Chapter 2 - The Public Challenge
Colonel Everett Shaw watched from the side of the course with his hands folded behind his back.
He had not come for entertainment.
He had come because Nora Hayes had requested a field readiness evaluation, and Shaw had learned over thirty years that the quietest requests were often the ones worth watching.
Knox did not know that.
Or if he did, he ignored it.
He turned toward the platoon and raised his voice.
“Listen up. Lieutenant Hayes here says she wants the full course standard. No shortened lanes. No assistance. No excuses.”
Nora said nothing.
Knox glanced at her.
“You understand this is timed?”
“I do.”
“You understand everyone here will see the result?”
“I do.”
He leaned closer.
“And you understand calm doesn’t get you over that beam?”
Nora finally looked at him.
“No,” she said. “Training does.”
The laughter thinned.
Knox’s jaw tightened.
He pointed at the rope.
“Then climb.”
Nora stepped to the starting block.
The rope hung heavy in front of her, thick, worn, darkened from years of hands and weather. She wrapped both palms around it and tested the weight. Her breathing stayed even.
The soldiers behind her kept whispering.
“She won’t make it halfway.”
“Knox is going to bury her.”
“Why is she so calm?”
Nora heard every word.
May you like
She let them talk.
People revealed more when they believed you were busy being afraid.
