To Sail a Darkling Sea - eARC (32 page)

“But its… ” The infected was still more than a hundred meters away but he was clearly unhappy getting near it.

“Cross the bridge, Steinholtz,” Barney said, giving him a light push. “We’re going to have a demonstration of why one doesn’t attempt to fire from a
rocking
platform if one has a
solid
platform available.”

He got the reluctant former security guard to cross the bridge then got him down in the prone position on the dirt road of the breakwater. The zombie had closed to maybe seventy-five yards and was starting to speed up with fresh meat so close.

“Now, take a deep breath and shoot the zombie in the chest, Steinholtz,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “One round only.”

Steinholtz fired. And missed.

“Oh, good Lord. You missed
that
shot? Try it again. You’re jerking your trigger. Slow squeeze, Steinholtz… ”

This time the Seaman Recruit managed to hit the infected. The zombie was nearly dead from dehydration and malnutrition and it dropped with one round.

“I got it!” Steinholtz said.

“At under fifty yards with a gun capable of aimed fire at four hundred,” the Sergeant Major said. “We’re clearly going to have to work on marksmanship.”

“I’m better with a pistol,” Steinholtz said, starting to stand up.

“I did not give you permission to
get up
, Seaman Recruit Steinholtz,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “While you’re down there, you can give me twenty push-ups for your inability to follow the
simplest
orders. And a one and a two… ”

CHAPTER 25

The young recruit is silly—’e thinks o’ suicide;
‘E’s lost ’is gutter-devil; ’e ’asn’t got ’is pride;
But day by day they kicks ’im, which ’elps ’im on a bit,
Till ’e finds ’isself one mornin’ with a full an’ proper kit.
Gettin’ clear o’ dirtiness, gettin’ done with mess,
Gettin’ shut o’ doin’ things rather-more-or-less;
Not so fond of abby-nay, kul, nor hazar-ho,
Learns to keep ’is rifle an’ ’isself jus’ so!

Kipling
“The ’Eathen”

“Having fun, Sergeant Major?” Sophia said. She’d brought her group up to the breakwater and was passing the Sergeant Major and the sweating Steinholtz.

“Just getting a few things clear, ma’am,” Barney said. “Seaman Recruit Bennett has already set up the Singer. If you could keep an eye on things for a moment that would be excellent. Be up there in a trice.

“I think I’ve got it under control, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said, grinning then keyed her radio. “Olga, what’s the status on the first yacht.”

“Door’s locked to below,” Olga said. “Topside is clear. Engineer is working on the lock now.”

“Can we spare some people, Sergeant Major?” Sophia asked.

“One two-man team,” the Sergeant Major said. “Hill and Hadley unless you object, ma’am.”

“That will do,” she said. “I’ll go get them.”

“If I may, ma’am,” Barney said. “Seaman Recruit, get up off your face and run down to the security team. Get Hill and Hadley. Have them report back to the Lieutenant. Do you understand those orders?”

“Yes, Sergeant Major,” Steinholtz said, getting to his feet.

“What were your orders, Seaman Recruit Steinholtz?” Barney asked.

“Go get Hill and Hadley?” Steinholtz said.

“If I may, Sergeant Major?” Sophia said. “The way we do that in the Navy is that the correct response to a direction such as that is ‘Go and get Hill and Hadley, aye, Sergeant Major.’ ”

“Really, ma’am?” Barney said.

“Yes, it’s called a repeat back,” Sophia said. “Makes sure they got the order that you gave instead of what they heard.”

“Well, in this case, that would make sense,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “Because what I told you to do was RUN and get Hill and Hadley, Seaman Recruit. So, here is the ‘direction.’ Run and get Hill and Hadley. Have them return to meet with the Lieutenant. Is that clear?”

“Now what you say,” Sophia said, “is ‘Run to get Hill and Hadley, aye. Have them return to meet the Lieutenant, aye.’ ”

“Run to get Hill and Hadley, aye,” Steinholtz said. “Have them return and meet you, aye.”

“Go,” Sergeant Major Barney said, pointing. As Steinholtz started to trot down the breakwater he shook his head. “WHAT IS IT ABOUT
RUN
THAT WAS
UNCLEAR
, SEAMAN RECRUIT? Shall we promenade, ma’am?”

“Oh, lets, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said.

“I’d say arm in arm, ma’am, but people might talk,” the Sergeant Major said, strolling down the avenue. “What was it you wished Hill and Hadley for if I may inquire, ma’am?”

“I thought they could check the boats topside while Olga and Yu wait on the mechanic,” Sophia said. “Then Olga and Yu can check below. When the doors are locked, there’s rarely an infected in the boat. At least, alive. Or survivors in a situation like this. But it’s a little less nerve wracking checking topside than below.”

