Street Soldier by Andy McNab Read Free Book Online Page A

everyone. Some will always find it easier to back off from a challenge than try it out first.’
    Sean didn’t like the implication. ‘I didn’t say I wasn’t up to it. I said I wasn’t interested.’
    ‘So you’re happy just being a waster doing fuck all with your life?’
    Sean blinked. He had never heard a member of staff say ‘fuck’ before. Some rule about half the inmates technically being children.
    ‘Are you allowed to talk to me like that?’
    ‘I can talk however I like.’
    ‘Look, I just want to do my time,’ Sean said, working hard to stay calm. ‘I don’t want to run around in some crap uniform, doing push-ups and star jumps. You think that’s better than the Guyz? You’ve got no idea. No idea at all.’
    Adams rolled his right sleeve up to the shoulder. Sean stared at the ink. He didn’t recognize it exactly, but he knew what it was. A gang mark.
    ‘Got that twenty years ago. My mates, my gang – they’re all gone now. Dead, or gone straight, or inside. Mostly inside. Yeah, I could get it lasered off, but it’s a reminder. Where I’ve come from, what I’ve done, where I am now.’
    ‘You’ve been inside?’ The question blurted out – Sean couldn’t help it.
    ‘Not . . . technically.’ Adams let the sleeve drop back and pulled up the hem of his T-shirt. A scar stretched from his belly button diagonally across his abs – which Sean couldn’t help noticing were a lot more prominent than his own, and he knew he was fit. ‘I got stabbed, spent a week in a coma, five weeks after that on life support. So I got time off in lieu.’
    Sean didn’t move. He wanted to say something that would shut the man down for good, but he was on the back foot now. The words wouldn’t come.
    Adams tugged his shirt back down. ‘What you have here, Harker, is a choice. Take a look around you. This could be your home on and off for the rest of your life. It’s comfortable, you get fed; you’re pretty safe too. Don’t even have to think for yourself really, do you? Just let the state sort everything out. Did any of your schools teach you enough science to know what a parasite is?’
    Sean sat up straight. ‘Who you calling a parasite?’
    ‘Or you could grow a pair and do something. Put your skills and talents to use.’
    Sean laughed. ‘Read the file, mate. My skills and talents are twoccing cars and getting into fights. Not saluting some bloke I’ve no respect for every day.’
    Adams shook his head. ‘First,’ he said, ‘the only wayyou can show some bloke any respect at all is if you first learn to respect yourself. And from what I see, that’s a long way off from happening. And second: Vietnam, Malaya, Oman – all military campaigns, but which is the odd one out?’
    Sean stared at him. ‘You what?’
    ‘It’s Vietnam. Absolute fiasco. The other two were led and won by the British Army. And the way we did it was we won the locals over to our side. Instead of bombing them into the Stone Age and expecting them to be grateful for the privilege of being on the front line, we used the skills they had in their native environments. You’re a native, Harker.’
    ‘Only problem is, we’re not at war.’
    ‘You reckon?’ Suddenly the smile was still on Adams’s mouth but it had left his eyes. ‘We’re at war right now. Just because you don’t see it on CNN, don’t think it isn’t real. It’s building on the streets, and one way or another you’re going to be a street soldier – maybe in uniform, maybe not.’
    Suddenly there was a screw at the door, jangling his keys to make a point. ‘You’ve had your five minutes, Sergeant. I need to lock Harker up.’
    ‘Coming.’ Adams stood and headed for the door.
    ‘Hey . . . Sergeant?’ Sean began.
    Adams paused by the screw, looked back. ‘Didn’t say,did I? Yes, I’ll be in charge of it.’ He touched one finger to his forehead. ‘Don’t bother saluting. I wouldn’t want you to salute some bloke you’ve no respect