X-Git-Url: https://jxself.org/git/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=the-compound.txt;h=89b864104f677c8eddbdca975f39b9f228d076dc;hb=5c4455c265cce953562114eeafb4ee6fa0f61bf8;hp=f7d56ac1e1c586e6da653de48c722d0dba799ea2;hpb=19588b3b9a5d48feef322dd0327c1d56785c4def;p=the-compound.git diff --git a/the-compound.txt b/the-compound.txt index f7d56ac..89b8641 100644 --- a/the-compound.txt +++ b/the-compound.txt @@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ I get to the barracks just past midnight and walk in to the main door. The guards are there. There's a bunch of guys standing around in uniforms, their faces covered by bandanas and ready to go on shift with a few people getting off shift. Without missing a beat I look to -the officer that's working the front desk. He's a middle aged older -guy with a beard and thick black hair. I notice at least two men -talking to him. He nods to me and I continue on to the central area. +the officer that's working the front desk. He's a middle aged guy with +a beard and thick black hair who looks like he's been through a lot. I +notice at least two men talking to him. He nods to me and I continue +on to the central area. Grabbing a towel, I toss it over my shoulder and push past the officers. Walking in to the shower I take a seat in the corner to @@ -24,10 +25,10 @@ I bunk with four of my teammates in a room with a chair. They're all standing around talking about playing some football in the middle of the night when I arrive. "Not me", I tell them, "I've made two runs around the compound and I'm beat." Still, I take a few minutes to walk -outside with my teammate before going to bed. I can't sleep because my -head feels like it's going to explode any minute but I can see my eyes -glazed over. I tried a few different pills to bring some relief. It -was hard because while they certainly helped not all of their side +outside with my teammates before going to bed. I can't sleep because +my head feels like it's going to explode any minute but I can see my +eyes glazed over. I tried a few different pills to bring some relief. +It was hard because while they certainly helped not all of their side effects were worth the trouble. "The perimeter has been breached," I heard the voice saying urgently @@ -46,6 +47,40 @@ fence." I felt the sting in my stomach. Rodrìguez was my best friend. We've known each other our whole lives. I had to be the one to tell his family. +Before that could happen my squad leader arrived in silence, looking a +little uncomfortable. It took him a few minutes to work up the nerve +but he broke the silence. He said we needed to go to Central Base to +meet with the Lieutenant Colonel and then he'd take me back. + +"I can drive" I offered as we approached the vehicle. "Leave me the +wheel," he laughed and we zipped through the desert air and down the +compound's tight, gravel trails. + +Pulling up before the entrance to Central Base half hour later I got +out and went around the gravel parking lot. I had to walk through an +armed gate in order to approach the the door. I nodded and waited for +the door to be opened. + +The Lieutenant Colonel turned to face me as I walked in to her office, +smiled, and shook my hand. "I'm glad to meet you", she said. I nodded +and then realized I had to sit somewhere. In front of the door was a +vinyl chair and while I sat down, I felt my arms burn up. My squad +leader remained standing near the door. + +"When did you last talk to Rodrìguez?" she asked. + +"I haven't spoken to him since I left him in the detention center," I +told them. "He called me this morning." + +In that moment the office door opens and in comes the General, who +promptly orders me to come with him. + +We walk down a guarded hallway to a large white box marked "Isolation +Cell", the exterior of which which was decorated with two small +paintings and flowers on the walls. It had "1.0" written next to the +sign by hand. The door was closed so that I couldn't see what was +inside. + -- Copyright (C) 2019 Jason Self You can redistribute and/or modify this under the terms of the GNU