CHAPTER 9: THE DEVILISH INSTRUCTOR

“Sir, yes, sir!”

Huffman’s speech was long. Many of the new recruits didn’t understand him. Their responses were mixed up. Huffman frowned and shouted, “I didn’t hear you!”

The recruits repeated their answer. Only then did Huffman seem satisfied.

Huffman walked down the aisle while speaking. He stopped in front of Bor and asked, “What’s your name, trash?”

Bor was strong. He was 18 years old. But Huffman’s presence made him afraid. He didn’t dare resist. He said, “Sir, Private Bor, sir.”

Huffman said roughly, “From now on, your name is ‘Skinny Monkey.’ Do you like it, Private?”

Bor didn’t want the name. But Huffman was too close. He felt embarrassed and shouted, “Sir, I like it, sir!”

Li Feng heard this. He almost laughed but held it in. He felt good seeing the troublemaker get scolded.

Jackson whispered, “Li Feng, don’t say anything. The instructor will punish you.”

“Who was that? Who spoke? You’re dead!” Huffman heard someone break his rule. He was angry. His voice got louder, and he moved toward the source.

The recruits were all scared. Huffman’s voice made their ears ring.

Jackson started to get worried. He didn’t know what Huffman would do to him. He tried to stay calm and hoped Huffman wouldn’t notice it was him who spoke.

Huffman decided the voice came from near Jackson. He stared at everyone’s face. He yelled, “Who’s not admitting it?”

The recruits stayed quiet. No one said anything. Huffman got angrier. He yelled, “You’re all useless! I’ll train you until you drop dead. You’ll become maggots!”

Suddenly, Li Feng moved a little. Huffman grabbed him and shouted, “Was it you, coward? I bet it was you!”

Li Feng turned pale. Jackson wasn’t sure what to do. Should he step up and admit it? Or let Li Feng take the blame?

Jackson thought for a moment. In the army, teamwork was important. If he stayed silent, others would think less of him. That would hurt his chances of doing well in the squad.

Finally, Jackson spoke up. “Sir, it was me, sir.”

Huffman stopped for a second. He let go of Li Feng. He said with no apology, “Fine, I’ll let you go this time, rat.”

Huffman turned to Jackson. He smiled in a cruel way. “So, you’re an actor, huh? Private Clown. I like your honesty. I like you.”

Jackson was relieved. He hadn’t expected that admitting the truth would make Huffman like him.

But then, Huffman suddenly punched Jackson in the stomach. The punch felt like being hit by a car. Jackson fell to the ground.

“Damn, his punch is strong,” Jackson thought. Pain shot through his body. He had trouble breathing.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Huffman didn’t stop. He shouted, “You scum! Now that I know your name, I can do whatever I want with you.”

Jackson couldn’t get up. Huffman pointed at him and continued, “Private Clown, you’ll suffer. You’ll start from the bottom and learn to do things properly.”

Huffman’s voice was loud and harsh. His face was full of anger. It felt like he was the king of the camp.

Jackson could tell Huffman was dangerous. The instructor had definitely killed before.

Jackson tried hard to stay strong. He couldn’t show weakness.

Huffman saw Jackson trying to get up. He wasn’t scared. Huffman felt Jackson was doing well, so he gave him a passing grade in his mind.

But Huffman didn’t stop. He yelled, “Get up, insect! Stand properly. Don’t act like a girl.”

Jackson, holding in his pain, tried to stand at attention. It wasn’t perfect, but he tried.

Huffman then asked loudly, “Why did you join the interstellar paratroopers?”

Jackson answered quickly, “Sir, to kill, sir.”

Huffman asked, “Insect, are you a killer?”

Jackson replied, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman ordered, “Show me your killing face.”

Jackson froze. He had never killed anyone. What kind of face should he make? He said, “Sir... I…”

Huffman cut him off. “Do you have a killing face?” Huffman’s anger grew. If Jackson didn’t do this right, he would be punished again.

Jackson thought for a moment. He didn’t know how to make a killing face.

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Is that your killing face? Show me!” Huffman screamed.

Jackson’s ears hurt from the loud sound. Huffman’s fist was ready to strike again. Jackson panicked. He screamed, “Ah! Ah! Ah!” and made the scariest face he could.

Huffman looked at him with disgust. “That didn’t scare me. Show me your real killing face, you idiot.”

Jackson was angry. He screamed, “Ah! Ah! Ah!” and made the scariest face he could.

Huffman laughed. “Private Clown, you didn’t scare me. Keep that face for the future.”

Jackson yelled, “Sir, yes, sir.”

When Huffman left, Jackson cursed him in his mind.

Jackson thought Huffman was finally leaving, but Huffman stopped in front of Li Feng. Huffman got so close to Li Feng’s face that they almost touched. He shouted, “What’s your excuse?”

Li Feng didn’t understand. He shouted, “Sir, excuse? Sir?”

Huffman yelled, “Damn it, I’m asking you! Got it?”

Li Feng quickly replied, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman asked, “Didn’t I make myself clear?”

Li Feng answered, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman continued, “Are you shocked? Nervous?”

Li Feng said, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman asked, “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

Li Feng said, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman snapped, “Sir my ass! Do you think I’m stupid?”

Li Feng realized what Huffman meant. He shouted, “Sir, no, sir!”

Huffman gave a small grunt. “How tall are you, Private?”

Li Feng replied, “Sir, 1.85 meters, sir.”

Huffman mocked, “I didn’t know shit could grow this tall. You added five centimeters, didn’t you?”

Li Feng quickly said, “Sir, no, sir.”

Huffman insulted him again. Before leaving, he warned, “I’ll be watching you.”

Jackson noticed that Li Feng was sweating. Huffman’s harsh methods were getting to him too.

Huffman continued his insults as he moved through the recruits. He mocked their families, spat at them, and made them feel worthless. He was trying to break their bad habits. He wanted to turn them into disciplined soldiers. This was how the interstellar paratroopers became tough.

Through this, Huffman quietly judged each recruit. He wanted to form an impression of everyone.

Jackson’s quick response impressed Huffman. Li Feng only just passed.

In the barracks, Huffman’s insults still echoed. Every recruit silently prayed. They hoped Huffman wouldn’t focus on them, especially Keen.

Keen had always been slower than the other kids. He had often been bullied. To make friends, he smiled a lot. Over time, this became automatic. People who didn’t know him thought he was mocking them.

“Do your parents still have other children?” Huffman shouted at Keen. His prayers didn’t help.

Keen hurriedly replied, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman mocked, “I bet they regret having you! You look like a modern art masterpiece! What’s your name, fatty?”

Keen nervously said, “I… Sir, Keen, sir.”

Huffman sneered. “Keen? That’s a terrible name.”

Keen stayed silent. Huffman continued, “Your name sounds royal. Are you from a royal family?”

Keen shouted, “Sir, no, sir.”

Huffman didn’t like his name. “From now on, you’ll be ‘Fatty.’ Private Fatty, understand?”

Keen smiled and said, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Huffman wasn’t happy with Keen’s smile. “Do you think I’m cute, Private Fatty? Do you think I’m funny? Wipe that smile off your face.”