Page 84 of Lethal Game

Ahead, she could see a larger tent with a large red cross painted low enough on the canvas that it could be seen from the ground or air. They entered a space between the medical tent and the ones clearly meant for individual families. There were few people here, at least fewer walking around. A large mound on the left looked oddly out of place.

Sophia came to a stop. She’d seen something like this before and really hoped she was wrong about what it was. “Is this a mass grave?” It wasn’t until the words were out that she realized she’d spoken out loud.

In front of her, their guide stopped for a moment to look at her. “Yes,” he said, without inflection. “We’ll need to dig another one soon.”

“How many bodies are in there?”

He shrugged and continued until just short of the tent, but in the shade.

Sophia looked at the mound for another second or two then followed at a slower pace. Con didn’t say anything at all, but he, Smoke, and River seemed to be looking all over. Same with the Marines. Searching for threats?

The temperature dropped enough in the shade to be noticeable. There were rows and rows of cots, more than she’d ever seen before. Most of those cots were occupied. Other than that, there wasn’t much inside the tent.

No IVs dripping fluid into the veins of the sick.

No food visible.

Very little water.

Not enough nurses or anyone ambulatory to care for all these people.

“We didn’t bring enough of anything,” Sophia said in a soft voice to Con.

“Agreed.” Con sounded as horrified as she felt. “I’m going to go back to the landing area and see if I can grab a couple of bags of rice. I’ve got one of the water filters and some purification tablets, so we’re okay there.”

“Can you ask for more food to be flown in? Rice, flour, MREs. Anything?”

“You’re in charge of this operation. You can make the request.”

“Oh. Right. Sorry. I forgot.”

Their guide snorted and looked away.

“Speaking of forgetting, Dr. Sophia Perry, this is Len Zobel, Special Forces veteran who now works for himself.” From the grin on Con’s face, they must be friends.

“I sure as shit earn enough to live on now,” the other man said with a playful grin. Then he gave Sophia a thorough once-over and offered his hand. “I wouldn’t have minded looking out for you, Doctor. You’re a whole lot easier on the eyes than any assignment I ever had in the Army.”

She shook it once, then pulled her hand away despite his momentary tightening of his grasp.Jerk. “Charmed.”

Both men blinked, then started laughing.

“Hot damn, ma’am,” Con’s friend said, saluting her. “I haven’t been put in my place that well since General Stone did it last, two years ago. I’d be pleased if you called me Len.”

“You can call me Dr. Perry.”

“Oh,” Len said with mock fear to Con. “Is she always this prickly?”

Con smiled. “You should see her with a syringe. My ass is going to be sore for a long time.”

Wonderful, now he was making it sound like they’d done something sexual and saying it to a guy she didn’t know.

“You can tell me all about it later,” Len said with a wink to Con. “We’ll be right back, Dr. Perry. I promise.”

She ignored him and stared at Con. Was this some kind of male bonding bullshit? Sometimes men were so weird.

“Why don’t you start sorting out your equipment and decide where you want your lab set up?” he said, glancing at Smoke and the Marines. “If you pick out a spot before I get back, these guys can get it started. River, you’re with me.”

“Fine.” She looked around, trying to find someone who looked like they were in charge, but all she saw were sick people. There had to be hundreds of them. “I need to talk to a doctor to find out what’s going on.” How on earth was she going to help this many people?

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