“Thank you for the explanation, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “It makes a great deal of sense.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said.

“But if I may so detail them, ma’am?” the Sergeant Major said. “That is, in fact, what I am for.”

“So I should have said ‘tell Hill and Hadley to check topside?’ ” Sophia asked.

“Ma’am, you can run things any way you please,” Barney said. “You are the away team commander. However, if you wish some guidance, ma’am, you can tell me ‘Get a team to check the topside’ and I shall be pleased to manage the rest. That is, in fact, my purpose in this great endeavor. To take your directions and expand upon them with it is to be hoped intelligence and wisdom. Ma’am.”

“Well, here come Hill and Hadley,” Sophia said as the two walked up.

“You wanted something?” Hill asked.

“Sergeant Major?” Sophia said.

“First, when reporting to an officer you salute, especially under arms,” the Sergeant Major said. “The correct method of reporting is ‘Reporting as ordered, ma’am.’ With a salute. So, try that once more, with feeling.”

“Reporting as ordered… uh… ” Hill said as he and Hadley saluted then dropped them.

“You do not drop the salute until the officer salutes in reply,” Barney said. “Ma’am, if you would hold off on that until I complete this training evolution, please?”

“As you say, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said.

“So, salute again,” Barney said. “Then repeat after me, ‘Reporting as ordered, ma’am.’ ”

“Reporting as ordered, ma’am,” Hill said, saluting.

“Do I salute?” Hadley asked.

“Technically, no,” Barney said. “But there is rarely such a thing as too much saluting. Now, ma’am, if you would return the salute, please?”

“Roger,” Sophia said, saluting.

Hill dropped his salute.

“And you don’t drop your hand, Hill, until the Lieutenant drops hers,” Barney said. “So… back to saluting and now, ma’am, if you would drop yours. Thank you.”

“Is there really a point to this?” Hadley asked.

“First, never ever question one of my orders when we are in the midst of an evolution,” Barney said. “Do you understand that, Seaman Recruit?”

“Sure,” Hadley said.

“Seaman Recruit, are you familiar with the term, ‘front leaning rest’ position?”

“No,” Hadley said.

“That is the push-up position,” Barney said. “Assume it. Arms extended.”

“Seriously?” Hadley said.

Barney darted forward, at an angle
opposite
the security specialist’s weapon barrel and shoved his face into Hadley’s.

“GET DOWN ON YOUR FACE
NOW
, RECRUIT!” he screamed. “DOWN, DOWN, DOWN!”

Hadley got down.

“Repeat after me, Recruit,” Barney said, kneeling down so his face was by the recruit’s ear. “I WILL COMPLY WITH THE ORDERS GIVEN AND NOT ASK STUPID BLOODY QUESTIONS!”

“I will comply with the orders given and not ask stupid questions!” Hadley said.

“I’m a little deaf from years in Her Majesty’s Army,” Barney said. “SO I CAN’T SODDING HEAR YOU!”

“I WILL COMPLY WITH… I WILL COMPLY WITH MY ORDERS AND NOT ASK STUPID QUESTIONS!”

“Recover,” Barney said, straightening up. “That means get up, you stupid poofter. At attention, you too, Hill, side by side, arms cupped… ”

When he’d gotten them to understand the position of attention, he started to circle them.

“Yes, there is a point to not dropping your salute until an officer has returned it,” Barney said. “In the old days, and we seemed to be back to them, officers could not trust their enlisted men. Fragging as you Americans call it is a very old tradition. By forcing the enlisted to keep their salute until returned, especially and
always
under arms, it gave the officer a moment more to reach for his weapon in the event that the enlisted was likely to attempt to kill said officer.”

“Seriously?” Sophia said, laughing. “I heard it was a gesture of respect between two warriors.”

“Which it is, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “But when two warriors meet, there is
always
tension. The reason that you do not ask questions, unless specifically told to ask questions, is that in many circumstances there is not time for questions or thought on your part. You do not know, now, enough about how to do your jobs to have any really useful input. You think you have useful input. You do
not
. Any idea you may have is more than likely idiotic. An example of that is Steinholtz attempting to hit an infected at four hundred meters on a rocking platform. And because of the narrowness of said platform, he was blocking everyone else from continuing the mission. Which I already explained to
him
. So you do not ask questions unless you are told you can ask questions. I do not want to hear the word ‘why’ come from your lips, again,
ever
, unless you are specifically told you may ask questions. Do you understand? The correct response is ‘Yes, Sergeant Major.’ ”

“Yes, Sergeant Major,” they chorused.

“You
always
salute an officer,” the Sergeant Major continued. “You do so because that officer can tell you to
jump
into that shark infested marina and if you do
not
do so when she orders it, I
shall
shoot you for failure to follow an order. I will
not
hesitate. And that officer
always
salutes back. Because that salute should remind them that they have the
awful
responsibility of giving orders that may lead to your deaths. This is
not
a bloody video game. There’s no… what’s that word? There is no respawn.

