Page 40 of Stone

“If you don’t learn within the next ten minutes, you better hope one of your buds can do mouth-to-mouth.” He nodded toward another instructor. “Go with Sergeant Williams, and good luck. You’re gonna need it.”

Both recruits called out, “Yes, Sir,” and fell into step behind Williams, who headed toward a smaller pool which was situated thirty feet away.

Pascoe turned back to us. “You have this week to pass this test. If you don’t, we’ll kick you out unless we think you’re worth another chance. If that’s the case, you’ll start again and join the next intake of recruits.” He began to pace behind us. “If youlisten and do as I tell you, every one of you will pass. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir!” we bellowed.

“Watch and learn.” He lifted one foot, hovering there for a second before stepping into the pool. As he landed, he pushed up until his head was above water. “Once you’re in, I want you to swim to the other side.”

I gulped nervously. If I’d been wearing swim shorts, it would’ve been easy, but being dressed in a full camo uniform, boots, and holding a rifle wasn’t conducive to swimming. Still, I lifted one leg, along with the rest of my platoon, and stepped into the pool.

Even though the water was tepid, it still sent a shockwave through me. I kicked upward, but the weight of my uniform bogged me down. My feet touched the bottom of the pool, and with every ounce of strength I could muster, I pushed up, slicing through the water until my head broke through and I sucked in air.

The shouts from the instructors spurred me into action, and I kicked off toward the other side of the pool. My water-clogged uniform made movement difficult, but somehow, I managed to fall into a clumsy rhythm with each stroke and focus on the movement of my body sluicing through the water.

After what seemed like hours, my fingertips touched the side of the pool. Grabbing hold of it, I pulled myself to safety and immediately looked around to see what was happening with the rest of my boys. I caught Isaiah out of the corner of my eye as he touched the side. Breathing a sigh of relief, I maneuvered my back to the edge of the pool, looking around to check on the others.

Ray and Coop were swimming, slow but strong, toward the side, but Alec was floundering to the point he could barely keephis noggin above water. Nudging Isaiah, I nodded toward our friend. “Al’s struggling.”

Isaiah looked over. “Poor guy’s starting to panic.” He winced. “If he loses his shit, he’ll fail. Poor fucker may get kicked out.”

Instinctively, I went to dive back into the water to try and help. Even just to give him a few words of encouragement. I stopped when I heard Morley shout, “Stone! Fall back!”

I looked up to see our DIs standing at the edge of the pool with Pascoe. Mendez had both hands on his hips, shooting me a death glare.

Pascoe jumped in the pool and swam straight to Alec, who was almost thrashing around and trying to keep afloat. “Grady!” he bellowed. “Why do dead men float?”

Alec coughed and spluttered, fighting to keep his head above water before yelling, “Don’t know, Sir.”

“Dead men don’t freak the fuck out,” Pascoe yelled back. “Stop panicking. Stop tensing. Use the water to make yourself buoyant. Relax, allow your body to rise, and put your face in the water. When you need to breathe, kick your arms like you’re a frog, raise your head, take some air, then return to the relaxing position.”

I had to give Alec props. He did a good job. Within a minute, he went from flailing around to calmly bobbing on top of the water.

Pascoe turned to address us. “The water isn’t your enemy. It can save your life, if you know how to use it. When you’re under enemy fire, water is the best cover you’ll ever find and the best means of escape. You’re not here today to learn to swim or prove you can move in the water wearing a uniform and carrying a damned rifle. You’re here to learn to use the water as a survival tactic.” He turned to order Alec to swim to the side. “All of you will leave here today with a swim qual one to your name. Some of you will get a qual two. A couple may even get a swim qual three.But that’ll only happen if you listen to me and follow orders. Do you understand?”

We pulled our backs to attention even though the water hindered our movement and bellowed, ‘Yes, Sir.”

“Good.” Pascoe’s lips curved into a smirk, his fingers raising to point to the ten-foot-high diving board positioned at one end of the pool. “Next, we’re jumping off that baby and swimming a length underwater.” His eyes flicked over each of us in turn, and he grinned evilly. “And if I manage to make you puke, you get to clean the entire damned swimming tank.”

Chapter Nine

Elise

Duchess,

God, I miss you.

I still can’t believe we’re not allowed to phone home. I miss your voice, the way you laugh, and how you get all coy when somebody says something to embarrass you. I miss how I can make you blush, and I definitely miss the little noises you make when I make you come.

The training here is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the sense of satisfaction I get from it is second to none. I’m one of the fittest guys in the platoon. Sometimes, I think that even the drill instructors are impressed, but they just yell that I can do better. They’re probably right.

Things here are settling down. I’ve made new friends. One of them, Isaiah, sends his regards and wishes you well. He’s really helped me fit in, and the basketball games have lightened the mood a lot in the platoon.

I hope college is going well and you’re still into it. I’m glad you’ve got something to occupy yourself with while I’m doing this, Leesy. I hate to think of you at home being sad because I’m off playing soldier and living out my dreams. We all need a dream, or what’s the point of anything?

My next dream is all about you. It’s about coming home and settling down, putting your skills to the test, and helping me build the Demons into something we can be proud of. It’s about getting married, building you a big house down by the creek, and filling it with babies. It’s about waking up to you every day for the rest of our lives and knowing I’m the luckiest man in the world.

It’s all only a few years away, Duchess.

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