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John turned his map over. It was just one part of a much larger map—no drop or extraction pointmarked. How was he supposed to navigate without a reference point? But he knew this was part of themission, to answer that question on his own.
“One more thing,” Mendez said. “The last trainee to make it to the extraction point will be left behind.”He glanced out a window. “And it’s a very long walk back.”
John didn’t like it. He wasn’t going to lose, but he didn’t want anyone else to lose, either. The thought ofKelly or Sam or any of the others marching all the way back made him uneasy . . . if theycould make it
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all the way back alone over those mountains.
“First drop in three minutes,” Mendez barked. “Trainee 117, you’re up first.”
“Sir! Yes, sir!” John replied.
He glanced out the window and scanned the terrain. There was a ring of jagged mountains, a valley thickwith cedars, and a ribbon of silver—a river that fed into a lake.
John nudged Sam, pointed to the river, then jerked his thumb toward the lake.
Sam nodded, then pulled Kelly aside and pointed out the window. Kelly and Sam moved quickly downthe line of seated trainees.
The ship decelerated. John felt his stomach rise as they dropped toward the ground.
“Trainee 117: front and center.” Mendez stepped to the rear of the compartment as the ship’s tail splitand a ramp extended. Cold air blasted into the ship. He patted John on the shoulder. “Watch out forwolves in the forest, 117.”
“Yes, sir!” John looked over his shoulder at the others.
His teammates gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Good, everyone got his message.
He ran down the ramp and into the forest. The dropship’s engines roared to life and it rose high into thecloudless sky. He zipped up his jacket. He wore only fatigues, boots, and a heavy parka—not exactly thegear he’d pack for a prolonged stay in the wilderness.
John started toward one particularly sharp peak he had spotted from the air; the river lay in thatdirection. He’d follow it downstream and meet the others at the lake.
He marched through the woods until he heard the gurgling of a stream. He got close enough to see thedirection of the flow, then headed back into the forest. Mendez’s exercises often had a twist to them—stun mines on the obstacle course, snipers with paint pellet guns during parade drills. And with the Chiefup in that dropship, John wasn’t about to reveal his position unless he had a good reason.
He passed a blueberry bush and took the time to strip it before he moved on.
This was the first time in months he had been alone and could just think. He popped a handful of berriesinto his mouth and chewed.
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He thought about the place that had been his home, his parents . . . but more and more that seemed like adream. John knew it wasn’t, and that he had once had a different life. But this was the life he wanted. Hewas a soldier. He had an important job to train for. Mendez said they were the Navy’s best and brightest.That they were the only hope for peace. He liked that.