up and take you to
your buses. Good luck gentlemen!"
Imal noticed a yellow band on the cuff of the woman's uniform. As
they got off the plane he noticed the other women didn't have
one. "What's the yellow band mean?" he asked one of his
companions.
"Oh!" one of the other young men
answered, "You noticed that too, huh? She's a prisoner, a
convict. But she's allowed to work outside a labor camp.
Probably has to spend her off duty time at a minimum security detention
area. They're given quite a bit of freedom if they don't cause
trouble. I guarantee you, they don't want to cause trouble!"
Imal nodded. Their escort picked them up and got them to their
buses. As they were driving towards the training camp, Imal
looked to the officer and remarked "Can I ask a question?"
"Of course!" the officer answered.
"Why is everything so green here? You could see it from the plane. This
strip of land is lush, all kinds of crops everywhere, yet just
over your borders barren desert."
The officer
smiled. "See those towers?" he remarked, "They're situated at intervals
all along the road. They're condensation towers. Even
though this area is dry there is moisture in the air. The
condensation towers take it out. It's used to irrigate crops and
supply our water. We use it over and over again. We have to
bring in very little water. The system is being used at all our
colonies."
"Incredible!" Imal remarked. "Is
it offensive to ask, sir, do you consider you're one of these aliens,
one of these Havens?"
The man laughed.
"No!" he answered, "I used to belong to a race they called The
Hashons. Quite different from The Havens. But we are allies
and will return to the stars with them. Get your things
together! We're coming to the base! I'm afraid there's been
an incident, and you're going to get the unpleasant welcome. Pay
attention to it."
In a few minutes they were
standing in line with perhaps three hundred other young men. "Put
down your bags!" an officer ordered. "They will be perfectly
safe, no one will bother them. March into the parade area and
take seats in the bleachers."
When they were
seated Imal saw four tables and a strange looking machine with a large
blade. After everyone was there a young woman came before them.
"My name is Sharon," she remarked, "I am a
commander of this base. I will, at some point, personally
interview each one of you as we discuss your future. After you
witness punishment you will be taken for medical exams, after you have
been assigned to temporary quarters. We do not have the personnel
to escort you all the time. So learn where you are. There
are bulletin boards everywhere showing where you are and the route to
other facilities. If you get completely lost go to a guard
station. Now! You've been told young recruits are not to be
touched. They are not the older boys' play things, they are
soldiers. You will assist in their training and treat them with
all respect!" She waved her hand and five young men already
naked, were dragged out. "These five thought they were real tough
warriors. They raped a young boy. These four left.
Their leader came back thinking he would make sure the boy never told
by killing him. Outside of our territories the mode of execution
we use is hanging. Here and in the rest of our territories, the
mode of execution is beheading. Executioner! Perform your
duties!"
One of the young men was dragged to the
strange looking machine. His legs were strapped together and his
hands were strapped to his waist. He was then laid on the
machine, face up so he could see the menacing blade. The
executioner stepped back, took ahold of the leaver and pulled it.
There was a loud snap. The executioner then reached down, picked
up the young man's head, and displayed it. His eyes were still
open and there was a look of horror on his face. Imal was close
enough to see it.
"Now!" the commanding
officer snapped, "These four have been prepared for the punishment that
they will receive. I want all of you to see it. When the
doctor is done I want you to come down and take a good look so you'll
know we're not kidding. Doctor!"
The four
young men were strapped on the tables. The doctor picked up a
scalpel, went to the first one and began to work. He screamed
horribly. "No anesthesia?" Imal muttered. "Their
victim didn't have any anesthesia!" a young man next to him
remarked. After the doctor was finished and moved to the next
young man, someone came forward and stitched up the wounds. When
the doctor was done there was a small burner between two of the
tables. She deposited what she had removed into it.
"Come down!" the commanding officer snapped. Imal walked by all
four of the young men. Three of them just moaned. The last one
kept saying "Please! Please kill me! Please! Please kill
me!" Imal noticed the doctor watching him curiously. They
were taken to their quarters and then to the medical center. No
sooner did they get there than the doctor singled out Imal, had him
strip, and throroughly examined him.
"You're limping!" she remarked. "What's the matter with your left foot?"
"I injured it," Imal answered, "It still bothers me from time to time."
"Hmmm!" the doctor snorted. She turned to an attendant. "Full scans of
the foot, both feet! Get that hip too. Give me the readings
as soon as you have them. Everything else seems all right, but I
don't like that foot. We'll see what the blood tests show. The
initial ones were all right. Why in the hell didn't they notice this?"
Imal was taken into a room, put on a table, and a strange looking
machine was passed over him. The attendant came out, adjusted his
position several times, and the machine passed over him again. A
while later he was dressed and the doctor came in. "You can't
begin training," she snapped, "you're going to have to have corrective
surgery on your foot, or in very short order it may have to be
removed. But we should be able to fix it fine. There's a
charity fund that will give you an allowance while you're waiting to
begin the training. It'll probably be three months. All the
educational facilities will be available to you. I wouldn't waste the
time!"
"Well," Imal sighed, "If you've
gotta do it, you gotta do it! I didn't think it was that
bad! Isn't there a way that I can draw some money on my future
pay? I really don't like to take money from a charity unless I
have to. I'm quite sure there are many others that need it.
If I'm still going to be able to serve I'd much prefer that."
The doctor smiled. "I will convey your wishes to the paymaster's
office," she snapped. "I'm sure they would be very pleased to set up
the account. Yes. I think we will want you to serve with
us. You may return to your quarters. We'll let you know
when the surgery is scheduled."
"Thank you!"
Imal snapped, coming to attention and saluting in The Republic's
manner. The doctor smiled and returned the salute. As Imal headed
back to his quarters he got disoriented, wasn't exactly sure where he
was. He saw a guard post where young men in training who had
gotten passes to the nearby town were returning. He headed that
way. Outside the gate he saw a bus stop, but instead of several
dozen young men getting off it, only five got off. There was something
about them, something about them that Imal didn't like. Suddenly he
quickened his pace. He realized what it was! He had to get
to the gate! He had to get there quickly!
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