The coach crawled along, inching forward at a rate of just over 300 miles per day. On the third day, Mace Reed—who was destined for a far different path than the rest—stepped off the bus amidst the envious gazes of the boys, ending his role in this grueling journey.
The others, led by the assistant instructor with a calm and unhurried demeanor, continued to endure this trek that was designed to test their willpower. It wasn't until the sixth day, when the bus had entered the dense, humid forests of the southern border and vast stretches of jungle were in sight, that the instructor finally relented and gave them the news they had been waiting for: they had reached their destination.
But looking out the window, the twenty-three trainees looked at each other in disbelief, their expressions
