Apocalypsis: Book 2 (Warpaint) Read Online Free PDF

we could be if we were able to admit where we had weaknesses and did our best to fix them.  It would make it a lot easier for me to train them if I could control them; and the best way to do that was through intimidation.  At least, that was how it was going to work with the guys.  The girls were a different story.
    I worked with the first group of guys for ninety minutes.  By the time we were done, I had a nice sweat going and my students were about to collapse.  I finished with pushups and planks, making them hold the pushup position for a full five minutes.  None of them could do it without a break, but I could.  Of all the things I did today with them, this one probably made the biggest impression.  When I stood afterwards, my muscles were totally pumped.  I didn’t even have to move an arm or a leg for their tone to be broadcast to anyone looking my way.  I silently thanked my dad for training me all those years and making me into such a skilled fighter.  Who knew where I’d be right now if I didn’t have this valuable skill to offer these people in exchange for a safe place to live.
    When I stood and motioned for them all to join me, they came over, no one saying a word.  They all kept their eyes glued to me, ready to eat up whatever I was going to say.  I had them exactly where I wanted them.
    “Listen up, guys.  I don’t have time to mess around anymore.  Today was a freebie. I let you off easy.  You get one day of rest and then another day with me, and so on and so forth until I say you’re ready to do something different.  You’d better come prepared to work.  Anyone who can’t hang with this group, joins the girls.”
    The friend of the guy with the injured balls snorted until he caught my eye.  Then he went quiet.
    “You think I’m kidding?  Try me.  I have the chief’s support.”  I didn’t even look at Kowi.  I had to show them how sure I was of my position in the tribe.  I prayed he was either nodding or saying nothing.
    The guy just bobbed his head up and down, assuring me he was okay with my plan.  I was certain the humiliation any of them would feel about being put with the girls would be enough to get their best efforts out of them.  I had a feeling some of these guys would be practicing that plank exercise in their off-time now, which is exactly what I wanted.
    “Why aren’t we training every day?” asked Paci.
    I had to smile at his obvious enthusiasm.  He was going to promote quickly.  “Your muscles have been damaged today.  They need time to heal.  It’s better to have two days in between, but we don’t have that kind of time.”
    “What’s the big hurry?” asked some guy in the back of the group.
    “We’ll discuss that at dinner tonight,” said Kowi, saving me from having to explain anything.
    I couldn’t imagine that this kid hadn’t seen or at least heard about Celia, but it was possible they didn’t think her injuries or problems could touch them here.  They were in for a rude awakening, but it wasn’t my problem.  I wasn’t the chief and I didn’t want to be.  All I wanted to do was get some workouts in, eat some decent food, and live as far away from the canners as I could … with my little family consisting of a nutty German, a skinny fairy, and a naked poodle.
    ***
    I had a one-hour break before my first session with a group of girls was supposed to start.  I used that time to lie down in my hut, eat some lunch that had been delivered, and hydrate myself.  Peter chattered away while he re-organized the pantry, not seeming to care whether I was listening or not.
    “I’m going to get your schedule in order by tomorrow.  I’m doing it in my head until someone can get me some paper and a pen.  I hope we meet with the Creeks tonight.  Then I can get all their names and stuff.  I assume they’ll always come to you at the same place, rather than have you traipse all over the swamp coming to them.  I mean, that seems like the