“Yesterday, this officer gave an order that led to an unfortunate loss. It was the right order, there was nothing wrong with it. But she bears that responsibility for her life.
You
were not responsible.
I
was not responsible. If one of you dies,
today
, I am not responsible. I may or may not
feel
responsible, but I am not.
You
are not. That officer
is
. That is her burden. That is what you acknowledge with that salute. That you don’t have to think and worry and plan. That you don’t have to bear the responsibility for a mate’s death. That it’s on your officers. Your job is to follow her orders and keep your bloody mouths shut. She doesn’t need your input and it’s not going to help. All it will do is add to her stress load which she does not
bloody well need
. Is this all perfectly clear? Again, the correct response is ‘Yes, Sergeant Major.’ ”

“Yes, Sergeant Major,” they chorused.

“I can’t HEAR YOU!”

“YES, SERGEANT MAJOR!”

“Good,” Barney said, mildly. “Now that we’ve got that straight. The Lieutenant gave me an order to get the topside of the yachts cleared with a second security team. You are detailed. Moving carefully and covering each other, you shall clear the topside of the yachts. Is that
clear
?”

“YES, SERGEANT MAJOR!”

“Lieutenant, do you have any additional information for these two?”

“Make noise before you board,” Sophia said. “We’ve got the area clear so don’t worry about drawing infecteds. One of you, Hill, have your weapon loaded and ready. Hadley, shout and yell to wake the dead. Then, if there’s no response, safe your weapon and board. Check for open doors. Do not go below. Topside only. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Hill said.

“Together and the Lieutenant can’t HEAR YOU EITHER!”

“YES, MA’AM!”

“And I’d like a repeat back,” Sophia said. “From Hill. And not shouted.”

“Check the topside, aye,” Hill said. “Uh… Hadley’s going to yell. I’ll cover. Don’t board until we’re sure there aren’t infected. Just check the topside. Uh… I want to ask a question… ”

“Not yet,” Barney said.

“Questions, comments, concerns?” Sophia asked.

“What do we do if we find an open door, ma’am?” Hill asked.

“Call it in,” Sophia said. “Otherwise, stay off your radios except to report the yacht clear. But do check the hatches just to see if they’re open.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Hill, you are in charge of the team,” Barney said. “If you have further questions, and only if you have important and valid questions, ask for me on the radio and I will clarify. Understood?”

“YES, SERGEANT MAJOR!”

“Very good,” the Sergeant Major said. “Off you go, lads.”

“Sorry,” Sophia said. “We’ve really never gotten into the whole discipline thing. Which I know is a bad thing.”

“The Army and the Navy have very different approaches to, well, most things, ma’am,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “But discipline is important in both, ma’am.”

“Am I really responsible for Anarchy’s death?” Sophia asked, quietly.

“Officially and legally, yes, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “That is the hard part of being an officer. Had he any family, it would be your job, not mine, to write them a letter telling them what happened, how he died. You have the authority to order them to perform actions which I do not have the authority to order. By the same token, you bear the responsibility of the result of those actions. From all I’ve gleaned, there was little that you could have done to prevent his death. You were under orders, yourself, to gather the boats. He died as the result of an accident while performing that mission. There will be more, ma’am. That is the nature of this profession and the sea, of itself, takes lives. It is one of the reasons that I am less than sure it is entirely wise placing a teenager in the position of an officer. That is a terrible burden to bear. By the same token, you do the job quite well.”

“Thank you,” Sophia said, clearly thinking about it. She was watching Hill and Hadley tentatively board one of the yachts.

“If I may add, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “The other problem of being in this position is that you have to set aside such thoughts. It is my job to watch the teams and ensure that everyone is doing their jobs and doing so in such a way that they, probably, are not going to kill themselves. Speaking of which, I need to get up to the defense team in a moment. However, your job, ma’am, is to put aside anything but anticipating future issues and plans. Let me handle this. You think about what is next. Because, among other things, I haven’t a clue about any of this and don’t know what is probably going to go wrong.”

“Yacht’s clear. Dead batteries. Fuel. Some stores. No infected. Mechanic’s working on it. As usual, he’s afraid of the dark. What do you want us to do?”

“Stand by,” Sophia said. “Division, can we get another repair crew? We’ve got four yachts. Topsides are clear on at least two so far. Doors are locked. They’re all going to need batteries. Over.”

“Away Team, Division. Roger, we’ll scrounge up another mechanic.”

“Have Hill and Hadley stop checking topsides,” Sophia said. “One of them can stand by and help the engineer on the first yacht then the other on the second.”