couldn’t see us in the dark murk, and there are no bubbles to see with our rebreather rigs. We surfaced behind them, silently took them out and continued with the mission.”
“So planning isn’t everything. Execution sometimes is a cluster?”
“Most times it’s a cluster. Nothing ever goes perfect on an op, but what’s important is making the best of it. What you learn in these classes gives you the tools to try and beat chance.”
“And the guy who died—”
Max cut the guy off. “He went through BUD/S with me and was one of my roommates. He did everything right. We all did, but no amount of training, skill or technology will ever beat bad luck on the battlefield. You have to know that going in; what you’re signing up for here. BUD/S is a controlled environment and shit happens. Even when we’re doing our best to keep it as safe as possible.” He turned back to the lesson, but what he had said shook Hemingway as he glanced over at Professor, his other boat crew members and Lane. His gut clenched, thinking about that chaotic moment when those drug runners in Paraguay had opened fire on each other, and he and Dodger had been caught in the crossfire. The thought of losing the tough Brit hadn’t crossed Hemingway’s mind, but Max’s words drove it home to him. Combat was a place where one of his enemies could get an incredibly lucky shot.
He wasn’t afraid of dying. His fears had more to do with making the time he had in the world mean something, much as he was afraid of living up to his own expectations. Never did he want to let his family down, but more so, he never wanted to let himself or his teammates down.
Hemingway had gained insight into Mad Max’s team. He’d seen them in action, and he’d been with Dodger and lived through the perilous and exhausting trek to save his sister. If he could get through all that, he could make it through this training. Luck played no role in that. It was all about hard work and endurance. He’d already decided at the beginning nothing was going to make him quit.
Before he left base, Dodger texted him.
I think I’m in trouble.
What’s going on?
Max’s sister Anna. I saw a picture of her. She’s beautiful. But he will kill me if I even so much as smile in her direction.
Damn, bro. The code.
I know. But if he kills me, I’ll just slam open the door to Hell, high-five Satan and ask for the bloody password for the Wi-Fi and spend my afterlife texting Max with haunting messages. He’ll never get rid of me.
Don’t underestimate him. He probably has a direct line straight to Satan. Smart to forget about her.
Whoever said I was smart? Later, mate.
What an ass, he thought with a smile.
8
Shea unlocked the door to her condo and stepped inside. After a full week of First Phase, with one hundred and twenty-one candidates left, she was narrowing down her suspects, her run helping her to clear out the cobwebs. Wilson was outspoken, and she couldn’t help thinking he was lying about losing someone important during the 9/11 attacks. She had delved deeper into his background and found very little information. But she was pegging him as the leader of the splintered faction of NWO. Milo Prescott—Professor, as Hemingway called him—was open about his loss and even though she tried, she couldn’t help being moved by what he’d said. He was still on her list, but further down, as someone who wouldn’t harm any of the SEAL candidates. He could be a good actor, but she was guessing he wasn’t playacting. He was as genuine as he appeared to be. But, unable to take chances, she still kept an eye on him.
She was tired as she stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her. But she was sure she wasn’t as tired as Hemingway was right now. Log PT, surf passage, and conditioning runs had weeded out seventeen men in the first week. She knew it was only going to get worse. The had only begun, and she already had a deep respect for any man who took on this training on a voluntary basis…well except for the NWO members who wanted to harm them. She heard the door open and Hemingway call out.
It had to be close to nine. “I’m in the shower,” she yelled back.
She heard the door to the bathroom open.