The Game. Part 1.

     The Game.

           Part 1

         1

We’d been training for months, endless training. Finally, news.

The alert status had gone through the roof, rumours going round the camp.

We were going to war.

Regimental meeting at 1400hrs would confirm the rumour was true.

It was early July.

Wow, shock or what, the place was buzzing.

That night in the bar, the banter started. Six of us wouldn’t be going, our three year contracts were up in two months. That gave us carte blanche to slag the guys who were going.

That night in bed, soldier (A) pondered.

From a very young age he felt death around him. Always convinced he was destined to die young. This feeling became so strong, it took over his life.

So much so it would shape his entire world. Only his world.

He would later incorporate a system that controlled his total being.

This system he would call the Game.

It would take over his life.

        2

The last month in school saw the Game in operation twice.

Mr Cunningham in chemistry had berated and ridiculed him in class, before continuing in his usual habit of thrashing his cane off the desk.

Mr Cunningham had unwittingly entered the Game.

It wouldn’t be today though, for at half past three he would be trapped at the back of the school by a rival gang.

Four years of fighting were finally coming to an end.

You had to know how to fight to lead a gang. Big Brian knew how to fight.

They would surround him, and beat him to within an inch of his life.

If Brian saw total unconcern in his rival, he mistook it for bravado.

The pickaxe handle knocked him to the ground. He didn’t understand, that look was still there. The second blow split his skull. It didn’t matter after that. Brian would later suffer epileptic fits. The Game was unforgiving.

          3

He was facing the board when the soggy ball hit him. Enough to send him into a

frenzy. The cane smashed onto the desk several times before finally hitting the                

book, activating the five capsules below it.

Mary at the front was the first to notice.

Sir, there's smoke coming out of your desk.

He followed procedure. The class was evacuated.  He ran to open the windows, gripping both handles as he pushed them open.

At first he felt a tingle, but as the power increased, his body began to shudder.

He couldn’t release his grip. The force would throw him six feet across the room.

He would later remark in the staff room, that he could have sworn someone was wearing a gas mask and holding a device in his hand. He couldn’t be sure though, tears were streaming down his face and his throat was burning. He did remember flying through the air.

End of school pranks the teachers remarked.

The Game had left school.

He would never return.

                             4

Tomorrow he would extend his contract.

He had a date with destiny.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

The first part of your story is transfixing . . . besides being compelled to find out what comes next, I couldn't help but notice how your story seems to explain the "military" mentality which has gripped much of our country in win-or-lose rhetoric lately. It's like you are showing me the mindset of the fighters while Coyote John shows the mindset of peace seekers! Interesting juxtapositions from two poets who can deliver a meaningful punch! *smile* (((HUGS)))

[Paul Bell]

The mindset of this character from a very young age is the key to the story. Madness or insanity. A thin line.

[barleygirl]

I forgot to mention that using "soldier A' and "soldier B" is a great way to suggest that these lives are nondescript, like just another soldier down.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

An intriguing beginning to an unusual story ... I look forward to reading chapter 2 ... I once had a friend (now deceased) who was a Native American, gentle, kind, and easy going and calm even when drunk, which destroys the standard stereotype notion of Native Americans not being able to handle alcohol cause this man could drink and never turn mean without good reason ... I was at a bar with him one night and a guy started some trouble ... Things escalated and suddenly this trouble maker struck my friend across the bridge of his nose with a pool cue ... Blood spurted every where and my friends nose was a broken disaster ... As it all took place in a matter of seconds, I stood mesmerized as my friend began to smile this silly looking little smile, and, then, proceeded to beat that man half to death as though his nose was not spurting blood and as though he had never felt a thing ... His entire family possessed the same nature: Damn good people that would give you the shirt off their backs, and never looked for trouble, but boy if you messed with them there was a dear price to pay ... I must shut up now and move on to the next chapter ...

Marv

[Paul Bell]

Always be careful of calm people. Be even more careful if you don't actually kill them. They tend not to feel pain. lol