Forty minutes into the weight lifting, Hawkins collapsed on a chair. He looked at Sam and the grim, determined expression on her face. And the pain. “No pain, no gain, eh?”

“Something like that,” Sam said. She collapsed alongside him. “I don’t want to fail again, Hawkins.”

“Listen, Sam. We didn’t fail. We just weren’t good enough. I don’t know if we’re good enough this time either. I don’t think there’s a rule here that we can’t scale the wall at night. Maybe we could practice together after everyone goes to bed. We can encourage each other. I know it’s going to cut down on our sleep time, but to my way of thinking, this is when we should do it, now at the beginning before the training intensifies. Thirty minutes of weights and forty minutes on the wall. What do you say?”

Sam thought about it as her breathing returned to normal. Could she survive on seventy minutes’ less sleep? Well, there was only one way to find out. “Yeah, sure. But, do we wait until after the test at the end of the week to see just how weak we are, or do we start tomorrow night?”

“Your call, Sam. I’m okay with whatever you want to do.”

“Let’s eat the humiliating pill and wait till after the first test. That way we’ll know how hard we have to work. I’m going to bed, Hawkins. See you in the morning. Listen, as your team leader I feel I have to say something to you. Cool it with Slick. I’d hate to see you two get bounced for a little bedsheet bingo. It’s not worth it, Hawkins.”

Hawkins blushed, but then gave a curt nod. “Okay. Gotcha. Night, Sam.”

“Night, Hawkins.”

Five seconds later, Sam was sound asleep, her dreams full of huge black walls that were insurmountable.

Outside, Pappy Havapopulas patrolled the compound, with Alpha at his side. Inside the Omega Three building he could see shadows moving about. He stopped to watch, knowing exactly what he was seeing.

Pappy finished his rounds before Alpha nudged him in the direction of the bench where he always took a last break before turning in for the night. This was the time he let his mind drift as he smoked one of the two cigarettes he allowed himself each day. It was treat time for Alpha for a day well done. He stroked the big dog’s head before he handed over the chlorophyll chew.

Pappy blew a perfect smoke ring. He watched it circle Alpha’s head like a halo. He smiled.