ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SUBMARINE

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER TWO

When Kep and T.J. exited the tent, Kep squinted against the glaring mid-afternoon sun toward a phone wire that stretched to Querishi's office. New plan. No more requesting to call home. If the cops had found his money, it was goodbye Fort Liberty.

"Man, it's hot in this thing!" T.J. pulled at the collar of his 1st Rhode Island Regimental coat, part of a reproduction uniform he'd brought with from home. The first day of camp, he'd confided to Kep that he hadn't been too sure what a 'totally authentic eighteenth-century boot camp' meant for a black kid and wanted to make sure he got a role as soldier.

"So, are you a big history fan, like Max?" Max had said something about T.J.'s mom being a lawyer and his dad a judge, so Kep doubted T.J. was here for the cash prize.

"Not like Max, but pretty much every month is black history month at my house. My mom puts up all these posters along the hallways, on the refrigerator, even in the bathroom. The Revolutionary War stuff I don't know as much about—I mean I know Washington, Crispus Attucks, that guy, Peter Salem, the hero of Bunker Hill. Basic stuff." He wiped sweat from the back of his neck. "I just keep reminding myself this'll all be worth it when we get that show. Fingers crossed it's on a major network, not some cable station."

So that's why T.J. stuck it out. Kep had forgotten about the show. The invitation had mentioned not only the cash prize, but a possible television reality show. "You want to be an actor?"

"The camera loves me. I love the camera." T.J. tilted his head. "Blast shampoo—the good-looking kid sudsing his hair—familiar?" 

"Must have missed it." Kep hoped his plan to head home early assuming the police had found his cash, didn't mess up the show for T.J.  Probably it would mean more screen time for his teammate. not a problem, he suspected. 

"Might want to try some Blast. Just saying." T.J. glanced to Kep's head. "Your hair's sort of... green." 

"It's chlorine. Normally, I'm doing laps three hours a day." He'd bump that up to five when he got home and make up for the lost time.

"Max says you're thinking Olympics. Cereal box covers and all that. Tell you what. I'll get you some free Blast samples. My contribution to the country. You can't represent the stars and stripes with that haystack on your head. Wrapped up any corporate endorsements yet? Got a fan club started?"

Groups of soldiers drifted toward the shooting range. The showdown must be big entertainment and with all eyes on the field, what better time to get into Querishi's office to make that call? "Umm, no. No fan club."

"You can join mine. I'll even waive the membership fee. Once our show hits the airwaves, the price will skyrocket."

"Let me get back to you." Kep was about to excuse himself when T.J. pointed to a second flyer nailed to a tree:

UNCLE SAM NEEDS ME – TELA STORM- SHOWDOWN 1 p.m. RIFLE RANGE

"Wonder why Animal Rights Girl is here," T.J. said. "You know who her dad is?"

"Should I?" Kep looked toward Querishi's office. The place looked empty. No movement in the window by the door.

"Senator Storm is the richest senator in the country. He coulda bought the place if Tela wanted to play dress up."

"Guess she's not here for the cash prize. Must be nice." That sounded bad. Kep loved his parents, but rich they weren't. Not even close. "Maybe she's here for the educational angle."

"Doubt it. She goes to a private prep school—speaks like three or four languages. I wonder why she is here."

Because Tela had been given 'girl duties,' Kep usually only saw her at meals. And eating with her could be called complicated. At their first breakfast, the smell of frying bacon had filled the air and Kep headed to the chow line, his stomach rumbling. But a girl with red, curly hair and a fancy yellow dress that billowed out nearly two feet on either side blocked the line while holding a sign over her head. PIGS ARE SMARTER THAN DOGS! WOULD YOU EAT YOUR DOG IF HE TASTED LIKE BACON? GO VEGAN! Below, a sketched pig with tears running down its snout faced a menu listing Breakfast Bacon.