Zayyad

12. Training the body first.

The sound was low but it made Bilal freeze. He stared at Zayyad who was quietly observing his body. 

"You must have used a lot of energy to do that huh?" He asked. 

"Focus on your task instead." Zayyad returned. 

Bilal chuckled and said, "You don't have to remind me. I might look young but I have the strength of ten men. Haven't you heard that men from Khafeef have miraculous body strength? Especially those from Al Jabisha." 

Zayyad was speechless at such a show-off. 

"What difference does it make if, in the end, you can't bring this block back by Monday evening?" Among the three regions under Khafeef, Al Jabisha was the most flourishing. Bilal was definitely from an aristocratic family and it seems the pride was getting to his head. 

Bilal scoffed at Zayyad's words and said, "Just watch me. I will pull this back to where it belongs too. As for people like you, just follow behind me." He laughed and pursed his lips tightly. His veins bulge as he managed to move the block an inch. A gleeful look formed on his face. 

Zayad calmly returned to what he was doing. When he pulled the block, the weight from behind was pulling him back too. If he insisted on fighting it that way, he would get exhausted easier and the task might be left undone. 

"I need to balance my weight to reduce the heaviness of this block." He thought to himself. He started with his left leg first while the right leg was behind, he inclined his back and pulled again. He didn't let his legs slide and raised them strongly to take another step. It looked slow but he had his ground and he was moving inch by inch. 

Besides the younger ones, some older welt-built men were having it easier. 

The sun had fully risen and the men struggling were already feeling the burden of their task. 

"Ok. Ok. Ok. Let's have a good break now." Bilal breathed and loosen his belt, sitting on the floor. One didn't only have to pull the iron block but curb the resistance brought by the sand. It wasn't easy for rookies.

Zayyad exhaled and loosen up too. He stretched his arms and glanced at Bilal who was smiling at him competitively. The guy was a few centimeters away from him. 

"Is he dumb or what?" Zayyad wondered. He was using a tactic that won't let him get tired too much and he will have enough energy to finish his task. Whereas Bilal was pushing himself to finish quicker. The difference can be seen. He was so tired that he had to sit but Zayyad was still standing tall and the guy was smiling victorious. 

Zayyad didn't bicker with him and walked toward the camp. 

"Hey, you are going to eat, why not wait for me?" Bilal called out and went after him. They arrived at the large food tent and were given their breakfast and tea. Bilal acted like he wanted to know more about Zayyad but the young man ignored him. 

He left the tent and headed for their camp. 

"Stop being so prideful. I was asking you questions but you answered none." Bilal ran before him, blocking his way. 

Zayyad frowned and replied, "I don't remember being forced to answer you. And I was eating, were you expecting me to speak?" 

"You might as well answer me now." Bilal raised his chin. 

Zayyad crossed his arms and said, "If I were you, I would stop acting like the whole world belongs to me. Everyone here is equal. You are nothing special. If you have been bossing people around, you can't try that with me because my patience is limited. Now will you give way or not?" 

Bilal knew Zayyad was dead serious and felt intimidated. He shifted aside and Zayyad walked past him. 

"Hmmp! Just wait. " Bilal grumbled and went to their tent. 

Zayyad walked into their tent and some men were back already. At the far end were the twins, with Husien lying like a dead log. 

He immediately whined after seeing Zayyad.

"Zayyad, my back is going to break before tomorrow if this continues. " 

"Just take it easy, " Zayyad said and sat down. 

"Huh?" Hussein frowned. "I reckon that there will be punishment if I don't finish." 

"The camp isn't so unreasonable you know," Hassan said. "They might look at your efforts and patience. Not everyone has the same body strength. So calm down." 

"Say that again." Husein hummed and closed his eyes. 

"I don't know what to do with him," Hassan whispered to Zayyad. 

"He will get used to it," Zayyad said. The twins were in the second group but none had seen Adnan. Speaking of him, Adnan walked in sweating. 

"What is the use of muscles for men?" He laughed and sat down beside Zayyad but the young man quickly slapped his shoulder. 

"What?" He asked, astonished. 

"Take your sweaty body off my bed." Zayyad frowned. The twins laughed and Adnan's face twitched. He stood up and sat on the floor. 

"So tiring but exciting." he grinned. 

"We just started. We have more than 60 hours to go." Hassan said to him. 

"Why do you love spoiling fun huh?" Adnan shook his head. 

"I am just reminding you. " Hassan shrugged. 

Zayyad stood and said, "If you want to rest, go ahead. I have to pray. " he then turned to leave the tent. 

"Duha?" Hussein raised his head. "Can I even lift my hand? Brother, what if I miss Zuhr?" The thought scared him because such a heavy task under the sun makes one dehydrated and tired easily. 

Hassan laughed and said, "I told you to take things easy right? Just do what you can, so that it won't affect any of your compulsory prayers. Also, this is just the beginning." 

"Just the beginning. Just the beginning. " Hussein grumbled.

"Stop being a child here. What your brother said is true." Adnan said. "One day, we will have to stay alert all day, fight nonstop and tirelessly, walk on our feet for days, and more. Since you chose this job, stop complaining. Or do you want to go back and be a merchant?" 

"Of course not!" Hussein sat up quickly. "I am not lazy. Look, I'll stop complaining and work hard, okay?" 

"Good for you." Hassan smiled and stood up. "Don't let that confidence get in your head and rest. I will join Zayyad to pray." 

"Rest rest rest." Adnan lay down and crossed his palms to support his head. Hussein sighed and started stretching his limbs. 

Zayyad came back in after a quick bath and prayed for duha. The others were back eventually and all changed into their uniforms. 

"Oh, I am in love with this uniform." Adnan chuckled, smoothing his belt. He folded his scarf and tied it around his head while his long hair flowed on his back. The twins looked good too and they wrapped their scarf around their necks as usual. 

"Who will recognize you now?" Adnan held his waist. At Least before, the two wore differ at colors of scarf or clothes. 

"I am the well-built one." Husein puffed his chest and winced immediately as Hassan slapped his chest back. 

"You look so bad," Hussein said angrily and glanced at Zayyad. Coupled with his dark hair, the young man looked more handsome in white. He held his scarf not knowing what to do with it. 

"I can make a turban for you," Hussein suggested. 

"No need. We still need a task." Zayyad refused and kept the scarf under his bag. "Let's go, Adnan." Adnan waved at the twins and left with Zayyad. The two were in the same group albeit in different rows. The twins left too. The recruits now looked more organized in the same uniforms.