Haven's Army

Chapter 12

Three days passed. James and Katie checked everyone and we were all fine. Only Andrew had reacted. He and Dennis had been discharged from the infirmary the following morning, as promised.

"Upper body strength and balance. Exercise twelve," I whispered the drill instructions to myself as I warmed up that morning, clearly remembering the Veteran that always drilled us, testing us one at a time. I stood on my hands on the deck, taking a moment to balance with my legs pointed straight to the unseen sky. "Attempts: fifty-seven. Failures: twenty-nine. Most completed: one hundred and sixty," were my previous statistics. "Attempt number fifty-eight. You may begin." I took a deep breath, staring at the rough wood of the deck. I lowered myself down, concentrating only on my excercise.

"Seventy-three," my arms were beginning to tremble. "Ninety-four." Slowly, the numbers ticked up, higher and higher, my ears beginning to ring from the effort. Each push-up was slower and more painful. 

Someone crouched next to me but I didn't bother looking at them.

"Are you showing off now?" came their voice. I couldn't tell who it was because of the ringing in my ears. I ignored them and continued.

They bent down, sticking their face in mine. Behind long hair and on pale cheeks were big brown eyes, squinting at me slightly. Nathan.

I paused a moment to catch my breath. "Go away. I'm trying to concentrate." I lowered myself painfully. "One-thirty-two."

"We're almost there," he told me, unmoving. I ignored him. "I'm talking to you," he said, cocking his head a little, trying to look me in the eyes better.

"One hundred and thirty-five," I continued. He flicked me in the forehead suddenly, startling me and throwing me off balance. I didn't catch myself. I fell onto my back with a thud. I sat up, rubbing my back.

"Ow," I mumbled. I sat a moment, wondering why that had stopped me. I was losing my balance, I concluded. All I'd have to do was try again.

I prepared to try again. "Upper body strength and balance. Exercise twelve."

"Did you hear me?" Nathan asked. I ignored him. He sighed. "I know you heard me. Fine, do your little workouts. I won't stop you."

"Attempts: fifty-eight. Failures: twenty-nine. Most completed: one hundred and sixty," I mumbled. "Attempt number fifty-nine. You may be-" The ship jerked and I fell, this time hitting Nathan feet first in the face. I rolled back, standing up as if I had meant to do it. I looked at Nathan to make sure he was okay. His hand had gone to his face.

"Thanks," he said. "I think you may have broken my nose."

"Don't be so dramatic," I told him. "Get up." I offered him a hand and he took it, still putting his fingers to his nose occasionally to check for blood.

"We're here!" the lookout yelled.

"I hadn't noticed!" I yelled back sarcastically. I walked to the front of the boat, squinting to see through the slight fog. We had crashed into the stone cliff. Judging by the scraping noises to either side of the boat, the other ships were grinding into the sand.

"Drop anchor!" came yells. As if that would help now. We weren't going anywhere.

I jumped out of the boat, slowing my fall with air.

"Charlotte!"

I turned to see Nathan jump down beside me.

"Are you crazy?" he asked. "We're on The Halo. Who knows what's out there? At least let me come with you."