Don blinked as a bead of sweat dripped into his eye. He didn’t move to wipe it away. It had taken only a few minutes of standing outside — listening to Sergeant Cohan recite the camp rules — but those few minutes were pivotal. The sun was hot, and the sheen of sweat that formed on his skin only made it burn at a higher intensity.

Sergeant Cohan had begun his recitation of the rules the moment they had all assembled. Now he ran his eyes across the entire group. To Don, it seemed the look was more calculating than cold. It was almost a look of ownership.

“Here at Basic Training, you are utterly alone. I am, and will be, the closest thing you have to someone who cares about your well-being. The boy standing next to you is your brother. This can be a blessing or a curse. Whatever happens to him happens to you. If one of you disobeys, the entire company will be punished. I suggest you follow the rules I have laid down for you, and make sure your brother does as well. Cooperation will be your greatest strength in the upcoming months. If one of you falls behind, I expect others to help him. You are stuck with each other. Make the most of it.”

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This series is an illustrated, abridged telling of The Young Soldier:  Pursuing Dreams, written by MK Clark.

You can buy the full novel on Amazon www.amazon.com/Pursuing-Dreams-Young-Soldier-Book-ebook/dp/B072516QKC or find out not information at https://mkclarkbooks.com.