Slow Motion

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Making a Run for It!

Well on the up side, we found Luke, and on the down, this including finding about 20 other Japanese soldiers! Another downer, Luke had been injured while in the Training Camp. He had multiple slashes across his back, dripping with blood, but that isn’t where the pain ends. One of the soldiers shoved Luke forward and ordered him to face him, and as soon as Luke had fully turned his body, the same soldier yelled Japanese at two of the other soldiers.

I had no idea what to do! Do I help Luke? Do I retreat and leave him to die? Or do I just sit and wait? Luke was in danger, I could feel it, and something bad was going to happen. And just as I had that thought the two soldiers raised their shotguns, aimed it straight at Luke and shot both his kneecaps. He instantly let out a huge scream and collapsed to the ground riving in pain. I had to do something; I couldn’t just leave him there to die. I explained to Tom my plan and we put it into action straight away. We ran out of hiding simultaneously, yelling at the top of our lungs. I went for Luke and I had to pick him up and swing him over my shoulders because he was definitely in no condition to sprint, or move in that matter. I carried Luke while Tom shot as many soldiers as he could, as we were running away. We were 3 quarters of the way back and we had about 6 Japanese on our tails, but luck was in out hands. Tom was now carrying Luke and I was shooting, but so was our whole team! They must have heard the gun shots and went to check it out.

Luck was in our hands tonight. One of the Japanese snuck up from behind us and stuck a blade about 4 inches long into the back of my leg and I instantly fell to the ground. Tom had given Luke to James and he had gone back to the bunker with Luke swung comfortably across his broad shoulder. Since I was still lying on the ground squirming in pain, I couldn’t see what was happening in the fight, but soon enough the bullets had stopped being fired and there were no Japanese voices to be heard. As I opened my eyes and tried to regain focus Tom offered me his hand to help me up and took me back to where Luke and James were. When we got back to camp we saw Luke being taken care of and James getting a lot of unknown credit and thanks. 

“Why is he getting all the credit?!” Tom asked me.

“No idea, should we ask? Or should we just let it go?” I replied.

“Damn right we’re going to ask, why aren’t we getting any of this? We were the ones brave enough to go out and find him and even rescue him!”

I could tell Tom wasn’t going to let any of this go, and I had the worst gut feeling that this was going to end badly, no matter what he said to him. Problem was I probably wasn’t going to back him up because none of that mattered to me; I was just happy it was all over and we had Luke back safe. Unfortunately Tom is very competitive and does NOT like others stealing the spotlight from him.

Tom stormed up to James and said, “hey, James…what are you being thanked for?”

I was surprised he didn’t scream in his face! James looked at him a little confused, and then smirked.

“Why? Are you jealous?”

“No, just wondering why others aren’t getting any credit for their efforts”, Tom knew he wasn’t going to be happy by the end of this conversation.

“I’m getting all the credit because I was the most courageous and brave through this and everyone seems to notice”, James’s smirk turned into a cheeky grin, only making Tom more fired up.

Tom was a tougher guy than James though, more built and more fast, but not so good with all the nerdy, technical stuff. James was really smart and he was fast and strong too but not even close to Tom’s standards. Tom had been body building back home to make sure that he was in good shape all the time so he could be a better and more agile soldier, but James is just naturally strong. He always has been since he was in 4th grade.

“So Henry and I haven’t done anything brave like being the only two who went out to look for him and the only two that saved him and still we get nothing for doing a lot more than you! All you did was taking him back to camp when we were still fighting the Japanese”.

*Everyone gasped in disbelief*

“Is that true James?” a soldier asked.

“Well…yeah…that’s one way to say it but I was the bravest!” James lied and everyone knew it.

“You’re such a liar, you told us you saved Luke by yourself, and to think I thought of you as a mate, a role model but I don’t want to be a liar when I’m older”, a young soldier said.

“This isn’t even close to what you think guys…I…I, these guys are the liars, why are you believing them not me?”

“Because we were the ones who actually left at 2300 hours to go look for Luke! We went out for over eight hours trying to find him”, Tom’s argue had a strong point.

“James just admit it you didn’t do as much as everyone else thought you did, I’m not saying you didn’t do anything I’m saying you didn’t do as much as some others”, I was getting frustrated now that the argument had gone on for a while longer than it probably should have.

“Fine, if you guys will be quiet and let me talk!” James took a deep breath, “Yes, everyone I did only take Luke back here, but I thought I was being a good soldier”.

“You were James, we are just saying that you lied about this and that’s not a nice thing to do to others including us”, Tom said.

“So, what happens now?” James asked sounding a little confused.

“We forget about it, just don’t do it again! This is pathetic behavior coming from both of you, Tom and James I thought you were more mature than that! Squabbling over a little gratitude from your fellow soldiers, how dumb can you get. Both of you go inside and grow a pair” Sergeant Low said joining into the conversation, “this will end up someone getting hurt, no one wants that”.

He had a point, but I don’t think Tom was listening. He threw a punch at James, still furious about what happened. The punch hit him in the cheek and just nicked his nose on the way through. James fell to his knees holding his nose, and then suddenly jumped back up ready to fight Tom. This wasn’t good! He ran at Tom and tried to hit him the stomach but Tom jumped out of the way and got him in a seriously tight head lock!

“To…Tom…I…I can’t breathe!” James tried to say the words but had no air.

“LET HIM GO!” Sergeant Low yelled at him, furious.

Tom let go slowly, but looked like he still wanted to hit him.

“Tom Pabent, if you EVER do something like this ever again you will be suspended immediately!” Sergeant Low sounded really angry this time.

“OK, I mean… Yes Sir, I’ll never do anything like this again, I promise”, Tom said looking down at the ground.

Thank god it was over! James came out of it a bit tussled up, broken nose and a few stitches on his cheek, I suppose he was lucky, but trust me, it could have been a lot worse than that!