Hell Games
Can't be an angel
Eph opened a map of their location, stretched it out on the ground and put a small stone as a retaining four corners.
“Please note this map! At 4 kilometers there is a check point closest to teams 13, 14, 16 and our team, team 15. Then we'll fight over the code with them. We have to steal the start, move first towards the check points before the others. That way we can get the code and no need to meet with them.”
“Are you sure they don't do the same moves?” ask Hamish.
“The possibility is definitely there, if we meet 1 team, we can negotiate to split the code. If there are 2 teams, let them fight and we just wait.”
“What if 4 teams move simultaneously?” this time Maya thinks.
“Stay the same, we let them fight, and wait until they are weak. We just got in.”
“Don't we still have to kill each other then?” Lin was still trying to find another way.
“We can't be a helper angel at the moment, we can only survive until we get a way to contact the outside party.” Standing EF.
“Now we continue training how to fight with sharp weapons and bare hands.”
Ef asked Hamish to come closer to him.
“Try me.” Hamish seemed hesitant to fulfill Ef's request.
“How hard, Capt?”
“Whatever, you want to hit or kick. Assume now I am the enemy.”
Hamish nodded, and prepared himself. Then he punched out toward Ef. As the fist was about to arrive, Ef moved to the side so that Hamish's fist passed through his face. Ef quickly grabbed Hamish's right wrist, pulled him forward one step, then quickly turned Hamish's hand back, Hamish's body instantly unsteady. With a small kick to the back foot, Ef can unite Hamish easily. And lock the man in the back. Hamish patted the ground sign of surrender.
“Sorry.” Ef extended a hand and helped Hamish rise.
“Note, I can take down Hamish without putting in the least amount of energy. Dropping the opponent with his own power. In close battle saving energy is an important key in order to win the fight. Use our smallest energy to defeat the opponent.”
“Remember carefully. Do not attack the opponent's strong parts, attack his weak points. Do not hit the head, because the skull bone is harder than the bones of the finger segment. If it attacks the head area, attack the neck or jaw. In the area here.” Ef points at the connecting joints of his own two jaws.
“If attacking hand, the weak point of hand is two centi above elbow.” Hamish is an example. Ef pulled Hamish's hand until it tightened, and slightly pressed the area over his elbow. Hamish immediately grimaced in pain. “If hit with high speed, definitely broken.”
“How about if we are women to fight men?” ask Lin.
“Let him pull you up close, then attack the shame*nnnya with your knees, when he is tucked, hit his nape with his elbow.”
“Hamish retreat, Lin forward. We practice.”
Lin stood in front of Ef, but somehow they looked very awkward. Especially Lin, her face was so red.
“Watch me the enemy. I'll pull you.”
Ef pulled Lin's hand, the girl jerked closer. The jolt made Lin's body approach, which involuntarily made him reflexively stare at Ef's face. The two look together. Shady and sad gaze, met with sharp eagle eyes. Making Lin's world stop for a moment. The eyes locked it. It seems to be the center of the world. Hypnotized him. Forgetting surrounding.
When their distance was almost ten centi. Lin remained silent. He didn't make any moves.
“Strike me!”
Ef's voice returned Lin to the real world. He gasps. His eyes were foggy, as if trying to restore the mind. Lin looked so hesitant to lift his knee. He turned his face many times and ended up just lifting his knees and sticking to Ef's feet.
“I'm ashamed,” whispered with a flushed face.
***
It was already dusk when they finished training. Today there are many new things that Hamish, Maya and Lin have learned. They can already use firearms, team shooting, diversion shots and cover shots. They also have enough supplies for close combat, know how to dodge, and attack effectively with their bare hands or sharp weapons. It is not perfect, but more than enough if to fight people who are not martial arts experts.
The three 15 team members leaned against the camp wall, adjusting their breaths and resting themselves after the training ended.
“I've long dreamed of seeing Istanbul. City that brings together two continents,” continued Maya. “After coming from Turkey I will invite you to Mexico. There are many interesting places there. Your instagram will be full of great photos.”
Maya tells the tourist attractions with enthusiasm. It was as if they were going to travel tomorrow.
“Lin, what's your plan?” ask Maya. Lin had not told me anything since. He daydreams more or just chimed in on the chatter of Maya and Hamish.
“Hmm..., I haven't thought of anything,” replied Lin.
“Do you have no place you want to go?” chase Maya.
“I want to visit my grandmother. I only met him once, when I was a kid.”
“Where does your grandmother live?”
“In a village in Indonesia. I forgot his name. Otherwise the name of the place is Crocoshark.”
“Alright, come home from Mexico we will visit Indonesia. We have people who are poultice and can look after us while there. You want to be our tour guide, don't you, capt?”
Ef gasped, he did not pay attention to the chatter of its members since.
“How? Sorry I didn't listen.”
“Lin wants to visit her grandmother in Indonesia. In a town called Crocoshark. You know the location?”
Ef scrunched his forehead. The name of the city is so strange. He has colonized the land of the archipelago from Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote Island. West to east, north to south. But never heard that name.
“Crocoshark?” Ef turned to Lin to ask for an explanation.
“As I recall so. From Crocoshark still have to continue the journey by car. To Jimboar.” area Lin explained even though he seemed to be hesitant in his own words.
Crocosharks, jimboars. Ef repeated the word in his brain. The name was strange, but it was like it was not foreign.
“Hahahaha!” suddenly Ef broke down. “Who taught you the name of the city?”
“Daddy,”
“Hahahaha, arek suroboyo toh kowe ki nduk.”
“I’m sorry?” Lin did not understand the language Ef had just used.
“It's okay. Just funny.”
“You know the location, Capt?”
“Iya, we are going to Crocoshark, jimboar and all other places.”
“You are from the same area?”
“No, my village is on a different island. On the island of Sumatra, the name of our city blasts pale.”
“A pretty unique city name.”
“Then I will take you swimming in the Musi river. Plunging from Ampera bridge."
“It looks pretty exciting.”
“Alright, before we travel to different countries. Now we have to survive Hell Game first. Pack up, tomorrow we'll start moving.”
***