James (Teumessian Trilogy Book 2) (9 page)

John put them to work right away. They trained longer and harder than he had ever planned. Their language training was shortened to adjust for more physical training. John had become very tough on them, especially on James. John was willing to follow Ray’s lead, but he wanted to make sure James was deserving of Ray’s support. As the weeks drew on, they started to grow tired. Day after day of physical training was wearing all of them out. John could see it and knew he had to push them through it.

“Line up!” John barked as they gathered for week twelve of training. They quickly filed into line. Their tired faces and sore bodies were falling apart. “You all look weak! You represent your country and we are a strong proud nation. I will not tolerate failures.” They all took the barrage of words as they flew from John’s mouth. He was harder and harder on them every day. They were getting used to it. “James, Franchesca, to the floor!”

James and Chessy quickly squared up.

“To submission, fight!” John yelled.

Chessy went right in for James, he blocked her first attack, but she was faster than him. She grabbed his legs with hers and took him down as she twisted his arm back. James tapped out, and she released.

John was not pleased, “Being soft on her because she is woman or because you want to fuck her!” John barked as he charged the mat. James was standing up as John reached him, John pushed him back.

“No, sir. She was just faster.”

“Bullshit and you know it! Do you think playing it easy in here will serve you out there?” John screamed in James’s face.

James just stood still and took the abuse.

Elliot let out a chuckle, and it caught John’s attention.

“What’s so funny?!” John barked at him.

“Nothing, sir,” Elliot said, straightening up.

“You think it is funny that he got his ass handed to him by a woman? Or is it is that you like to see other people get in trouble? Either way, you are pathetic for behaving so badly. Step up!”

Elliot did as ordered and stepped to the mat. John motioned for Chessy and James to leave the mat. “In the real world, the deadliest opponent you face may be a woman. Size does not dictate strength or skill,” John yelled as he scanned the group. He turned back to Elliot.

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“Do you think you can take me boy?” John was in Elliot’s face.

Elliot was silent.

“Huh, boy, do you think you can take me?”

Elliot was still silent. He didn’t know how to respond.

John quickly moved, grabbing Elliot by his neck and flipping him, throwing him onto the mat. Elliot landed with a hard thud. The other candidates were in shock. John had always supervised other instructors, they had never seen him go toe to toe with anyone. “I am half his size and I just kicked his ass and I can do it again if he wants to be a smart ass,” John said, pointing to Elliot as he struggled to get up. The candidates just stood in attention. “Woman or man, if someone is attacking you, you do not hold back. You fight to end your opponent, not disarm them. You protect your life and those you are assigned to protect at all costs. Is that clear?” John ordered.

They all nodded.

“I am sick of looking at all of you. Outside to the course. You will all run it six times as punishment for James’s weakness and Elliot’s stupidity.” John pointed to the door.

After the display he had just given, none were willing to question him. They all quickly ran from the room to the course outside. John took a deep breath. He hated being so hard on them, but he knew it had to be done. He watched through the window as they lined up and navigated their way through the course. It was the only way to make sure they could defend themselves. John held his breath. The problem was he didn’t even know what he was preparing them for.

Chapter

16

James and the rest of the candidates had almost hit their breaking points by the fifth month of training. They had improved, all of them, but they were exhausted. The extreme physical exertion resulted in several candidates having to be taken to the hospital due to exhaustion.

“I don’t know how much more I can take,” Tim said as he climbed up onto his bed. He could barely make the climb.

“Me, too. I think every muscle in my body is torn,” Greg added, stretching his back while holding onto the bed frame.

“Seriously, John actually cut me today in knife practice,” Tim said, checking his left arm. He had a small slash on his left forearm.

James just laid back on his bed. Elliot was already asleep.

“Elliot is already asleep? We just got back.” Tim looked over and saw Elliot asleep on his top bunk.

“Either that or he is passed out,” James added in.

“Well, he is breathing, so that’s positive.” Tim laughed. “Ow, laughing hurts.”

“Well, I am starting to really think we are not going to be doing interpreting work. We barely spend any time in the classroom anymore. I don’t know what they are planning for us, but apparently, people will be trying to kill us.” Greg took a seat on his bed and looked straight to James.

James caught his stare and looked away, “They are just preparing us for what could come our way. We'll get our assignments soon, or at least that is what Ray said.”

“When did he say that?” Tim questioned.

James paused. He realized the rest of the group hadn't known that. Ray had told him that in one of their private meetings. They had been meeting about once a month since James confided in Ray about his mother. The meetings were almost pointless, James felt, since Ray had found nothing new.

“What are you hiding?” Greg asked.

“Ray told me in private that we would be getting assigned soon. I don’t know to what. He wouldn’t tell me that.”

“Why would he tell you that and not the rest of us?” Greg leaned forward on his bed.

