Read Online The Bureau of Time by Brett Michael Orr - Free Book Online Page B

man was, he produced results – and the Directors cared about results above anything else.
    “Get that dyed crap out of your hair, Briars,” the Drill Sergeant spat. “It looks you stuck your head in a bag of flour. Disgraceful.”
    Forty-nine, fifty! He let out a shaky sigh of relief as Mathers stalked off. He hated the Drill Sergeant, as did most of the recruits; but Shaun was a particularly favorite target for Mathers because of his age and abilities. Shaun pushed himself upright, his arms burning. He sucked in fresh oxygen, Timewalking his tired muscles back to their previous, energized state. Around him, the other recruits had finished at the same time – all except one.
    Shaun’s heart sank when he saw Mathers advance on Cassie like a wolf drawn to an injured deer.
    Leave her alone, you bastard, he thought, his hands twitching by his sides. Shaun kept his eyes forward, like the rest of the recruits, but Mathers shouted the entire conversation for their benefit.
    “What do we have here? Some new drowned rat that recruitment’s dragged in? Count your push-ups, girl.”
    Shaun tensed. He heard the breathlessness and fear in Cassie’s voice when she answered: “Fi-fifteen.”
    “Fifteen, Drill Sergeant! ” Mathers snapped. “You will address me with my rank, girl! Faster, we don’t have all day! A baby could do more push-ups than you, and babies can’t even feed themselves!”
    Shaun forced himself to take a deep breath, his hands curling into fists. Just leave her alone. Have a heart you son of a bitch. But Mathers didn’t hear Shaun’s silent prayer.
    “Absolutely pathetic. Not an ounce of muscle on you, girl. They get younger every week, and this one not even out of her training bra!” The Drill Sergeant’s raucous laughter echoed like a hyena’s cackle around the Ranch.
    Shaun squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the Drill Sergeant. Beside him, Ryan muttered, “Stay calm, Shaun.”
    There was a sharp, high-pitched cry of pain – undoubtedly Cassie. Something threatened to break inside Shaun, and his Affinity reached out toward her, her beacon flickering uncertainly in the Temporal field.
    “Get up.”
    “You knocked me down!”
    “I said get the hell up. Fifty more. Now! Count them out.”
    “O-one. T-two. Three. Four, F-five—” Another gasp of pain and a thud. Shaun flinched, the anger rising up inside of him, unable to be curtailed.
    “You fell down again. Start again – are you crying, recruit? You’re a pathetic little daddy’s girl, recruit. Quit your blubbering, and start again! ”
    “Leave her alone!”
    The words were out of Shaun’s mouth before he could stop himself. Ryan shot out a hand to grab Shaun, but the older boy was too slow – Shaun had already turned and forced his way through the press of bodies to stand over Cassie. She was sprawled on the asphalt, her hands bloodied. Her limbs trembled and tears streaked down her cheeks.
    Drill Sergeant Mathers rounded on Shaun, his face contorted in rage.
    “Did you say something to me, Timewalker?” Mathers snarled, his face turned the color of mashed beetroot. A vein throbbed in the side of his forehead.
    Don’t say anything, just apologize, said a small part of Shaun’s mind. It was only a small part though, and the larger part wanted to defend Cassie, to help her. Hadn’t he been in the same position twelve months ago? How many times had Mathers knocked him down, screamed at him, abused him? How many times had he wished that someone would step in and help?
    “I said leave her alone,” Shaun repeated, louder. He heard a few of the recruits groan. At best, Mathers would only punish Shaun for his insolence; at worst, the entire lot of them would get additional exercises.
    “Don’t tell me how to do my job, boy, ” Mathers spat, spittle flying from his lips. He pointed at Cassie, still prone on the ground. “Do you want to take her exercises for her instead?”
    “Just cut her some slack,” he countered,