Page 398 of Broken Oath

Grant Barrett sat wrapped in a thermal blanket.

Jackson Cole held a cup of water in both hands.

He stared at it.

Not drinking.

Just staring.

Wade unfastened his harness and crossed the aircraft.

He sat beside Jackson.

“You all right?”

Jackson looked at the water.

“It’s cold.”

Wade waited.

“I forgot water could be cold without tasting like metal.”

Wade looked down at his own cup.

Five years of recycled water.

Stale air.

Food that barely qualified as food.

Things other men ignored felt like miracles now.

“Drink slowly,” he said.

Jackson took a small sip.

His eyes closed.

“Damn.”

Grant looked over.

“You planning to marry it?”

“Maybe.”

“It could do better.”

Jackson smiled.

Wade looked around at his men.

Five survivors.

They had entered the mountain with eight.

Three weren’t sitting inside the aircraft.