Rebels (John Bates) Read Online Free Page A

I need to continue through Young Army training without difficulty. I do two hundred sit-ups and one hundred push-ups, cross the monkey bars with ease, and take apart and put back together a semiautomatic weapon in half the time than is required.
     
    Then, of course, we go through our hand-to-hand combat training. Though I aced this part, which allowed me to join the Young Army, I still need to be careful since my father is not licensed with the State to give such instruction. The State continues to try to monitor all our activities to ensure it stays in control. Today, since everyone saw me lose in the track run, I know they are hoping the same will transpire in our self-defense training. At first, as usual, I am able to handle my competition with ease, but the sergeant decides to change things up a bit.             
     
    “Gentlemen, today we are going to initiate a new program the State has decided to implement in the Young Army. They believe with this new program we will better see who has the true potential in helping the State and its people.”
     
    I can only think, What could they possibly do that they are not already doing to us? But then the sergeant starts to bark out further instruction.
     
    “Before, when doing our hand to hand combat, it was based on one-on-one. But today you will be engaging multiple opponents, and this exercise will last until either the attackers have been subdued or you have lost the fight. You will be using your training, as well as improvising with what skills you naturally have. In order to prevent any serious injuries, the State has given us special gear to be worn during this exercise, but it will not compromise your ability to engage your enemy,”
     
    This is going to be real interesting , I think, especially when I see some of the senior members glance in my direction. I simply smile. It takes us about ten minutes to put the gear on. With it on and the hot sun streaming down on us, things are starting to really heat up.
     
    “Okay, boys, who is going to be the first?”
     
    All I can hear is the light breeze going by until David Patlow chimed in stating, “I think John should go first, Sarge, since he seems to be the best in this category.” If thoughts could kill, David would be dead by now, but I stay silent, waiting on the sergeant to give his next orders.
     
    “What do you say, John?” Of course, I don’t want to be looked upon as a wimp, so I enter the circle designed for this activity. “Good. I like it when a soldier speaks with his actions. So who wants to be his attackers?”
     
    Of course, David Patlow and two other very large senior members join willingly. Did I forget to mention David was the one I had whooped on, allowing me into the Young Army? He was the golden boy before I got there. I guess he hasn’t forgotten the experience.
     
    “Alright, the rules are simple: there are none! Either the attackers have been subdued or the defender has been defeated! When I say stop, you stop! Are we clear?”
     
    “Yes, sir!”
     
    “Good, now let’s get this party started, shall we?”
     
    Immediately, David and the other two separate to form a circle around me, and my heart starts pounding. I remember when I used to get my butt kicked by my dad, a man almost twice my size.
     
    I will never forget the time I went with him to work. I hadn’t been there very long when a very large man started to cause trouble on the work floor. My father had not hesitated confronting this man, simply stating, “That’s enough, you will cease and desist and go back to work!”
     
    The man, who was known as Bear at the workshop, told my dad to mind his own business before he got hurt. Well, needless to say, my dad didn’t care for that response and told Bear he was relieved of his duties and to leave the premises until further notice. Bear flipped over a couple of desks and made it very clear he was going nowhere. In fact, he was planning on engaging my dad,