Chapter 16: Training
“Beep, beep, beep!” Went Max's alarm clock. "Ugh," he murmured as crawled out of bed. He went to his bathroom and decided to take a nice warm shower. The hot water felt good on his skin. He rubbed his chest, still unable to believe he survived after he had shot a hole through it.
"Max!" His mother yelled upstairs, "I made pancakes, your favorite!" Max got out of the shower instantly, almost forgetting to dry himself off and put on his clothes. Max loved his mother's pancakes, she put on just enough butter and syrup every time. He eyed his plate almost drooling, and after a frenzy of eating he finally finished. "Where's dad? We need to go down to the town park." "Oh I think he's getting out of the shower now Max, go get the car started and he'll meet you outside." Max gave her a hug and started the car outside. After a few minutes his father arrived, he wore heavy clothes and didn't look very well. Once his dad was in the car Max asked, “Are you okay dad?" "Oh, I'm fine son, just all this talk about fighting and killing really stresses me out. I can only imagine what you’re going through." Max smiled at his dad and replied in a laughing tone, “Oh you have no idea dad, I'm just as freaked out as you are."
They drove off to the town park, where everyone was supposed to train. There were already hundreds of men at the park, and they all looked prepared. "Well dad, I'll see you later. I have to start making plans with the mayor." "My son is a big hot shot now, who would have ever known?" Max smiled at his dad and ran over to where Rock and Mayor George were standing.
"Sleep well boy?" Rock asked in a sarcastic tone. "Oh just great Rock" Max snapped back. "Well let’s get started then boys, we have a ton of work to do today," said the mayor. "All right, here we go,” Rock replied.
Max walked over to the large group of people and announced, “Today we will find the best of the best. The top sixty men with the best shot, strength, and speed will be selected for ‘group A’ of our army. The men who are decent at shooting and aren't complete athletes will be in ‘group B.’ Boys under thirteen and men who are not qualified to use firearms will be in ‘group C.’ Each group will have to play its part if we even want a chance at survival. This is not a joke, we are all fighting for our lives. Today you will all try out to see what group you will be in, good luck men."
After his announcement, Max called over half the men, and Rock took the other half. Max continued, "We still start by running two miles around the track. The top forty will almost be guaranteed to try out for ‘group A,’ you must be fast if you want to stay alive."
"On your marks, get set, go!" Max shot his gun in the air and they took off. Most of them started off sprinting and lost their breath before the first mile was even over. Max had decided to run the two miles with them, and after the first mile no one was even near him. But well into the second mile, someone started to gain on Max. Max and this man sprinted towards the finish line. “See you later champ!" Shouted the man and he crossed the finish line before Max did. The man had a hood on over his head, and was almost the same height as Max. "Who the heck are you?" Max asked still panting from running. The man took off his hood and replied," I know you won't believe me, but I am Maximus, I am your father." Max stood staring at the man, he looked a lot like Max, but there was no way this could be true. "What do you mean you’re my father, I've never even seen you before." The man sighed, “Max, your mother and I had to leave you here. Your real name is Maximus, King Maximus the third."
Max began shaking, recalling the words of the four men who first gave him this information. But Max decided to not tell him what had happened to him, he needed to make sure it was his father. "If you’re my dad why the hell did I get raised here, why would you leave me, and why hasn't anyone told me?" The man looked like he was going to throw up, he looked terrible. "Max you don't understand, your mother and I, we've regretted every single day we haven't been with you. I must go now though, meet me at the town hall at exactly twelve o' clock. Don't let anyone know where you're going, if you want more answers you will be there." The man put back on his hood and started to run back into the housing areas.
Max had enough to worry about, and now he had to figure out where he was really from. But first he knew he had to train the rest of the people, which was the most important task at hand. He walked back over to the finish line, where the top fifteen were already together. "The top forty will come with me immediately, the rest of you go report to officer Rock.” The top forty from Rock's group had already merged into Max's group and they waited patiently for orders. "You top eighty men have been selected to enter the next stage of training. Now we will practice sharp shooting." Max handed them all a gun and told them to get in a line. Right before Max was going to carry on, the young boy Clay approached Max.
"Clay you made it!" "Yes sir I did, may I please have a gun?" "You certainly may, grab a gun and get to the end of the line soldier." Clay smiled at Max, and eagerly ran to the end of the line. The other men laughed and made jokes as Clay went to the back of the line. He gave them no response though and acted like they didn't even exist. Max announced to the group, “See that small tin can thirty yards out?" The group all replied back “Yes!” "Good then, I want you to shoot it. Each man will get one shot at the target, if every man in the line misses, we will go again until someone finally hits the target. Do I make myself clear?" "Sir, yes sir!" the men yelled back.
