“Sounds perfect” the Captain smiled.
“Yeah, sounds good to me too, I’m thinking that maybe you wouldn’t have to alternate days but rather we could have the two of you guarding. Maybe you can alternate walking the ground every hour? To help out the sentry guards.” Lt Jacks said.
“I like that idea” the Captain agreed, nodding his head.
I liked that plan too. I’d get to spend more time with Will, whilst also learning everything that we needed to help the camp to thrive.
“We can hash out the details later.” Lt Jacks said opening the door.
I took that as our cue to leave.
“I’ll walk out with you gentlemen.” The captain followed us out.
“I’ll miss you” Rochelle came running out from behind her desk and hugged the captain tight.
“Me too, but I’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed her quickly and gave us a curt nod.
“Now gentlemen, don’t think that you have gotten away with that brawl earlier either. I know it’s not your fault but you still need to be reprimanded.” He had a slight smirk on his face.
I decided then and there that I liked him.
“10 laps around the compound, stay inside the fences but I want you as far and wide as you can go, George be careful on that ankle. Ok?” he winked
And I didn’t like him again “Yes sir” I mumbled walking passed him, putting extra emphasis on my limp. I know that I said I wanted to get fit but ten laps? This compound was huge.
“Yes sir” Will was a lot more enthusiastic about the challenge than I. his green eyes that matched Nia’s shade perfectly shone brightly in excitement.
He gave Rochelle another hug and they both spoke their good byes in whispers.
Not wanting to intrude on their personal moment Lt. Jacks, Will and I left to go start our training.
Wills enthusiasm was rubbing off on me, by the time we had gotten to our starting point, I was telling myself that I could do ten laps of this place easily, with my eyes closed and hobbling on my busted ankle.
“Ready. Set. Go” Lt Jacks called, in his hands he held a stop watch.
And we were off. I started off well, my ankle was giving me a little bit of pain but nothing I couldn’t manage. The more I ran on it the better it felt, Will left me behind on lap two, I was holding him back. I kept up with my steady pace, trying to think of song lyrics, or trying to guess what was for lunch later. Anything to keep my mind off what my body was doing.
By lap five Will was on his seventh lap, that was my guess anyway. He’d overtaken me twice.
By my lap seven I was on my knees being sick, I was that unfit. It was a slight improvement for me. Around six months ago I probably wouldn’t have done two laps.
Before we were advised of the virus and told to stay indoors. I was a retail manager for a small electrical firm for ten years. I was used to lifting heavy objects but there wasn’t a lot of cardio involved. My upper body strength was good but anything else was just mediocre at best.
“Ok that’s enough running for today. Will, well done. George, try again tomorrow. Get yourself cleaned up and start your duty in the kitchens ok?” Lt Jacks called.
Wil helped me up chuckling. “You ok there mate?”
“Yeah fine” I croaked.
We walked towards the building where our rooms and the canteen were. The army called it building 1, we called it the main building. Not very original I know but we didn’t really have the time or energy for making up names.
“Ok, I’m going for a quick wash and will head straight to the kitchen, meet you there in a little while.” Will carried on ahead of me, turning left towards his room to get a change of clothes.
“Great” I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and staggered towards my corridor in the living area.
I had a nice cold shower, hearing another person enter the wet room. I wasn’t sure if it was Will or not and I sure as hell was not going to be the guy checking out another naked person in the shower. I returned to my room with just my grey towel around my waist and my boots on my feet, to get dressed. There was a knock at the door just as I pulled up my red, cotton underwear.
“Come in” I called, I thought that it was probably Billy or Adam come to laugh at the old man who couldn’t run.
“Hey George, I, oh I’m sorry I didn’t realise that you were undressed ill come back later” it was Dr. Annabelle, she started to leave and pull the door behind her.
“Wait, doc its ok. I’m just getting dressed after my uh training this morning.” I quickly pulled on a t shirt and dark grey combat shorts.
“Ok, I heard about your run in with Gary. Quite a mess you made of him” she looked at me dead in the eye but I couldn’t read her face. I wasn’t sure if she was happy or angry that I’d been fighting.
“Uh most of that mess on his face is from when he flung a door open and it came back and hit him in the face.” I shrugged.
Her eyes widened in shock and she started to laugh. “Oh, that’s not how he tells it. According to him there were people holding him back as you and Will took turns hitting him and it was a door all along?”
“Yep, he was causing trouble in