James shrugged his shoulders, “No idea. He is secretive like that.”

Tim laughed again, “Ow, need to quit doing that. He is mysterious. Maybe he has a crush on you. You may have better luck with him than you have with Chessy.”

Greg was stone silent.

James laughed along, but he knew Greg wasn’t convinced.

“It is what it is. I’m exhausted. I am going to sleep,” James said, rolling over and closing his eyes.

Greg knew it was pointless to push the issue, so he did the same.

“Good night, John Boy,” Tim let out as he closed his eyes.

Chapter

17

The following morning, Ray received his orders from the President. He called John in to get him up to speed.

“I got their orders. Three to each of our embassies,” Ray said, handing the file to John.

“Do we get to pick which three go to which embassy?”

“Yes, we pick the groups.”

“What are they going to do there?”

“Spy on our own ambassadors.”

John leaned back in his chair, “So we don’t trust our own people anymore?”

“Look, these are the orders, so that is what we are going to do.”

“Where are you sending James?”

“I am keeping him close, or as close as I can at least. I am sending him to England.”

John nodded, “Who are you sending with him?”

“He trusts Franchesca, Tim and Greg. Since Franchesca is the best with language and Greg is stronger than him and Tim, I am sending them. Tim will go to France, so he isn’t too far away either.”

“Do you really think keeping him and Franchesca together is a good idea? I think he has a bit of a crush on her.”

“He trusts her, and she seems to be pretty fond of him as well. He will be best off with her and Greg with him.”

“Wait, what’s the cover story for having interpreters in England? Last time I checked, we spoke the same language.”

“Simple. England is a multicultural nation and our poor ambassador there is clueless when it comes to other cultures. He is expected to interact with other dignitaries who may not speak English and we would never trust a foreign interpreter to properly translate him. Or, for that matter, to clean up what he says.” Ray chuckled.

John chuckled as well. “He is a bit of a twit isn’t he? Have you found out anything new about James?”

“No, I am still at a dead end. We have to wait to see if anything comes of sending him out into the world.”

John sighed.

“Do you think he isn’t ready?”

“Physically, he is ready, as are all of them. However, I worry about them being out in the real world.”

“That is because you are a good teacher. We will keep an eye on him and the rest of them. They all still going to report to us. So we will be in constant contact. They are to submit weekly reports.”

“If they find anything, then what?”

“Then we are to report it up and follow orders handed down.”

“They know something up top and they are keeping it from us. Why won’t they tell us what they are looking for?”

“How long do you have to work here before you get that we only get the information they want us to have?”

John laughed, “Fine, you win.”

Ray stood up, “Let’s call them together and give them the good news. You are done torturing them.” John smiled as he followed Ray from the office.

              The candidates had gathered in the classroom and were awaiting John and Ray.

“I never thought I would be excited about classroom time,” Tim said with a laugh.

“Me neither,” James added.

Ray and John entered the classroom and took their places at the front of the room.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s Judgment day,” Ray said as he held a stack of red files high in the air. “Today ends your training and you begin your careers.”

A smile came over all the candidates’ faces as they all sat up in their chairs.

“You will be teamed up into groups of three and placed at various US embassies around the world.”

The candidates looked around. James was intrigued. They were really sending them to be interpreters. Then why all the fight training?

“Your mission is simple. You are to protect and inform on our US ambassadors.”

As usual, Elliot had something to add. He raised his hand.

Ray made eye contact, “What do you have a question about?”

“Inform on?” Elliot questioned, confused.

He wasn’t alone, everyone else was hanging on that phrase.

“Did I stutter?” Ray questioned.

“No, sir, it’s just that we are to protect and spy on them?”

“You seem to have grasped the basic concept. Where are you confused?”

Elliot realized he would not get a straight answer, “I understand, sir.”

Ray scanned the group, “Any other stupid questions?”

Nobody moved.

“Then we can continue. You will submit weekly reports to John and myself regarding the movements and conversations of the ambassador under your protection. They have been informed you are going to be there as undercover security disguised as interpreters to keep them safe. You will maintain that cover.”

James nodded with a smile. Now this was making more sense.

“John, if you will do the honors of calling out the teams.” Ray gestured for John to take the floor as he handed him the folders.

John stepped up, “French Embassy: Elliot, Timothy, and Norma. English Embassy: Gregory, James, and Franchesca….”

James stopped listening after that point. He looked straight at Greg and then at Chessy. They were both still in full attention. James smiled. He would get to work with his best friend and the girl he wanted. He was feeling pretty good. Then it dawned on James. Why would they give him a position with his best friend and the girl he wanted? James looked to Ray and made eye contact.
Oh, shit,
James thought. He could see in Ray’s eyes that keeping them with him was for a reason. James realized at that point that he had zoned out completely as John had finished giving out the assignments and everyone had started talking.

