The Long Road To Home

Chapter 8: Night shifts

At 12Am the plane arrived at Washington DC. Everyone who steped out felt exhausted by the flight travel. They looked around for the barracks and they barely found one.

Istrati (holding mug of coffee): Ah, what now ?

Baker (yawns): Everyone goes to sleep, then , I'll lead you to McKenzie.

Hartsock (smoking cigarette): I'll need somebody to help me to the night shift.

Baker: Me and you aren't enough, Sgt. Istrati , can you... Sgt. Istrati ?

Istrati was sitting on a chair with the head on a table snoring.

Hartsock: What about Miller, wait , where is he ?

Miller was lying on dirt with a blanket on him.

Baker: Damn, that guy Dima , where is he.

Bogdan (leaning on his rifle) : He is in the plane don't worry about him. He felt asleep.

Hartsock : Hmm, about you four ?

Val and Alexei: How about we already installed our stuff in the barracks, yeaahhhh... you know what... see you later.

Hartsock (smokes looking to Bogdan): Well, look who's left .

Baker: You are the only one left.

Kathleen (leaning on Bogdan) : Well, good night , I'll find somewhere to sleep.

Bogdan (laughs): Who says you're sleeping tonight ?

Kath: What do you mean ?

Bogdan (takes a sip of coffee): You're coming with me.

Kath: Why, I can't hold on my legs !

Bogdan: Just because you aren't familiarized with the outside doesn't mean you get all the special treatment. Now , hold the Beretta, we will have to keep you awake, hehe.

Kath: At least give me some of that coffee.

Bogdan: When we get to the observation tower, since you are just beginning your life outside, you'll start easy, no walking , no patrols , just sitting in the observation tower.

Kath: Aww, you bastard. Stop pissing me off.

Bogdan and Kath traveled to the east tower of the compound.

Bogdan: Alright , your first night of a santinel. Heh, I remember mine, it was like shit, so you will feel for the first time.

Kath: Can you give me some coffee now , I can't stay awake much longer.

Bogdan (passes drink) : Here. Now , where was that muffler, aha , here

Bogdan: *attaches muffler to Beretta*

Kath: What are you doing with that ?

Bogdan: I will learn you to shoot.

Kath : WHAT , HELL NO , I WON'T. DON'T YOU THINK YOU WANT TOO MANY FOR THIS NIGHT ?

Bogdan (amused): If you think me and the crew will be there to save you forever , you are wrong. Plus, this will help you concentrate on unpleasant environments . Like being tired and staying with me in a watch tower.

Kath: *sigh* Do we have more coffee , this one is empty.

Bogdan: Let me check the coffee machine. Eh, a cup, that's all we have , make it count.

Kath (sips all the mug): Perfect , let's begin .

Bogdan: There goes all the coffee. If you are half a human, half a cat , weren't you supposed to stay up late at night?

Kath: Yes , but without experience , you'll have to look at me like I'm a small kitty.

Bogdan (mumbles): Like hell it will happen.

Kath: Ok , so how should we begin ?

Bogdan: Well, first, you must locate the trigger on the weapon, aim to a target , then handle the recoil.

Kath: Got it. Give me something.

Bogdan: Well, we can find some mutants. *turns on the spotlight*. These were supposed to be turned on before I even came here, ok we have , not many in the area . 5 is all I see.

Kath: Excelent.

Bogdan: First, to aim, you need to look between the iron sights and pick a target. But hold on, keep this like that and move your hand upper here... now you're fine!

Kath: Yes , then ?

Bogdan: Well, as strong as I've seen you are , recoil won't be...

Kath: Shoots mutant.

Bogdan: God , how the hell...

Kath: Nice. Next one.

Bogdan sits down and thinks for a second.

Bogdan: I'll go bring coffee , don't waste the ammo, and watch how you fire , it has a muffler , not a silencer , it can attract attention.

Kath: Yeah , yeah, go bring that coffee.

                               5 minutes later.

Bogdan: Hey , I'm back

Kath: Great , hold the rifle. It isn't working anymore .

Bogdan : It's just jammed. *hits rifle* Come on . *pulls chamber reciver* Got it, now , put this right here.

Kath: Done for today ?

Bogdan: Done ? You almost made my 2 years of experience from that shot, you'll need a bit of field training and we can get a damn army from you, of course , it's late for The Young Corps but not for survival.

Kath (sits on chair while pouring coffee into mug): And now ?

Bogdan (adjusts spotlight): And now... we wait. Put a mug for me  too , please.

Kath (puts coffee in mug): Really, that's all ?

Bogdan: You prefer to go scouting the are for bandits or types of rare mutants ?

Kath: Nah, then I'm good.

Bogdan: Same.

                         1 hour later

Kath: Do we have more coffee ?

Bogdan: Nope , we're gone.

Kath: How can you still stay awake ?

Bogdan (sips last coffee drop) : Years of experience .

Kath (fells asleep on Bogdan's shoulder) : Sorry.

Bogdan (surprised a few seconds): Eh, I don't mind.

                             3 hours later

Kath: *sleeps*

Bogdan: And I was laughing about her, damn, cruel world, and how am I supposed to get to piss without waking her up?

                   Another 3 cruel hours later.

Kath(yawn): Ah, my back.

Bogdan: AH, FINALLY !!!

Kath: What ?

Bogdan (climbing down the ladder) : I'm about to keep the toilet occupied for a few hours.

Kath: Heh , take that ... Hold on I need to go to the bathroom too.
BOGDAN, DON'T YOU DARE GET IN BEFORE ME !

                           To be continued.