Broken Soldier (Book One) Read Online Free PDF

went both ways at all times. So when one of them was
happy, it made the other one happy.
    That was the year Wayne entered the US Naval
Academy. He wanted to be a marine pilot. Mike teased him about not
going to West Point and pursuing a career in the Army. But he
wasn’t really upset about it. In his eyes, Wayne could do no
wrong.
    He and Sherry were so proud of him. He was such a
good and loving son. During his four years at Annapolis, the boy’s
hard study paid off for him. He graduated sixth in his class and
went straight into flight training, down in Pensacola, Fla. Like
Mike, his son was a natural career military man.
    Eventually, Wayne found a beautiful girl who had
stolen his heart, as well as Sherry’s and Mike’s. His late wife
often said, “That girl is perfect for Wayne. She accepts being a
Marine’s wife and keeps the home fires burning when he’s on
deployment.”
    A few years later, his loving wife, Sherry, was
diagnosed with cervical cancer. She’d put up one hell of a fight
and he was with her every inch of the way. But the damned disease
was too far along, when it was discovered. In spite of all the
improvements of modern medicine, she lost her fight.
    Wayne came home on leave and they comforted each
other as best they could. That was the last time he and Wayne had
gone fishing together. The fished, they drank and they cried. Life
could be so good, and yet so cruel, at times.
     
    ***
     
    As Mike ruminated over his past life, he realized
that if the Thorian had come along, while Sherry was sick, they
probably could have cured her of cancer. The thought made him
angry, even though it wasn’t the alien’s fault. After all these
years, he still missed his wife terribly and wanted her back. But,
it was not meant to be.
    The time for reminiscing was past and he knew it. He
had new legs and a new eye and an alien to deal with. Although it
seemed surreal, he knew this no dream or hallucination. It was time
to face the bizarre truth of his situation.
    Mike put his hands on his knees and squeezed. It
hurt, just a little. Still, it was the first real sensation he had
felt there, since he had lost them. He had legs again. Damn.
    He was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, as he
began to tear up. That he had fully grown back his legs was
incomprehensible, yet true. He was elated and frightened. It
occurred to him that the alien could always take away his legs and
his left eye, returning him to his former condition. How very cruel
that would be.
    When he tried to stand, he found the ache in his
legs became worse, as the extreme gravity put far more weight on
them than they were used to. He would have fallen, if he hadn’t
obtained a good grasp on the metal table. He tried walking around
the table, as he used his hands to support some of his weight. But,
he just didn’t have the strength, not yet anyway.
    He heard a clink of heavy metal and his head was
drawn toward the sound. What had been the video screen wall slowly
slid aside, revealing his first glimpse of the Thorian, in the
flesh.
    The alien took two steps into the room and spoke, at
least Mike thought he did, because he saw the creatures mouth move
and heard high pitched squawks. Half a second later, the speakers
on Mike’s shoulders announced, “It is a pleasure to meet you,
Sergeant Hurst.”
    Mike looked up at the tall being and painfully stood
as tall as he could, before responding. “With all due respect, I’ll
withhold my feelings about you, until I hear what it is you want
from me.”
    The pressure on his legs was rapidly causing
increased pain, so Mike sat down on the table.
    The alien’s eyes watched him closely, and then they
closed for a moment. The gravity that had been so difficult to deal
with changed to nearly nothing, causing butterflies in Mike’s
stomach.
    “I’ve reduced the gravity for now, Sergeant. If you
will follow me, I can offer you a more comfortable seating
arrangement, while we talk.”
    It surprised Mike that the