Read Online Anaz-Voohri by Vijaya Schartz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Vijaya Schartz
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like that." Lobo didn’t say What about me? But t he disappointment and the pain of the rejection showed in the way he avoided looking at Zack.
“Hey! I’m not giving up, man." Uncomfortable on the bed, Zacks punched the pillow nervously. “I’m stepping up to the plate and taking action. What I’m doing now is helping more than just writing a book or running a website. Although no one knows it, our planet is at war against a powerful enemy, and I want to fight. So I’m joining the Special Forces.”
“You? A soldier? You’re kidding, right?”
“What’s so funny?" Zack resented Lobo’s lack of confidence in him. “I’m fit, I know how to fight, I have self discipline and I’m tough.”
“Yeah, but you’ll never make it in the military, dude.”
“Why not?”
Lobo faced the window, his back tense. “I can’t picture you taking orders from those power-hungry pricks. You never could obey stupid orders." He faced Zack suddenly. “What makes you think you can change? Remember what you told me about your real dad?”
Zack remembered only too well. He was only nine when his father had come home drunk from one of his escapades. He’d shoved Zack’s mother against the wall and she looked so scared. When his father ordered him to bed, Zack rebelled. Even at nine, he couldn’t let his father abuse his mother.
In an uncontrollable rage, Zack had rushed the big man, kicked and screamed and carried on until one of the neighbors called the cops. He’d received bruises and even a broken rib from his drunken dad that day, but the incident had given his mother pause. She’d realized his father presented a danger to Zack and she’d filed for divorce.
After that she’d married a journalist colleague, then Ashley was born. Ironically, Ashley’s disappearance had plunged his mother into the same alcoholic trap his father had fallen into.
“I’m not nine anymore." Zack found it difficult to talk. “I can control myself and obey stupid orders if it’s for a good cause.”
Lobo faced him again, his brow set in a frown. “So you think, but I wouldn’t bet on it."
Zack couldn’t imagine abandoning his friend of several years. An empty sensation ate at the pit of his stomach. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not a warrior like you." Lobo’s eyes softened. “I’m going back to the reservation for the summer. Soak in the old culture, get some inspiration to design new jewelry, maybe meet a girl who’s not afraid to live the simple life.”
“What about your studies?”
“I’ll graduate, just to make my father proud. He wants me to maintain the casino computers for the Tribe in Arizona.”
Zack had the sinking feeling that this was goodbye. Something tore inside him, but he didn’t let it show. He even smiled when Lobo left. “See you around,” was all he said, but he wondered whether he’d ever see his friend again.
Picking up Dude, Zack realized his furry friend was getting old and he may never see him again, either. “You keep an eye on mom for me, Dude." He kissed the thick black fur.
Zack wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He hated goodbyes.
Chapter Six
Two weeks later, after a debriefing at the Pentagon for the CIA in Langley, and another at the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, Zack drove his Kawasaki on the Washington Beltway and exited at Andrews Air Force Base. When he showed his papers at the gate, his heart beat faster, like at the beginning of an adventure. What had he gotten himself into?
Assigned to a temporary cottage on the base until his morning flight, Zack tried to sleep but anticipation and the unfamiliar sounds around him kept him awake. Around one in the morning, the thunder of a squadron taking off rattled the shutters. He jumped off the bed and opened the window but couldn’t see anything. The base, so brightly lit earlier, was in total blackout. Zack flipped the light switch. No electricity. Strange. He slipped on a pair of jeans and
“Hey! I’m not giving up, man." Uncomfortable on the bed, Zacks punched the pillow nervously. “I’m stepping up to the plate and taking action. What I’m doing now is helping more than just writing a book or running a website. Although no one knows it, our planet is at war against a powerful enemy, and I want to fight. So I’m joining the Special Forces.”
“You? A soldier? You’re kidding, right?”
“What’s so funny?" Zack resented Lobo’s lack of confidence in him. “I’m fit, I know how to fight, I have self discipline and I’m tough.”
“Yeah, but you’ll never make it in the military, dude.”
“Why not?”
Lobo faced the window, his back tense. “I can’t picture you taking orders from those power-hungry pricks. You never could obey stupid orders." He faced Zack suddenly. “What makes you think you can change? Remember what you told me about your real dad?”
Zack remembered only too well. He was only nine when his father had come home drunk from one of his escapades. He’d shoved Zack’s mother against the wall and she looked so scared. When his father ordered him to bed, Zack rebelled. Even at nine, he couldn’t let his father abuse his mother.
In an uncontrollable rage, Zack had rushed the big man, kicked and screamed and carried on until one of the neighbors called the cops. He’d received bruises and even a broken rib from his drunken dad that day, but the incident had given his mother pause. She’d realized his father presented a danger to Zack and she’d filed for divorce.
After that she’d married a journalist colleague, then Ashley was born. Ironically, Ashley’s disappearance had plunged his mother into the same alcoholic trap his father had fallen into.
“I’m not nine anymore." Zack found it difficult to talk. “I can control myself and obey stupid orders if it’s for a good cause.”
Lobo faced him again, his brow set in a frown. “So you think, but I wouldn’t bet on it."
Zack couldn’t imagine abandoning his friend of several years. An empty sensation ate at the pit of his stomach. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not a warrior like you." Lobo’s eyes softened. “I’m going back to the reservation for the summer. Soak in the old culture, get some inspiration to design new jewelry, maybe meet a girl who’s not afraid to live the simple life.”
“What about your studies?”
“I’ll graduate, just to make my father proud. He wants me to maintain the casino computers for the Tribe in Arizona.”
Zack had the sinking feeling that this was goodbye. Something tore inside him, but he didn’t let it show. He even smiled when Lobo left. “See you around,” was all he said, but he wondered whether he’d ever see his friend again.
Picking up Dude, Zack realized his furry friend was getting old and he may never see him again, either. “You keep an eye on mom for me, Dude." He kissed the thick black fur.
Zack wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He hated goodbyes.
Chapter Six
Two weeks later, after a debriefing at the Pentagon for the CIA in Langley, and another at the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, Zack drove his Kawasaki on the Washington Beltway and exited at Andrews Air Force Base. When he showed his papers at the gate, his heart beat faster, like at the beginning of an adventure. What had he gotten himself into?
Assigned to a temporary cottage on the base until his morning flight, Zack tried to sleep but anticipation and the unfamiliar sounds around him kept him awake. Around one in the morning, the thunder of a squadron taking off rattled the shutters. He jumped off the bed and opened the window but couldn’t see anything. The base, so brightly lit earlier, was in total blackout. Zack flipped the light switch. No electricity. Strange. He slipped on a pair of jeans and
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