The Game. Part 2

You did what. You signed on, are you nuts.

They all agreed, and they certainly wouldn’t be joining him.

The regiment wasn’t at full strength. Soldiers were brought in to make up the slack.

He found himself in a section with soldier (B) It would be a volatile combination.

Had the forces done psychological assessments on soldiers. They would have concluded early. Soldier (B) was on the brink of madness.

Soldier (A) was engaging. At times, the doctor thought he was getting assessed himself.

Soldier (A) was fine.

Had the doctor delved deeper, he would have realized the art of manipulation.

Soldier (B) was efficient, too efficient, he was overcompensating.

Soldier (A) knew this, he just didn’t know why.

It would be another month before soldier (B) entered the game. It would last another six months.

The final month of training brought news of mass casualties and deaths.

Soldier (A) would exploit this.

Got a feeling you’re going to die at the hands of an enemy sniper.

No reaction from soldier (B)

The GAME was patient.

August would see the start of the tour. The previous regiment had fared badly.

Don’t envy you your  tour mate. Good luck.

Soldier (A) whispered to himself, not forgetting soldier (B).

The GAME would accommodate them all.

You be careful out there, the death sign’s on you.

No reaction from soldier (B).

Two months in, the GAME continued.

The war also continued. Weeks hiding out in woods, ambushes, always freezing.

News of soldiers dying, the relentless pursuit of death.

Something had to give. More soldiers were drafted in. The end was near.

Two weeks to go.

A young officer was leading the patrol, no experience.

The strain was showing in the men. No experience meant death out there.

It would be the final patrol.

Got a feeling a sniper's bullet is waiting for you.

Finally, a reaction.

I’m going to kill you, sometime in the next two weeks I’m going to shoot you dead.

Soldier (A) was happy. The GAME was heading to its final conclusion.

The young officer wasn’t happy. Soldier (A) had to go back for something.  

He had to excerpt his authority if he was to regain the respect of the men.  

A word soldier.

Soldier (A) spoke for a few seconds. The officer would wait. It was the least he could do for soldier (A)

They would be out for seven days. Waiting, hoping the enemy would engage.

Soldier (B) needed the enemy to engage. It was the only way he could kill soldier (A)

Nobody questioned stray bullets.

Soldier (A) knew this too.

He was already one step ahead.