D. J. MacHale - The Scout

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The Scout 2013 by D. J. MacHale

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EPub Edition AUGUST 2013 ISBN: 9780062289650

FIRST EDITION

K it was on his own.

That was his first mistake.

He was the kind of guy who didnt follow the rules, especially if he saw no good reason to. He wasnt a troublemaker, but unlike most of his friends, who blindly bowed to authority, he made his decisions based on what common sense told him was right... even when he was the only one who felt that way.

His latest misadventure began innocently enough on a camping trip with his Scout troop. The plan was to leave their base with a group of thirteen Scouts and two Leaders on a two-day excursion through rocky, desertlike terrain to practice survival skills. Kit didnt see the point other than to earn a badge that he couldnt have cared less about. He laughed at the Scouts who proudly displayed their awards on a sash that proved they could swim a mile or treat wounds or repeatedly hit a bulls-eye. Kit could do all those things, better than most. He just didnt feel the need to show off his accomplishments by sporting colorful badges. He knew what he was capable of and that was good enough for him.

The Scout Leaders didnt agree. They wanted their young charges to compete with one another, which was why Kit found himself trudging across the blazing desert with a light backpack along with twelve other sweaty Scouts. He wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else, but with two Leaders keeping a watchful eye on every move they made there was no way he could dodge what was sure to be a grueling, pointless couple of days.

It was hot. Torturous, nasty, pass-out hot. That didnt stop the Leaders from driving the boys deep into the desert. Five miles, ten miles. They passed towering cliffs and crossed bone-dry riverbeds. Rationing water was crucial. Each Scout started off with a small bottle of water that had to last until they found resources in the desert, which wasnt easy. The Leaders instructed them to keep their mouths moist by sucking on small pebbles to activate their salivary glands. Kit was way ahead of them. He had been working on a couple of pebbles long before the Leaders offered the tip. He wanted to point out that if this were a true survival situation they wouldnt be hiking, like idiots, during the heat of the day. Instead they would be resting in the shade to conserve energy and reduce their sweat output. But this wasnt his show, so he quietly went along.

He made a point of veering into the shade whenever possible, even if it meant adding a few extra steps. He didnt talk, unlike the others, who were laughing and joking from the get-go. Kit wondered if the Leaders realized how much precious energy they were wasting. It seemed to him that they were driving the Scouts hard and letting them make dumb mistakes. But why? Was it another test? Another competition? Or did they just want to push them to the brink of dehydration and exhaustion for fun? It sure seemed that way. Or maybe the Leaders were just as clueless as the Scouts. Whatever the case, Kit wasnt about to do anything that would make the adventure any worse than it already was, so he kept his mouth shut and sucked on his pebbles.

Once they had hiked farther into the desert than Kit had ever been before, the true rules of the excursion were revealed. It was indeed a competition. The Leaders split the group in two. Each would take half the Scouts and march in a different direction. Whichever group fared better would be treated to an exceptional meal when they returned to base. The losers would be left to watch with envy.

Kit had no idea who would be the judge or what the criteria for winning might be and didnt care. What he saw was an opportunity. The Scouts were split up... seven in one group and six in the other. Kit made sure he was with the group of seven. Soon after the two teams went in different directions he marched up to his Leader and requested permission to join the other group. He explained that his good friend was with them and he worried that his buddy might be in over his head. He asked permission to join them so he could look out for the guy. The Leader complimented Kit on his leadership qualities and sent him on his way to catch up with the others.

Kit didnt have a close friend in the other group.

He had no intention of joining them.

What he wanted was to be on his own, and with both Leaders thinking he was with the other, he got his wish.

Once certain that he couldnt be seen by either group, he pulled off his pack, found some shade, and got off his feet. He wasnt thrilled about having to spend two days in the desert alone, but knew he was far better off on his own than trudging along with a bunch of clueless rookies. His plan was to lay low, conserve his energy and his water, then march back into camp and announce that he had gotten lost but managed to survive with no help. Who knows? Maybe hed even be declared the winner of the dumb contest.

Kit put up his feet and relaxed, comfortable for the first time in hours and confident that his adventure in the desert was going to be far less torturous than if he had followed the rules.

Digging through his pack he saw that the Scouts had equipped him with a few essential survival tools: a long length of light rope, a thin reflective blanket, a simple first aid kit, flint and steel to spark a fire, a small hunting knife, and an item that was only to be used in a dire emergency... a communication device. If he were truly in trouble he could use it to call for help. The Leaders may have wanted to push the Scouts to the limit and test their abilities, but they also wanted everyone back alive.

Kit had no intention of using the device. He was going to make it on his own, whether or not he would be rewarded with an official badge or a special meal.

Knowing that as soon as night fell the desert temperature would plunge from searing hot to bone-numbing cold, Kit erected a simple shelter using lengths of scrub that he propped against a wall of rust-colored rock. He gathered kindling and found enough dry wood to use as fuel. With a few quick flicks of metal on stone, he sparked up the tinder and in minutes he had a crackling fire that would keep him warm during the long desert night.

Sunset came quickly. It was stunning, complete with long streaks of orange and lavender clouds that hung above the distant mountains. When the sun dropped from sight the temperature dropped with it, but Kit felt warm and secure with his fire and shelter. He planned to get up early and search for food and water in the cool morning hours, though he wasnt stressed about it. He knew that if he came up empty hed still be okay. Hed been hungry before. Gutting it out for two days wouldnt be a problem.