Ray moved back to the front of the classroom, “Okay everyone, you are not done yet. Please be quiet.”

Everyone’s attention went back to the front of the room.

“Each group will leave tonight, so please pack your bags. Each group will receive files on the ambassadors and his or her employees. You will each be issued a Sig 226 9mm to carry at all times. Reminder, you are there to protect our ambassadors. You will use any means necessary to defend them, yourself, and your country. Is that clear?”

They all replied in unison, “Yes, Sir.”

“I need one from each of the teams to come forward and take your team’s file.”

Immediately, Chessy stood up and walked toward the front of the room along with several other candidates.

James looked to Greg, “Yah, let’s let her take this one.”

Greg laughed, “Yup, learning quick. Just let her take the lead.”

“So Elliot is our leader because he is up there too.” Tim laughed. “I’ll be damned if I take orders from him. He drives me nuts.”

Both Greg and James laughed.

Chessy had received their file and walked straight to James and Greg, “Okay, let’s go. We need to go over it before we leave,” she said as she waved the file.

“We will follow your lead,” James said with a wink.

Greg just sat silently and rolled his eyes.

“Then let’s go outside. It is a nice day,” Chessy said with an eager smile, her blue eyes lit up.

As Chessy moved toward the door, both Greg and James got up and followed her out. Chessy led them out the building and to the wooden picnic tables that were lined under the trees outside of the building. Chessy sat down and quickly opened the file. James took a seat next to her with Greg taking the seat across from them. Chessy was quickly sifting through the paperwork. She was excited.

Greg was more cautious. “Okay, can I see? You are going through that really fast and not sharing.” Greg reached out to take the papers.

“No, stop. I got this. Okay, we have Ambassador Martin Huntsman. He was appointed earlier this year by President Calvin Warren. He is originally from Texas.”

Greg buried his head in his hands. “Great, a Texas man. I’m sure he will love having a black man protecting him.”

James laughed, “Dude, really, it’s the modern age. Don’t jump to that conclusion.”

“Let’s hope you're right. So Chessy, what’s the reason he got his appointment?”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Give us some background on him,” James added.

“Oh okay. He is a….oh lord you will not like this,” Chessy said looking to Greg.

“I can take it,” Greg laughed.

“He runs an oil company. His family owns most of the oil fields in Texas. It’s old money.”

“Yay, old southern values,” Greg said sarcastically

“So we got a southern oil tycoon in the role of ambassador to England. I’m guessing he was given that post due to….well, buying it?” James questioned, looking toward the files.

“He may have earned it through his…” Chessy stopped herself. “Yah, okay, he probably bought it, but that doesn’t mean he is corrupt. He may really want to serve our country.”

“Wow, since when are you such an optimist?” James asked.

“We are there to protect him and our country and that is what we are going to do,” Chessy said, sitting up tall.

“That and spy on him which I am sure is for a reason.” Greg stared straight into Chessy’s eyes.

James knew he had to break the tension. “So, is he married, got a girlfriend, got a boyfriend?”

“No, he is single. No girlfriend or boyfriend indicated.” Chessy replied, looking back to the file.

“Okay, so we don’t have to worry about his personal life, or do we?” James laughed. “A single guy with his status. I bet he has a ton of women.” James continued to laugh as he looked to both Greg and Chessy.

Neither were laughing.

“Um, okay, I am trying to lighten the mood up a bit. What else should we know about him?” James questioned as he put his serious face on.

“There isn’t too much here. He is newer in his post and has done nothing to raise suspicion. He just appears to be enjoying the status,” she said, disappointed.

“So hopefully, he is just a southern party boy who likes to sit at the big kids’ table,” Greg said, resting his elbows on the table.

“I guess,” Chessy said, closing the file.

“Alright then, I guess we all pack and get ready for our flight,” James said, clapping his hands. “Okay team, let’s go!”

Chessy smiled and so did Greg. They all got up and walked back to the dorms. They were stopped by Tim running from the training building. “Please save me.” He said pleadingly. “Elliot will drive me crazy,” he laughed, grabbing onto Greg’s shoulders.

“So how’s your situation looking besides being stuck with Elliot?” Greg questioned.

“Well, mine has a new bride. Pretty young thing. It must be nice to be a rich shit. To be sixty with a twenty something beauty for a bride.”

Chessy stopped in her tracks and shot Tim a dirty look, “Can you please be a little more sexist and pigheaded?”

“I’m sorry, but you should see a picture of her. She is hot.”

Chessy stormed away from the group.

“What, I was just being honest?” Tim questioned, confused.

“Dude, how do you ever get girls?” Greg laughed moving toward the dorms. James and Tim quickly followed behind.