Free Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time to Endure by Kyle Pratt

is expecting you. He’s on the far side of the
main building or you can go up to his office.” The man pointed to a window.
    Before
he walked away he told the guard about his encounter with the wild dogs. “You
should probably warn people.”
    Entering
the compound Zach decided to find Caden, and headed around the main building. He
was surprised to see children playing in the grassy field. Rounding the next corner
he was startled to see a rifle with the bayonet stabbed into the ground in the
middle of the lawn. He took a step, then stopped and stared.
    Atop
the rifle was a helmet and on either side were boots. A podium and lectern were
being set up beside it. From some half-forgotten news report or picture he knew
this was a memorial for a fallen soldier. He thought of the man he had seen
murdered a couple days before. He stood still, as if at attention, and thought
of Richard Collins. It’s probably for
him.
    Remembering
his sorry performance during the Battle of Olympia and how his hesitation
during the gang fight got Collins killed, he felt unworthy to be there. His
gaze fell to the ground and he stepped back toward the building.
    “I’m
glad to see you.”
    Zach
spun around. Caden stood a few feet behind him.
    The
boy swallowed. “I’ve seen this before.” He pointed to the display. “I know it
means someone died, but not much more. Is this for…?” The name caught in his
throat.
    “Private
Collins? Yes it is. It’s a battlefield cross. We’re having a memorial service
for him later today. You should be there.”
    Zach
shook his head. “I was afraid.”
    “With
no training and little experience…anyone would be. I still get scared. I know
you said you should have shot sooner, but Private Collins was my man, my
responsibility. Only God knows if you could have saved him, but you did shoot
and you did save me.” Caden’s hand rested on his shoulder. “I’m grateful. Don’t
beat yourself up over what might have been.”
    Zach
had revealed a bit of the sadness that was always with him and felt that
Caden’s response was sincere. It lifted some of the burden. He nodded. “Where
do you want me to help?”
    Caden
led him to the motor pool.
    When
it was time for the memorial service, Zach lingered behind the others and found
a spot off to the side and hopefully out of view. He didn’t want to be seen,
and he hoped Caden would not mention him.
    The
soldiers chatted and smiled with each other as they gathered on the lawn. More
than once he heard the name of the fallen soldier. Their uniforms seemed
perfect, their faces calm, confident and resolute as they formed in ranks. He,
like an invisible observer, watched what he could never be a part of. They seem so at home, so much a family.
    “Company,
attention!”
    Caden
stepped to the lectern. “We are here today to honor the memory of a brave young
man…”
    Zach’s
eyes fell to the ground. Silently he slipped away.  
    *                *                *
    The
next morning Caden and Maria strolled into the hospital talking back and forth
about nothing in particular. Walking through the maze of pastel colored
hallways, they finally found Dr. Scott, Sheriff Hoover and Sergeant Rand,
clustered around a monitor at a nurse’s station.
    They
were watching a man handcuffed to a bed. His tattooed face was one Caden would
never forget. The man laid quietly, his eyes half open as if bored or sleepy.
When he shifted the hospital robe fell to his sides revealing an assortment of
tattoos, some elaborate, others simple. A white bandage, high on the right side
of his chest, contrasted with his olive skin, and tattoos of blue, black and
purple.
    “What
was his name again?” Caden asked.
    With
his eyes still on the monitor Sergeant Rand said, “The name on the driver’s
license is Gonzalo Cruz.” His face darkened. “He’s covered with Mara
Salvatrucha, MS-13, tattoos. They’re a notoriously brutal gang.”
    Hoover
groaned.
    Caden
rubbed