Page 85 of Casualties of War
Three of the unit stepped up and popped the rivets on one of the larger sheets. Beneath, the chip board had baked in the sun for decades and flaked away to crumbling wood fibers. They punched ina man-sized opening. Everyone slipped under the outer layer and moved inside, except for the first two guards on rotation, who put the top sheet back in place.
The inside of the cave was just as Adán remembered it, except for one thing. There was a hiss and tumble of water, somewhere out of sight.
The cave was a series of pockets and recesses and short tunnels.
“It’s a rabbit warren,” Ramirezsaid.
“No one wander off and get lost,” Parris told them, as LEDs glowed, lighting up the big main chamber.
“The water is new,” Adán said. He followed the sound, turning into the pockets and dead ends until he found it. He looked at the river of water pouring out of a crack in the rocks and creating a small pond at the foot. The water was draining away somewhere that wasn’t visible.
“En suite,”Odesky said, behind him. “Very convenient.”
Adán put his hand in the water. It wasn’t as cold as he thought it would be, although it was a long way from a hot shower. “Probably not drinkable.” He stripped off his jacket. “Although good to wash up with,” he added. Now he was standing in front of running water, he felt grimy. Even if it wasn’t a hot shower, it would be refreshing.
He had beenwearing the sleeveless tee shirt under his jacket for more days than he cared to count. He couldn’t afford to get it wet, which meant washing it was out, too. In caves, cold was a serious problem. Clothes didn’t dry in still air the way they did in sunshine and a breeze.
He took off the shirt as well and bent over the water to wash.
It was cold against his sweaty skin, but invigorating. He wastempted to duck his head under the stream. For the same reason he wouldn’t let his clothes get wet, he could not afford to spend the day in this cave with wet hair, either. He settled for cupping his hand under the water and bathing the back of his neck and his face, instead.
Before he was done, three more of the unit dropped their upper layers and were leaning over the shallow pool, too.
“Don’tget your clothes wet,” Adán told them.
“Too cold in here to be damp,” Donaldson said, with a nod. The others were being careful, too.
Adán picked up his shirt and jacket and moved away from the pool, to make room for others. The other three horsed around, splashing each other like high school boys, shoving and threatening to push each other in.
More were coming to the pool, drawn by the noisethey were making.
Parris was at the end of the little cul-de-sac. She leaned against the rocks, her arms crossed, waiting for everyone to finish up. She was a good leader and was likely sizing up physical conditions of her men and their general morale. Her gaze shifted to Adán and her arms dropped.
There was something in her eyes…panic? Alarm? Wariness? Adán didn’t know what it was, only thathe had jolted her out of Commander-mode. She was Parris now, not Captain Graves.
Her face grew pale.
The first tendrils of alarm grew in him. What had he done? Why was she looking that way?
He had said nothing, done nothing, after the kiss under the cypress, for Parris was right—now was not the time or place for such things. She must keep her head in the game. She controlled and directed ninetough Rangers. She couldn’t afford to get distracted, for they would sense it and would disrespect her for it.
Adán realized all of it the moment she protested. He pulled away and stayed away, giving her space to do her job.
So why was she looking almost panicked, now?
Her gaze, he realized, wasn’t on his face. It was lower down.
He looked down.
The pendant.
The three masks, that he hadover the years got around to thinking of as Happy, Sad and Googly. They hung on the chain as always. It was not the chain she had given him. He’d replaced the chain several times, as locks weakened or the gold thinned from wear.
The masks were hers, though.
Adán looked up. He let his brow lift a little.Yes, I still wear it.
Parris’ hand came up to her throat, which worked heavily. Her eyeswere wide. Then she turned and strode away, moving fast.