The men went down the long line, and all seventy-nine of the men missed. Clay was last. He pulled out his pistol almost instantly and shot at the target. “Bam!” The tin can burst into pieces, and parts of it flew in every direction. Max ran over to Clay and yelled,
“Damn son, I guess we have ourselves a sniper!" The other men stood in shock. They couldn't believe a twelve-year-old kid had showed up an entire line of athletes. "Well now that we know who our sharpshooter is,” Max told them, “we will all be going to the shooting range. Each man will get five shots on a red target, and if you miss just one shot you will be selected for ‘group A.’”
Only forty-one men hit the targets. “The forty-one who hit, I want to come with me. The other thirty-nine men will be divided into two separate teams. You will be playing a simple child’s game, capture the flag. Whichever team wins will be chosen in ‘group A.’ The losers, I'm afraid, will have to be put in ‘group B.’"
Max separated the teams, but there was one problem. There were nineteen men on one team, and twenty on the other. Max walked over to the men that had hit the target. I want to offer you all a little gamble, if want to play capture flag and your team wins, you will become ‘group A's’ leader. If you lose, however, you will not be in ‘group A’ just like your team." The men all stood frozen, no one wanted to lose his spot in ‘group A,’ and right before Max was about to cancel the deal Clay walked forward and asked to play with one of the teams.
"Clay are you sure about this? If your team loses you won't be a part of ‘group A.’" "Sir, I will not lose." Max laughed and told Clay to get out there. Each flag was placed fifty yards away from the middle line and was easily visible. Max walked on the middle line and announced, “You see men, sometimes a game like this can show you how your men react under extreme pressure. I wish you all good luck, now start!"
The men on the North side were smart, they waited for the team on the South side to run over quickly. After about fifteen minutes of capturing they finally ran over to the other side and got the flag easily. They didn't have one person in jail the entire game. "Who was the captain of the North side team?" Max asked the team. The whole team pointed at the small boy Clay, who excitedly shouted, "Well sir, the game is easy. Be patient and let the other side try to get to you. Once you have the advantage you immediately strike back!" "So, you’re a sharp shooter and a damn good leader. Clay I'm putting you in charge of ‘group A,’” smiled Max.
Max told the group that lost to join ‘group B’ and the men who won could stay in ‘group A.’ ‘Group A’ had a total of 59 men, ‘group B’ had 734, and ‘group C’ h
ad more than 200 kids as well as men who wished to not use firearms.
Rock, Max, and Mayor George all sat together in the Mayor’s office that night. "Great work boys, all the groups are in order, and I think we made all the right corrections. Rock I want you to lead and train groups B and C. Max I want you to lead the army as a whole, have you selected a leader for ‘group A?’ “
Max looked at the Mayor almost dying in laughter. "Well Mayor George, as a matter of fact I did find a leader for ‘group A.’ He has the best shot, is extremely fast, and knows how to lead an army." "That's great Max, who is it?" "It’s Clay! That kid we found at the gun range." The mayor laughed hysterically, “Now Max this is no time for games, I really must know who the leader of ‘group A’ is." Max continued smiling at the mayor.
"You’re meaning to tell me you’re letting an twelve-year old run an elite group of men?" the Mayor boomed.
"Well,” thought Max aloud, “you're letting an eighteen-year old run an entire army sir. We must have some crazy ideas to win this war." Mayor George tried to calm himself down and looked back at Max. "If that boy fails, it’s you who takes the blame. You do realize this don’t you?"
"I'll take full responsibility over Clay, and I'll start explaining to ‘group A’ what they have to do." Rock also added, “As will I sir, groups B and C will understand their roles in this battle." "Good work boys,” said the Mayor, relieved, “But now you need your rest. Think about all the different ways we can survive and be a town again. We will not run, no matter the cost." Max and Rock nodded at Mayor George and both walked out the door. Max turned to Rock, "I'll see you later Rock, I have to go handle some business." Rock gave Max a handshake and told him, “don't get into anymore trouble boy, we need you." Rock went into his police car alone and drove off. Max walked over to the town hall and saw a man standing next to a large pillar. "Time to find my answers," Max said to himself, and he strutted over to the hooded man.