Alarm of War by Kennedy Hudner Read Free Book Online

getting out of here? Don’t you want to start all those intelligence school courses you’ve been waiting for?”
    Brill glanced at her and then back to the main yard, where transport trucks were already pulling up to take them to the weapons range. “How many days off have we had, Em?”
    “What?” she said, confused. “Come on, lighten up, Hiram. What’s your problem?”
    “Three days,” he said, answering his own question. “We’ve been here for three months, and in that entire time they have given us three days with no training. Now, with five days left of training, they tell us we have light training today and nothing but packing and cleaning for the rest of the week. Don’t you find that a little…” he groped for the right words, “…too good to be true?”
    Emily sucked in a breath, thinking furiously. Five days left…five days to put them in the field, five days to…
    “Oh, damn!” She turned and glared in the direction of the Administration Building, where Sgt. Kaelin kept his office.
    “What’s with you two?” It was Cookie, who had come back to see what was keeping them.
    “Hiram thinks it’s all bullshit. If he’s right, instead of rifle range, we are going to be sent on a major exercise.” Emily quickly explained it. Cookie whirled on Brill.
    “Goddammit, tell me you’re makin’ this up!” she said accusingly.
    Hiram shrugged. “Think about it. They put us into the field with little ammo, no food or water, then they throw something big at us. It’s perfect, in a gruesome sort of way. Catch us unawares. Lot of stress, have to think on our feet.” He shrugged again. “Think of it as Sgt. Kaelin’s special graduation present as we go off to Fleet School.”
    “Aw, bugger me,” Cookie moaned.
    In the Administration Building across the field, Sgt. Kaelin stood in the window, watching them through a pair of binoculars.
    “You are a mean sonofabitch,” you know that, Sergeant?” Major Korber said pleasantly.
    “I never disagree with the Major, sir.”
    Korber snorted derisively. “Have they figured you out, Sergeant? Will they escape the full emotional trauma of the dirty trick you are playing on them? Or are they going to be thoroughly and irrevocably screwed, like the last class?”
    Kaelin scanned the field once again with the binoculars. “Well, sir, I think some of them sense that something is not quite right.”
    Major Korber leaned forward. “Really? Who?”
    “Brill, Sir.”
    Korber looked blank.
    “The smart one. The guy who completely buggered Green and Gold two weeks ago. He’s talking to Tuttle.”
    “Ah, the history major. Is she smart enough to figure it out?”
    Kaelin grinned ruefully. “Yes, sir. She’s plenty smart. I haven’t thrown much at her yet. Been saving her for this.”
    Korber gestured for the binoculars. Kaelin handed them over and the Major peered through them. “Okay, I see Brill. Looks like a bloody accountant, doesn’t he? I recognize Sanchez. She already looks like a Marine.” He moved the binoculars a fraction. “Is that Tuttle?” He snorted. “She’s tiny, for Christ’s sake.” He lowered the binoculars, his smile gone, and his tone serious. “Is she tough, Andy?” he asked, using the Sergeant’s Christian name.
    Kaelin shrugged. “Well, sir, that’s what this mission is intended to find out, isn’t it?”
    “Has any group ever successfully completed this mission?”
    “No, sir. Always a first time, though.”
    Korber pursed his lips. “Who is the officer of the day?
    Kaelin grinned wolfishly. “Skiffington.”
    Korber shook his head in dismay. “You’ve got a mean streak, Andy.
    On the parade field, Emily checked her watch: ten minutes left. Grant Skiffington was nearby. She ran to him. “Hey, Skiff! Hold up! There’s a real good chance this is a setup for a surprise mission. You should tell everyone to wear full battle rattle. Extra food and batteries.”
    Skiffington stopped and turned to her. He smiled