The Hunt for the Wolf Chapter 7

By Aya-chan a.k.a. Yukionna42

"Excuse me, Corporal Wulfstan, may I come in?" Marina opened her eyes and checked her watch lying by her bedside, 3:00 PM. A hand pushed aside the blanket draped over her, followed by Cezary's voice. "Rise and shine Corporal. You've got a visitor."

Rubbing her eyes, Marina saw Cezary standing over and looking to the doorway of the bunker, she saw a fair-haired, spectacled woman. She was dressed as a civilian, a tweed cap on her head, and a camera hanging from her neck.

Marina arranged her senses and sat upright on her bunk, only to realize she was dressed only in an undershirt and shorts.

"I'm sorry Corporal, did I wake you?" The woman asked.

"No...It's fine. Please give me a moment."

"Of course."

Reaching below her bunk, Marina pulled out her knapsack, in which she began to search for her uniform. Marina kept very few personal effects, so it was not difficult to find.

"I'll step out for a bit." Cezary stated, as he withdrew a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket and headed out towards the bunker door, the unlubricated hinge squeaked as he closed it behind him.

The civilian spoke as Marina was dressing herself. "You are Corporal Marina Wulfstan, 3rd Regiment, Squad Seven, Sniper Team?"

"What about it?"

"I'm Irene Ellet. I'm a news correspondent for GBS Radio. I've received permission from Lieutenant Welkin to speak with you." As Marina finished suiting up in her uniform, Irene offered her hand. Marina did not shake it, but simply stared at it.

Now that she had her senses about her, Marina had a chance to get a good look at the journalist who wanted to speak with her. She seemed to be about four years older than Marina herself. Her hat bore a plaid-pattern that was popular fashion in big cities like Randgriz, but to Marina it just looked silly. The same pattern also marked her socks, and Marina noted that Irene Ellet was wearing the first pair of shiny shoes she had seen in weeks.

"Lieutenant Welkin has told me a great deal about you, Corporal. You are to be the leader of the new sniper school. I believe the recruitment for your school will be helped if it's featured on GBS Radio."

"I wouldn't know." Marina replied. "I'm not a listener."

"Well, maybe you should tune in once in a while. We broadcast plenty of useful information. Hints, tips, announcements, political news, battle developments, even the theater schedule in Randgriz."

"A lot of good that theater schedule is going to do me when I'm outnumbered and under fire." Marina thought sarcastically. She did not say this out loud.

As if Irene had read Marina's mind, she chuckled and sheepishly said "Well, don't tell my boss I said this, I bet some of that would be pretty useless to our brave men and women fighting on the front-lines. That's why I have my own side publication, of which I am the sole writer, editor, and publisher. Have you read "The Writings on the Wall?"

"I'm familiar with the title, but I haven't read it."

"You don't pay much attention to current events, do you Corporal?"

Marina shrugged. "I don't have time to worry about all the news that's happening in the war, good or bad. I just focus on the mission at hand."

The reporter chuckled. "I guess some of our soldiers are like that." she laughed.

Marina had a question at the front of her mind, something she just had to get out in the open. An unusual feeling for her. "If I may ask." She began. "Why all the press coverage on me? All the other snipers of Squad Seven are working just as hard." She withheld the fact that she believed an interview published for all of Gallia to see would have unfortunate consequences. Snipers were supposed to be unknown and unseen, and not put on a pedestal.

"A fair question." Irene Ellet replied. "But I think you already know the answer." She paused, apparently waiting for some kind of acknowledgement from Marina. When there was none, she continued anyway.

"You've killed fourty-four Imps in less than two weeks time." The reporter began. "You've introduced new tactics and techniques that even just in Squad 7, have given our snipers a leg-up on their Imperial Counterparts. You have revolutionized the art of Sniping so much that now you're going to be the head of your own sniper school."

"I'll be frank, Corporal Wulfstan." The reporter continued. "I really don't care if you want to be made into a hero or not. However, it's very important that the rest of Gallia knows of the work you're doing out here. Those new tricks you've added to the bag could help a lot of our boys and girls stay alive. Even if they don't take anything away from it, everyone knows that not every Gallian soldier is some kind of superhuman. Hell, General Damon himself is proof of that." The reporter paused again, apparently looking for some kind of acknowledgement or approval from Marina. The Corporal's face remained placid. Once again, Irene Ellet continued anyway.

"The least we can do is let them know that there are superhumans fighting on their side. That's you, Corporal Marina Wulfstan of Squad Seven."

Marina still had her doubts, and was about to refuse the interview. That was until she got a good look at Irene Ellet's face. Or more specifically, the expression behind those spectacled eyes and the way her mouth curved sharply upward into a big smile. glowed with a passion for telling stories, true stories, of courage and valor. How could Marina refuse this woman, who had come all the way out here to the sticks, just to meet her. Although she still didn't understand, Marina replied with a silent nod.

"Fantastic!" Irene Ellet beamed with excitement as she withdrew her pen and notebook from her bag. "Now Corporal Wulfstan, you are originally from Kloden, correct?"

"Yes." Marina answered. "I am a hunter."